The people of Israel crossed represents one form of the Masoretic text (“they crossed over”). Another form of the text has “we crossed over” (New American Bible), but the choice represented in Good News Translation seems preferable. In the telling of this story, it was customary for later generations to identify themselves with the generation that crossed over, as it was in the telling of the exodus event. It is probably this tendency that accounts for the two variant readings.

In this verse the kings in Canaan are described as being overcome with fear: “their heart melted” (see 2.11) and “there was no spirit in them” (also in 2.11, see Revised Standard Version). These two idiomatic expressions for extreme fear are perhaps best understood as synonyms; in Hebrew the use of two or more synonymous expressions serves to intensify the degree of fear. In some languages, on the other hand, the use of two or more synonymous expressions tends rather to negate (as with a double negative in English). Good News Translation has changed the metaphors to nonfigurative language (afraid … lost their courage), but other languages will find it more expressive to seek out metaphors that come from their own culture.

Quoted with permission from Bratcher, Robert G. and Newman, Barclay M. A Handbook on Joshua. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1983. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .