And he said to the elders may present a problem in sequence, for verse 13 says that Moses had already gone up higher on the mountain. New Revised Standard Version and others add the pluperfect, “To the elders he had said,” which is suggested only by the context. (See the comment on the pluperfect at 12.35.) In languages where the pluperfect is not easily expressed, one may say “Before he went up, he said to the elders.” Good News Translation makes this adjustment in verse 13 by saying “Moses began to go up” rather than simply “Moses went up.”

Tarry here for us is literally “Sit down for us in this [place],” which suggests that Joshua went part way with Moses. Good News Translation has “Wait here in the camp for us,” but “in the camp” is not in the Hebrew. This is an interpretation based on the reference to Hur, who was not included in the list of 24.1 and 9. (But see 17.10.) There is no suggestion that they all returned to the foot of the mountain after verse 11. So translators are urged to simply say “wait here until….” Until we come to you again is literally “until when we [Moses and Joshua] will return unto you [plural].”

And, behold is omitted in most translations, but Durham has “Look.” Aaron and Hur are with you suggests that Hur held an important position as a judge along with Aaron. (See 17.10 and 18.25-26.) Whoever has a cause is literally “who [is] an owner of words,” which is an idiom for “anyone who has a legal dispute” (Translator’s Old Testament), or “anyone involved in a dispute” (New International Version). Let him go to them is literally “he will approach them.” The idea here is that Aaron and Hur are authorized to settle major disputes in Moses’ absence. Contemporary English Version has “they can settle any arguments while we are away.”

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 .