But Moses called to them implies that the people were some distance from him. And Aaron and all … returned to him suggests that they had come out to meet him, but then drew back when they saw his shining face. New International Version says that they “came back to him.” Good News Translation and Contemporary English Version do not reflect this double movement of coming near, drawing back, and then returning to him. All the leaders of the congregation probably refers to all the tribal leaders. The same expression is used in 16.22. (For congregation see the comment at 12.3.) Good News Translation has “all the leaders of the community.”

And Moses talked with them is literally “and Moses spoke unto them.” This suggests that Moses did most of the talking. What he said is not indicated, but we may assume he assured them that Yahweh had been willing to renew the covenant.

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 .