And he did not lay his hand refers to God (ʾelohim) in verse 10. Literally it says “he did not stretch out his hand.” (See 3.20.) This is an expression that means to “smite” (New American Bible) or “harm” (Good News Translation). On the chief men of the people of Israel uses an adjective that means “eminent” or “prominent.” This refers to the seventy-four men of verse 9, including Moses of course, as “the leading men of Israel” (Good News Translation), “the Israelite notables” (New Jerusalem Bible), or “these leaders of Israel” (Contemporary English Version). It also records an exception to the belief that no one could see God and live (see 33.20).

They beheld God uses a word used less frequently than the word for “saw” in verse 10, although it often means the same thing. Here it suggests seeing or perceiving with greater intensity. And ate and drank is generally understood to refer to a covenant meal, similar to the meal shared by Jethro and the elders of Israel following a sacrifice to God. (See 18.12.) Good News Translation brings out the communal aspect, “And then they ate and drank together.” There is no indication that God shared in the meal, but it seems clear that it was in God’s presence. It is also possible to reorder the clauses of this verse as follows: “Even though these leaders of Israel actually saw God, he did not harm them. So they ate and drank together.”

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 .