Thus the LORD used to speak to Moses face to face is literally “And Yahweh was speaking to Moses face unto face.” This, of course, is figurative language emphasizing the special relationship Moses had with Yahweh. It does not mean that Moses actually saw the face of God. (See verse 20.) It means that Yahweh was accustomed to speak with Moses directly, not through dreams or visions or signs. (See Num 12.6-8, where the same idea is expressed as “mouth to mouth.”) As a man speaks to his friend means “as one man speaks to another” (Revised English Bible, New American Bible, New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh). The word for friend also means companion or fellow.

When Moses turned again into the camp, literally “And he returned unto the camp,” continues the idea of repeated action. It is better expressed with the word “would”: “Then Moses would return to the camp” (Good News Translation).

His servant Joshua is literally “and his server Joshua.” This word for servant always suggests a high form of service, including the service of a priest. (See the comment at 28.35.) But this does not suggest that Joshua performed a priestly function. He was rather Moses’ “assistant” (Contemporary English Version). Son of Nun simply identifies Joshua by the name of his father. Nothing more is known of Nun except that he was from the tribe of Ephraim. A young man is simply the word for an unmarried male youth who may also be a servant. (See the comment at 24.5.) Did not depart from the tent is literally “he did not leave from the middle of the tent.” In other words, “he stayed in the tent.”

It is possible to combine verses 9-11 in a way similar to Contemporary English Version:

• Then they would bow down because a cloud in the form of a column would come down and stand in front of the tent. The LORD would then speak to Moses face-to-face, just as a person speaks with a friend. Afterwards Moses would return to the camp, but his young assistant Joshua, the son of Nun, would stay at the tent.

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 .