Paragraph 3:9-13

Joshua told the people about the miracle that Yahweh will do.

3:9a

So: The Hebrew conjunction that the Berean Standard Bible translates as So indicates the next action in the story. This is the beginning of a new paragraph. Make sure your translation indicates a new paragraph in a natural way.

Here is another way to translate this word:

Then

Joshua told the Israelites: In the previous paragraph Yahweh gave Joshua instructions about how to cross the Jordan River. In this paragraph Joshua passed these instructions on to the Israelites.

Here are some other ways to translate this part of the verse:

Then Joshua said to the Israelites
-or-
Joshua told the Israelite people

3:9b

Come here: The clause Come here is a command.

Here are some other ways to translate this part of the verse:

Come (plur.) here to me
-or-
Come near me

3:9c

and listen to the words of the LORD your God: The clause listen to the words of the LORD your God is the second part of the command that Joshua gave to the Israelites.

Here is another way to translate this part of the verse:

and listen to what Yahweh your (plur.) God says

General Comment on 3:9a-c

In some languages it may be more natural to use an indirect quotation. For example:

Joshua told the people of Israel to come and hear the words of Yahweh their God.

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