Good News Translation introduces Joshua continued in order to indicate that Joshua is no longer quoting the Lord’s message to them. It is for stylistic reasons alone that the first part of Joshua’s address (Now then) is placed before Joshua continued, which may as easily have been placed first in this verse.

Honor translates a Hebrew verb which has traditionally been rendered “fear” (Revised Standard Version) by the majority of English translations. Here the focus of the verb is upon placing the Lord above all other gods. Serve, in its two occurrences in this verse, may mean either “obey” or “worship.”

The adverbs sincerely and faithfully may be translated as either a verb or a verb plus adjective construction: “be true and faithful.”

Get rid of the gods refers to the literal, physical removal of these gods from the premises. Reference would be to the idols and other items used in the worship of these gods. Even at this time in their history, the people of Israel evidently still carried idols or other objects which enabled them to worship and pray to these deities.

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 .