Then is the usual conjunction waw, but it marks the next event after the people arrived in Etham (see 13.20). Since this is the first verse of a new chapter, it will be helpful to connect it to the previous one. To do this, one may say, for example, “At the place called Etham the LORD…” or “While the Israelites were camped outside the place called Etham, the LORD….” Then the LORD said to Moses is literally “And Yahweh spoke [diber] to Moses, saying [ʾamar].” This longer form in the Hebrew, identical with 13.1 and 6.10, is understood by some to be a discourse marker introducing a larger unit. However, it means the same as the shorter form, “And Yahweh said [ʾamar] to Moses,” in 12.43 and 14.15.

Tell the people of Israel is literally “you [singular] speak to the sons of Israel.” To turn back, literally “and they will turn back,” is not a direct quote. However, in a number of languages this will become direct speech and will be in quotes; for example, “Tell the people of Israel, ‘You must turn back….’ ” The basic meaning of the word is to return, but here it means to change direction, or “turn about” (New American Bible), in order probably to move toward the north. And encamp is the same word as in 13.20. In front of Pi-ha-hiroth refers to a town that cannot easily be located today. It is two words in the Hebrew. The word Pi means “mouth,” and the town is called Hahiroth in Num 33.8. Here, however, it is best to treat the two words as another name for the same town. Another way to express this sentence is “You must turn around and go and set up your tents in front of the town of Pi Hahiroth.”

Between Migdol and the sea gives us more information, but the location of Migdol is also uncertain. The context suggests somewhere in northeastern Egypt. The sea may refer either to the Red Sea or to a shallow body of water farther north. Since this is uncertain, it is better to translate simply the sea. In front of Baal-zephon probably identifies another town near Migdol. It also is written in two words in the Hebrew, possibly meaning “Baal of the North.” You shall encamp over against it is still spoken to Moses, but the you plural includes the Israelites as well. The it refers to Baal-zephon. By the sea simply repeats the same words and may be omitted.

An alternative translation model for this verse is:

• At the place called Etham the LORD said to Moses, “Say to the Israelites, ‘You must turn around and go and set up your tents in front of the town of Pi Hahiroth near the town of Baal Zephon. This is between the town of Migdol and the sea.

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 .