But God is literally “And ʾelohim.” Led the people round is literally “caused the people to go around,” a different word from “led” in verse 17. By the way of the wilderness may be understood as “the desert road” (New International Version, New American Bible) or a way “through the desert.” Good News Translation and New Revised Standard Version connect this phrase with the verb, to read “in a roundabout way through” or “by the roundabout way of the wilderness.” One may also express led the people round … as “caused the people to go a longer way [as against the ‘shortest way’ in verse 17] through the wilderness.” (See the discussion on wilderness at 3.1.)

Toward the Red Sea is understood by New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh as “at the Sea of Reeds,” and by New Jerusalem Bible as “of the Sea of Reeds.” There is no preposition in the Hebrew, but most translations use toward. The Red Sea follows the Septuagint and not the Hebrew, which says “Sea of Reeds.” (See the Good News Translation footnote.) Another way to express “Sea of Reeds” is “The Sea where Reeds Grow.” (See the discussion on Red Sea at 10.19.) The translator should follow the Hebrew, unless there is already a strong tradition in the churches of the area. If Red Sea is used, then a footnote similar to that in Good News Translation should be added.

The people of Israel went up is literally “the sons of Israel ascended,” but the verb “to go up” is often used for going out of the land of Egypt. (See 3.8, 17; and others.) It may suggest moving to the higher elevation of the mountains of Palestine, but some translations simply have “departed from Egypt” (Revised English Bible), “marched out of Egypt” (New American Bible), or “left Egypt” (Contemporary English Version).

Equipped for battle is one word that has been interpreted in various ways. The basic meaning is “five,” or “fifty” when pluralized, so New English Bible and Revised English Bible have “the fifth generation,” following the Septuagint instead of the Hebrew. Hebrew Old Testament Text Project recommends following the Hebrew, which literally means “to be fiftied,” or arranged in companies of fifty. Most translations understand this to refer to being organized as an army, so any of the following are possible: “armed” (New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh), “ready for battle” (Translator’s Old Testament), “in battle array” (New American Bible), or “armed for battle” (Good News Translation), or even “carrying weapons and ready to fight their enemies.”

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 .