This is a continuation of the sentence that begins in verse 1. And that you may tell introduces the second purpose of the plagues. It is helpful to repeat “in order that,” for Yahweh is saying in verse 1 “I have hardened his heart … in order that I may show…,” and continues with and [in order] that you may tell in this verse. That you may tell is singular in form, since Yahweh is speaking to Moses. But it is plural in meaning, for this concern for all the Israelites to instruct their children reflects the Deuteronomistic (“D”) tradition in Israel. (See 13.8, 14 and the discussion on “Sources” in “Translating Exodus,” page 2.)
The Hebrew form of tell suggests “recount” (New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh, New American Bible) “again and again” (Durham). In the hearing of is a Hebraism that should probably be omitted, although expressions such as “tell [or, recount] … to let listen” appear in a number of languages. Your son … your son’s son uses the singular son in the Hebrew, but the meaning is “sons” (New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh) and does not exclude the daughters; hence Good News Translation, New Revised Standard Version, and Contemporary English Version have “your children and your grandchildren.” In certain languages one will need to repeat what Moses is to tell, namely, how I have made sport and what signs.
How I made sport of the Egyptians brings out the reflexive form of the verb “to deal with,” that is, “to enjoy myself by means of the Egyptians.” Hence Good News Translation has “how I made fools of the Egyptians” (so also New Revised Standard Version and New Jerusalem Bible). New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh has “I made a mockery of” (similarly New American Standard Bible); and Revised English Bible has “I toyed with” (so also Childs). A few translations hesitate to bring out this meaning (New American Bible, New International Version, Contemporary English Version), but see also Num 22.29 (New International Version: “You have made a fool of me!”) and 1Sam 31.4 (New American Bible: “lest [they] make sport of me”), where the same form is used. Other ways to express this are “how I made the Egyptians appear to be stupid” or “how I caused the Egyptians to act as stupid fools.”
And what signs I have done is part of the second purpose of the plagues: “that you may tell … how I have made fools of the Egyptians and what signs I have done” (New Revised Standard Version). Among them here is plural in the Hebrew, in contrast with verse 1, but may be rendered in a similar way.
That you may know is an overall statement of the purpose of the plagues and is broader in meaning than the other two statements (the you is plural). Note the semicolon in Revised Standard Version and the full stop in Good News Translation. (New Revised Standard Version uses the dash to set this clause off from all that precedes.) Contemporary English Version has “Then all of you will know that….” That I am the LORD is the important self-introductory formula (as in 6.2) used again and again in Exodus in response to the question of the Pharaoh (5.2), “Who is the LORD?” Here again the focus is on the name Yahweh in contrast to the many pagan gods known in the ancient world.
An alternative translation model for verses 1 and 2 is:
• After the great hailstorm had stopped, the LORD said to Moses, “Go back into the palace to the king. I have made him and his officials stubborn so that I may perform these miracles in front of them. I want you [plural] to tell your children and grandchildren about these miracles and how I caused the Egyptians to appear stupid. Then you [plural] will know that I am Yahweh!
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 .