32:16 Then they came very close to him and said, “We will build sheep folds here for our flocks and cities for our families, 2
1 tc The words “its mother” and “its flesh” are among the so-called tiqqune sopherim, or “emendations of the scribes.” According to this tradition the text originally had here “our mother” and “our flesh,” but the ancient scribes changed these pronouns from the first person to the third person. Apparently they were concerned that the image of Moses’ mother giving birth to a baby with physical defects of the sort described here was somehow inappropriate, given the stature and importance of Moses.
2 tn Heb “our little ones.”
3 tn Heb “that which goes out/has gone out of your mouth.”