And may be omitted, but it should be clear that the people were now on their journey. Durham translates the and as “At their first stop,” which is suggested by the context. This would produce the following translation of the first sentence: “At their first stop they baked unleavened cakes….” They baked is a general word for baking, but the word for unleavened cakes indicates that they baked them either in ashes or on hot stones. These unleavened cakes were round and flat, not like ordinary loaves of bread. Of the dough is literally “with the dough,” or “from the dough.” Which they had brought out of Egypt refers back to verse 34, which suggests the English pluperfect, had brought.

For it was not leavened refers to the dough and explains why these cakes were round and flat. New Jerusalem Bible has “because the dough had not risen.” New American Bible places this phrase at the beginning of the verse: “Since the dough they had brought out of Egypt was not leavened, they baked it into unleavened loaves.” (See the comment on “yeast” at verse 15.)

Because they were thrust out of Egypt explains why there was no leaven in the dough. Thrust out is the passive form of the verb “to banish,” so Good News Translation has “for they had been driven out.” And could not tarry is literally “and they were not able to linger.” This implies that they normally ate leavened bread, but because they had to leave quickly, “they did not have time … to prepare leavened dough” (Good News Translation). Neither had they prepared is literally “and also they did not make.” Provisions is a general word for food prepared for a journey.

In many languages it will be helpful to place the final clause at the beginning of the verse as follows:

• The Egyptians made the Israelites leave Egypt in a great hurry. As a result they did not have time to prepare any food except some bread dough made without yeast. So they baked it and made round flat bread.

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 .