Exodus 1:12

1:12 But the more the Egyptians ¹  oppressed them, the more they multiplied and spread. ²  As a result the Egyptians loathed ³  the Israelites,

Exodus 17:11

17:11 Whenever Moses would raise his hands, ⁴  then Israel prevailed, but whenever he would rest ⁵  his hands, then Amalek prevailed.

[1:12]  ¹ tn Heb “they”; the referent (the Egyptians) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[1:12]  ² tn The imperfect tenses in this verse are customary uses, expressing continual action in past time (see GKC 315 §107.e). For other examples of כַּאֲשֶׁר (ka’asher) with כֵּן (ken) expressing a comparison (“just as…so”) see Gen 41:13; Judg 1:7; Isa 31:4.

[1:12]  ³ tn Heb “they felt a loathing before/because of”; the referent (the Egyptians) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[17:11]  ⁴ tn The two verbs in the temporal clauses are by וְהָיָה כַּאֲשֶׁר (vÿhaya ka’asher, “as long as” or, “and it was that whenever”). This indicates that the two imperfect tenses should be given a frequentative translation, probably a customary imperfect.

[17:11]  ⁵ tn Or “lower.”