24:7a

So: The Hebrew conjunction that the Berean Standard Bible translates as So introduces the next event in the storyline. Many English versions do not translate this conjunction here.

your fathers cried out to the LORD: The Hebrew verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates as cried can also be translated “shouted” or “called out.” It implies that they called to Yahweh to help them.

Here are some other ways to translate this part of the verse:

When they called out to Yahweh to help them
-or-
They pleaded with Yahweh to help them

24:7b

He put darkness between you and the Egyptians: The darkness refers to the dark cloud that Yahweh placed between the Israelite people and the Egyptian army when the Israelites were camped by the Red Sea. This event is described in Exodus 14:19-20.

Here are some other ways to translate this part of the verse:

he placed a dark cloud between you (plur.) and the Egyptians
-or-
Then Yahweh put an area of darkness between you and the Egyptian ⌊soldiers⌋

24:7c

over whom He brought the sea and engulfed them: This indicates that Yahweh made the sea roll over the Egyptian soldiers, and they all drowned.

Here are some other ways to translate this part of the verse:

and made the sea cover them so that they drowned
-or-
Then he caused the Egyptian army to drown in the Red Sea.

24:7d

Your very eyes saw what I did to the Egyptians: The sentence Your very eyes saw what I did to the Egyptians indicates that the Israelites watched while Yahweh caused the sea to cover the Egyptians. The phrase Your very eyes refers to all the Israelites, both those who were young when they crossed the Red Sea with their parents, and the others who were standing there listening to Joshua.

Then you lived in the wilderness for a long time: It may be more natural to include a phrase here such as “after that happened.” For example:

You watched what I did to the Egyptians. ⌊After that⌋ you lived in the wilderness for many years

General Comment on 24:7

This verse contains an implicit event. Before Yahweh made the Egyptians drown in the Red Sea, he had made the sea stand up like a wall. Then the Israelites were able to walk on a dry path through the sea to the other side. Some English versions add this implicit information so that the sequence of events is clear to the readers. For example:

Your people cried to me for help, so I put a dark cloud between them and the Egyptians. Then I opened up the sea and let your people walk across on dry ground. But when the Egyptians tried to follow, I commanded the sea to swallow them, and they drowned while you watched. (Contemporary English Version)

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