And Jethro brings the story back to the present after the background information in verses 2-4. Moses’ father-in-law need not be repeated in translation if it seems unnatural (see verse 1 and comment on father-in-law). Came with his sons refers to Moses’ sons, not Jethro’s. Note that the pronoun is his rather than “her,” as in verses 3 and 6. In languages using one pronoun for both masculine and feminine, however, this distinction need not be made explicit if it sounds unnatural and distracts from the flow of the story. And his wife refers to Moses’ wife, Zipporah. Note that Good News Translation places his wife before his sons for more natural English style (so also Jerusalem Bible and New American Bible).

Came … to Moses in the wilderness is literally “and he entered … unto the wilderness.” (See the discussion on wilderness at 15.22.) Where he was encamped means “where his camp was” (Jerusalem Bible), including of course all the Israelites. It is also possible to say “where he was staying,” since the place of habitation rather than the tent is in focus. At the mountain of God is literally “the mountain of ʾelohim,” which is identified in 3.1 as Horeb. The Hebrew has no preposition here, so at must be supplied. This may suggest that the Israelites were already at Mount Sinai, although they did not even reach “the wilderness of Sinai” until 19.1-2. New American Bible and New International Version have “near the mountain of God,” and Contemporary English Version has “near Mount Sinai,” but this suggests more than the text allows. This is another case of two different traditions being joined together without smoothing out the seam. Translators, of course, will have to choose either at or “near.” Good News Translation translates “at the holy mountain.” (See the comment on mountain of God at 3.1.)

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 .