Paragraph 7:16–18

Yahweh chose Achan as the man who was guilty of the sin.

7:16a

So: The Hebrew connector that the Berean Standard Bible translates as So introduces the result of God’s instructions to Joshua and Israel. Use a natural way in your language to indicate a result.

Joshua arose early the next morning: The Hebrew verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates as arose early can also be translated as:

woke up early
-or-
got up early

7:16b

and had Israel come forward tribe by tribe: Joshua told the people of Israel to come and stand in front of the entrance to the Tent of Meeting. Then each tribe came forward one tribe at a time.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

Joshua had Israel come forward by tribes (New International Version)
-or-
he made Israel come forward tribe by tribe (New Jerusalem Bible)

7:16c

and the tribe of Judah was selected: The phrase was selected means that God chose the tribe of Judah. The method of choosing is unknown, but many scholars believe that they cast lots. To cast lots they threw small stones. The way the stones fell on the ground indicated the choice. The Israelites believed that God governed the way the stones fell.

The verb phrase was selected is passive. If you need to use an active verb in your language these are some ways you could translate this phrase:

the Lord chose the tribe of Judah (New Century Version)
-or-
the lot indicated the tribe was Judah (New Jerusalem Bible)

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