And all the Egyptians is probably another example of hyperbole, or exaggeration for literary effect, for not all of the people of Egypt lived near the river, although most of them undoubtedly did. Most languages and cultures will understand this, so it should not be modified. More important is the implication that only the Egyptians, not the Israelites, were affected by this plague.

Dug around the Nile means that they “dug along the bank of the river” (Good News Translation). By digging holes in the sand and silt, they probably expected to find “drinking water” (Good News Translation) with the odor and impurity filtered out. The text does not say whether they were successful. They could not drink is literally “they were not able to drink,” as in Good News Translation. As in verse 18, it is not clear whether this was because of the blood or because of the bad smell.

Quoted with permission from Osborn, Noel D. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on Exodus. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1999. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .