SIL Translator’s Notes on Joshua 7:12

7:12a

This is why: The Hebrew connector that the Berean Standard Bible translates as This is why introduces the result of what the Israelites have done. Because they stole things dedicated to God, they cannot defeat the town of Ai. You should translate the words This is why with a word or phrase in your language that makes this connection clear.

the Israelites: The phrase the Israelites refers to the Israelite soldiers.

cannot stand against their enemies: The phrase cannot stand against their enemies means that the Israelite army is not able to defeat their enemies. They were not able to defeat the people of Ai, and they will not be able to defeat the people of any other town.

7:12b

They will turn their backs and run from their enemies: The Hebrew phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as They will turn their backs is a Hebrew idiom. It means that the Israelite army turned back and ran away from the soldiers of Ai. If you have a similar idiom in your language, consider using it here.

7:12c

because they themselves have been set apart for destruction: The people of Israel became one of the things which was set apart for Yahweh. The Israelites were told to destroy the things in Jericho. Because they did not do so, now Yahweh will destroy them. If possible, use the same expression for the “thing devoted to destruction” that you used previously (see 6:17 and 7:1).

7:12d

I will no longer be with you: The clause I will no longer be with you expresses a further result of their violating God’s covenant. God will no longer help the Israelite army to defeat their enemies or protect them when they are attacked.

you: The pronoun you is plural. It refers to Joshua and all the Israelites.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

I will not help you anymore (New Century Version)
-or-
I cannot help you anymore (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
I will not remain with you any longer (New Living Translation (2004))

7:12e

unless you remove from among you whatever is devoted to destruction: The Hebrew word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as unless introduces a condition. If the people of Israel do not destroy the devoted things, then God will withdraw his presence and help from them.

remove from among you: This phrase means that the Israelites must not continue to keep the things which belong to Yahweh in their camp.

whatever is devoted to destruction: This phrase refers to the things which Achan stole from Yahweh.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

The things which belong to me
-or-
The things which I told you to destroy
-or-
The things which are set apart for me

General Comment on 7:12d-e

In some languages, it may be clearer to reverse the order of 7:12d and 7:12e. For example, you could say:

12e If you do not destroy the devoted things from among you, 12d then I will no longer be with you ⌊and help you⌋ .

© 2001, 2011, 2020, 2022, 2023 by SIL International®
Made available under the terms of a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License (CC BY-SA) creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0.
All Scripture quotations in this publication, unless otherwise indicated, are from The Holy Bible, Berean Standard Bible.
BSB is produced in cooperation with Bible Hub, Discovery Bible, OpenBible.com, and the Berean Bible Translation Committee.

Subscribe
Notify of
guest
0 Comments
Oldest
Newest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments