Verses 26-27 are an editorial conclusion to the genealogy and also a bridge that brings the reader back into the narrative. These are the Aaron and Moses points back to verse 20, where Aaron and Moses are listed. This emphasizes the fact that they “were the ones” (Good News Translation) the story is talking about. Aaron is listed first because he was older and because the genealogy focuses more on him. (But note the reverse order, “Moses and Aaron,” at the conclusion of verse 27.) To whom the LORD said refers back to verse 13, where the narrative had been interrupted by the genealogy.

Bring out begins a direct quotation of what the LORD commanded Aaron and Moses to do. (For Bring out see verse 13 and comment.) The people of Israel, of course, are the Israelites who were still in the land of Egypt. By their hosts uses a military term referring to soldiers ready for battle. Some translations have “armies” (New Jerusalem Bible, King James Version), but the Israelites were still slaves and not yet trained for war. Other translations suggest they were simply to be led out “in battle order” (Jerusalem Bible), or “troop by troop” (New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh). Good News Translation on the other hand understands hosts as referring to “the tribes of Israel.” Contemporary English Version has “every family and tribe of Israel.” These are both helpful translation models. (See also 7.4; 12.17, 41, 51.)

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 .