Good News Translation begins a new paragraph with this verse, since it marks a change of scene. The three clauses (a, b, c) may have to be rearranged as Good News Translation has done, to agree with the sequence of events.

• a. They met M and A

• b. who were waiting

• c. as they came forth

• c. As they were leaving

• a. they met M and A

• b. who were waiting

They refers to the Israelite foremen in verse 19. Met Moses and Aaron uses the same word for met as in 5.3. It may have been an unexpected meeting. New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh and New American Bible have “they came upon.” New English Bible and New International Version, however, have “they found,” and Contemporary English Version has “they went to see.” Either is possible.

At any rate, Moses and Aaron were waiting for them. The Hebrew may be understood either as “standing to meet them” or “standing opposite them.” New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh has “standing in their path,” and Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch even has “went to meet them.” This suggests that Moses and Aaron were eager to learn the result of the foremen’s audience with the king.

As they came forth from Pharaoh is placed first in most English translations. This rearrangement avoids confusion about the they, which of course refers to the foremen. Came forth suggests that they had been inside the palace. (See the comment on “came” at 5.15.) But this is also implied with “As they were leaving” (Good News Translation). From Pharaoh means “from Pharaoh’s presence” (New English Bible and others) without mentioning the palace. Some prefer to say “When they left Pharaoh” (New International Version and others). Another possible translation is “After they left the king” (Contemporary English Version).

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 .