Paragraph 6:26

This paragraph is a final statement about the destruction of Jericho. Even the land that Jericho is built upon is devoted to Yahweh for destruction. The town was to be left for Yahweh only. Anybody who disobeyed Yahweh would be punished.

6:26a

At that time: The phrase At that time refers to the time after the Israelites defeated Jericho. For example:

After Jericho was destroyed… (Contemporary English Version)

Joshua invoked this solemn oath: The clause Joshua invoked this solemn oath means that Joshua warned the Israelites.

invoked this solemn oath: The expression invoked this solemn oath can be expressed in many ways. For example:

Joshua made this solemn declaration (NET Bible)
-or-
Joshua issued a solemn warning (Good News Translation)
-or-
Joshua pronounced this curse (Revised English Bible)

solemn oath: A solemn oath is a promise, declaration, or warning.

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

Joshua laid an oath upon them at that time, saying, “Cursed before the Lord… (Revised Standard Version)
-or-
After Jericho was destroyed, Joshua said this curse. He said to them, “Yahweh will punish…

6:26b

Cursed before the LORD is the man: The phrase Cursed before the LORD is the man indicates that Yahweh will curse anyone who rebuilds Jericho.

Here is another way to translate this phrase:

Yahweh will punish anybody who rebuilds Jericho

man: The Hebrew word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as man is more literally “person.” (In other contexts the word can mean a “male person.”) You should use a word such as “person” or “anyone.”

who rises up and rebuilds: The Hebrew word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as rises up refers to the beginning of an action.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

anybody who starts to rebuild
-or-
the person who tries to rebuild

this city, Jericho: The words this city and Jericho refer to the same place.

Here is another way to translate this phrase:

Jericho town

6:26c

at the cost of his firstborn: The phrase at the cost of his firstborn means that if anyone lays the foundation of the town of Jericho, their oldest son will die.

he will lay its foundations: The word foundations refers to the foundation of the town wall.

In some languages it may be clearer to reorder the parts of 6:26c. For example:

If anyone lays the foundation for the town wall, that person’s oldest son will die.

6:26d

at the cost of his youngest: The phrase at the cost of his youngest means if he sets up its gates, his youngest son will die.

he will set up its gates: The gates refer to the gates in the town wall.

In some languages it may be clearer to reorder the parts of 6:26d. For example:

If anyone sets up the gates to the town, that person’s youngest son will die.

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