Most translations start a new paragraph here, so the And should either be omitted or translated with an appropriate transitional expression. (But note that New Jerusalem Bible has “At which….”) Durham considers it to be a “special waw,” which he translates as “Immediately.” But it probably means something like “When the king’s officials heard this, they….” Pharaoh’s servants were “The king’s officials,” or “courtiers” (Revised English Bible), who were there with him.
How long, or “Until when,” repeats the same words spoken to him in verse 3, but the reference is to this man, meaning Moses. This man is very likely derogatory and insulting, meaning, for example, “this fellow.” Translators need to find a derogatory term in the receptor language. Be a snare to us means “to give us trouble,” but as a figure of speech it means more. They seem to suspect that Moses is leading them into a trap by means of the continuing plagues. So New Jerusalem Bible has “How much longer are we to be tricked by this fellow?” And Revised English Bible, “How long must we be caught in this man’s toils?” In languages that do not have a passive voice, one may translate, for example, “How much longer will this fellow trick us?” or “Until when are we going to let this fellow trick us?”
Let the men go probably refers to the “Israelite men” (Good News Translation) and not to the women, with the idea that the men would be sure to return to their families after worshiping Yahweh. This is implied in the negotiations that follow in verses 8-11. But New Revised Standard Version and others (New International Version, New Jerusalem Bible, Contemporary English Version) use the inclusive “people,” suggesting that keeping the women behind was the king’s idea rather than that of his advisers, some of whom were supposed to be “wise men” (see 7.11). This interpretation is the more likely one. That they may worship the LORD their God refers back to the demand in verse 3.
Do you not yet understand is a rhetorical question that expresses both the fear of the officials and their impatience with the king. That Egypt is ruined uses the verb meaning “to be lost” or “to perish.” It is an exaggerated emotional statement that should not be weakened, as it is in New Jerusalem Bible (“on the brink of ruin”) or New American Bible (“is being destroyed”). In languages that do not use rhetorical questions and have no passive voice, this sentence may be expressed as “You must realize by now that this man [Moses] has already ruined Egypt.”
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 .