After they had conquered the land (Revised Standard Version “the land lay subdued before them”) comes at the end of verse 1 in Hebrew. Good News Translation places it first for purposes of chronological sequence. The pronoun they refers to the entire community of Israel in the second clause of Good News Translation, but a more natural arrangement would be achieved by changing the order: “After the people of Israel had conquered the land, all of them….”

Shiloh, in the highlands of Ephraim, was 32 kilometers north of Jerusalem. The name has not recently been mentioned in the text, and translation in some languages may require “the city of Shiloh.”

Even though it is true that the entire community of Israel assembled at Shiloh, it is obvious that not all of them set up the Tent of the LORD’s presence. Therefore a new subject may need to be introduced: “… assembled at Shiloh. There the priests and their helpers set up the Tent of the LORD’s presence.”

This is the first time that the Tent of the LORD’s presence has been mentioned in the book. But the Covenant Box implies also the presence of the Tent (see verses 3.3 and 8.33). For the description of the Tent, see Exodus 26. The Tent of the LORD’s presence may be translated “The Tent where the LORD met the people of Israel” or “The Tent where the people of Israel worshiped the LORD.”

The passive structure had not yet been assigned (verse 2) may be translated, “to whom Joshua had not yet assigned.”

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 .