And he summoned Moses and Aaron is literally “And he called to [or, for].” It suggests that the king sent messengers to call Moses and Aaron. Contemporary English Version has “the king sent for Moses and Aaron.” One may also express this as “the king sent people to call Moses and Aaron.” By night means “That same night,” or “while it was still night” (Revised English Bible). And said introduces the king’s words, which could have been spoken for him by the messengers he sent. The text does not say that Moses and Aaron actually appeared before him. (See 10.29 and 11.8.) An alternative translation model for this first sentence is “During that same night the king sent messengers to tell Moses and Aaron, ‘….’ ”

Rise up is the first of six imperatives, all of which are second person plural—go forth, go, serve, Take, and be gone are the other five. The first command may be understood as a separate action (“get up from sleeping”), but it may also be the common Hebrew idiom for beginning or starting the next action mentioned, go forth. New American Bible combines the first two into one, “Leave at once.” (Note Good News Translation‘s “Get out,” and Contemporary English Version‘s “Get your people out.”) All of these emphasize the desperation of the king.

Go forth from among my people may mean simply “get away from my people” (Jerusalem Bible), the Egyptians, but Good News Translation has “Leave my country.” Both you does not mean “both of you” or “you both,” for the word both (gam) here is the first of a series of five uses of gam continuing into verse 32. (See further comment there.) In this context it emphasizes in each case what follows next, like the English “not only,” or “even.” Thus it may be expressed, for example, as “Go … not only you [two], but also the people of Israel.” You is plural, but since this message is for Moses and Aaron, some languages will prefer to use a dual form, indicating that just two people are being addressed. The people of Israel has no possessive pronoun, but Good News Translation adds one for emphasis: “you and your Israelites!” “You and all your people” is also possible.

And go begins a new clause. Serve the LORD means to “worship” Yahweh. As you have said is one word, with the plural you. In context it may be more natural to say “as you asked” (Good News Translation), or even “in accord with your demand” (Durham).

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 .