Go up to a land, literally “unto a land,” has no verb; the force of the verb in verse 1 carries over into this verse. New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh, in fact, uses dashes to set off verse 2 as a parenthetical expression. Good News Translation simply has “You are going to a … land,” which is clearly implied from the context. Flowing with milk and honey is the same expression used in 3.8. (See the comment there.)

But I will not go up among you is literally “for I will not ascend in your midst.” This simply means “I will not go with you myself” (Good News Translation), or “I shall not journey in your company” (Revised English Bible). The singular form of you is used because of the following reference to people, which is singular in form.

Lest I consume you in the way is literally “otherwise I will finish you off in the way.” Consume means “exterminate” (New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh), or “annihilate” (New Jerusalem Bible). So Good News Translation has “I might destroy you on the way.” (See the comment at 32.10.) For in the way Contemporary English Version has “before they get there,” and this will be a possible rendering in some languages. For you are a stiff-necked people is the same expression used in 32.9. (See the comment there.) The you is singular in both cases.

Quoted with permission from Osborn, Noel D. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on Exodus. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1999. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .