5:4a

Now this is why Joshua circumcised them: The phrase this is why refers ahead to verses 5:5–7 and adds emphasis. Choose a word or phrase that naturally indicates emphasis in your language. For example:

Joshua had to circumcise them because (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
this is why it was necessary to circumcise them

5:4b

All those who came out of Egypt—all the men of war: The two phrases All those who came out of Egypt and all the men of war refer to the same group of people and can be translated by one phrase. For example:

all the men old enough to serve in the army (New Century Version)
-or-
all the soldiers (God’s Word)
-or-
all the men of military age (New International Version)

who came out of Egypt: Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

After the Israelites left Egypt, all the men old enough to serve in the army (New Century Version)
-or-
All the men who were old enough to fight in battle when they left Egypt (New Living Translation (2004))

5:4c

had died on the journey in the wilderness: The clause had died on the journey in the wilderness indicates that the men old enough to fight died while they walked through the wilderness.

after they had left Egypt: It may be redundant to translate this phrase in some languages because this information is already included in 5:4b.

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