And the people murmured against Moses uses a word repeated several times in these chapters and in the book of Numbers. It describes the complaining of the people throughout their wilderness wandering. Most English translations use either “complained” or “grumbled.” This “murmuring motif,” as it has been called, shows how much difficulty Moses had in building a relationship with the people.

Saying introduces what the people said. Since it is a question, Good News Translation has “and asked.” What shall we drink? may be either inclusive or exclusive. In languages that require one or the other, the exclusive form of we may be preferable, since it sets the people apart from Moses and agrees more with the “murmuring motif.” This question is not a request for information but almost a statement of despair. This may be stated as “We don’t have anything to drink now!” If the question form is kept in translation, one may also say “What are we to drink now?” or “What can we drink now?”

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 .