Exodus 14:5

14:5 When it was reported 1  to the king of Egypt that the people had fled, 2  the heart of Pharaoh and his servants was turned against the people, and the king and his servants said, 3  “What in the world have we done? 4  For we have released the people of Israel 5  from serving us!”

Exodus 18:14

18:14 When Moses’ father-in-law saw all that he was doing for the people, he said, “What is this 6  that you are doing for the people? 7  Why are you sitting by yourself, and all the people stand around you from morning until evening?”

Exodus 33:16

33:16 For how will it be known then that I have found favor in your sight, I and your people? Is it not by your going with us, so that we will be distinguished, I and your people, from all the people who are on the face of the earth?” 8 

1 tn Heb “and it was told.” The present translation uses “reported,” since this involves information given to a superior.

2 tn The verb must be given a past perfect translation because the fleeing occurred before the telling.

3 tn Heb “and they said.” The referent (the king and his servants) is supplied for clarity.

4 tn The question literally is “What is this we have done?” The demonstrative pronoun is used as an enclitic particle for emphasis (R. J. Williams, Hebrew Syntax, 24, §118).

5 tn Heb “released Israel.” By metonymy the name of the nation is used collectively for the people who constitute it (the Israelites).

6 tn Heb “what is this thing.”

7 sn This question, “what are you doing for the people,” is qualified by the next question. Sitting alone all day and the people standing around all day showed that Moses was exhibiting too much care for the people – he could not do this.

8 sn See W. Brueggemann, “The Crisis and Promise of Presence in Israel,” HBT 1 (1979): 47-86; and N. M. Waldman, “God’s Ways – A Comparative Note,” JQR 70 (1979): 67-70.