So the people of Israel set out from Rameses: After the narrative summary in verses 3-4, this clause repeats the Israelites’ first movement, which was mentioned at the beginning of verse 3 (see the comments there), and forms the beginning of the list of camping places. In many languages it will be appropriate to start a new paragraph here (so Revised Standard Version, Good News Bible). The connector So, which renders the Hebrew waw conjunction, makes it clear that an earlier journey (not another, new one) is being mentioned again.

And encamped at Succoth: For encamped see 1.50. The location of Succoth is unknown. Since the name means “hut” or “booths,” it is more likely that Succoth was not a large city but rather a small town or even a camping place (see A Handbook on Exodus at Exo 12.37).

Quoted with permission from de Regt, Lénart J. and Wendland, Ernst R. A Handbook on Numbers. (UBS Helps for Translators). Miami: UBS, 2016. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .