Numbers 14:4

14:4 So they said to one another, “Let’s appoint a leader and return to Egypt.”

Acts 7:39

7:39 Our ancestors were unwilling to obey him, but pushed him aside and turned back to Egypt in their hearts,

tn Heb “a man to his brother.”

tn The verb is נָתַן (natan, “to give”), but this verb has quite a wide range of meanings in the Bible. Here it must mean “to make,” “to choose,” “to designate” or the like.

tn The word “head” (רֹאשׁ, rosh) probably refers to a tribal chief who was capable to judge and to lead to war (see J. R. Bartlett, “The Use of the Word רֹאשׁ as a Title in the Old Testament,” VT 19 [1969]: 1-10).

tn The form is a cohortative with a vav (ו) prefixed. After the preceding cohortative this could also be interpreted as a purpose or result clause – in order that we may return.

tn Grk “whom our.” The continuation of the sentence as a relative clause is awkward in English, so a new sentence was started in the translation at this point.

tn Or “forefathers”; Grk “fathers.”

sn To obey. Again the theme of the speech is noted. The nation disobeyed the way of God and opted for Egypt over the promised land.

sn Pushed him aside. This is the second time Moses is “pushed aside” in Stephen’s account (see v. 27).