5:3a

So Joshua made flint knives: It may be more natural in some languages not to repeat the information contained in the previous verse.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

So Joshua did so
-or-
Then Joshua made the knives

5:3b

and circumcised the sons of Israel: The phrase the sons of Israel refers to the Israelite men who were not yet circumcised. Women were not circumcised.

at Gibeath-haaraloth: The phrase Gibeath-haaraloth is a Hebrew phrase meaning “hill of the foreskins.” It may be better to translate the meaning of this phrase. For example:

Circumcision Hill (Good News Translation)
-or-
the hill of the foreskins (King James Version)

If you transliterate the phrase Gibeath-haaraloth, a footnote may be helpful. Here is a sample footnote:

FOOTNOTE: Gibeath-haaraloth means “hill of the foreskins”

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