7:21a
When I saw among the spoils: The phrase the spoils refers to the things that were taken by the Israelite soldiers when they conquered Jericho.
Here are some other ways to translate the word spoils :
Among the plunder I saw (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
among the booty I saw (Revised English Bible)
-or-
Among the things we seized I saw (Good News Translation)
a beautiful cloak: The Hebrew word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as a cloak refers to the outer garment that an important person wears.
Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:
a beautiful robe
-or-
a beautiful cloak
from Shinar: Shinar is another name for the country of Babylon. You may want to use the more common name, Babylon, in your translation. For example:
a beautiful robe from Babylon (New Living Translation (2004))
In English the adjective form of Babylon is “Babylonian.” Thus, the Good News Translation says:
a beautiful Babylonian cloak (Good News Translation)
7:21b
two hundred shekels of silver: A “shekel” is a measure of weight. It is not a coin. In the time of Joshua there was not yet any coined money. two hundred shekels of silver was about five pounds of silver, or more than two kilograms. The exact weight of a shekel was varied, so these weights are approximations. You can translate this using the standard measure of weight used in your country.
and a bar of gold: The Hebrew word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as bar is literally “tongue.” The gold was probably in a lump similar in shape to the tongue. Use an expression for a large piece of gold that is natural in your language.
Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:
a gold bar (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
a wedge of gold (New International Version)
weighing fifty shekels: The weight, fifty shekels, was a little over one pound or about one-half kilogram. Translate this weight using the standard measure for precious metals in your country.
7:21c
I coveted them: The phrase I coveted them means that Achan wanted to have these things very much. The Hebrew word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as coveted is the same word used in the Ten Commandments in Exodus 20:17.
Here are some other ways to translate the word coveted :
I wanted these things very much for myself (New Century Version)
-or-
I wanted them so much (Good News Translation)
-or-
I wanted them (NET Bible)
and: The Hebrew prefix that the Berean Standard Bible translates as and indicates the next event in the storyline.
took them: The things that Achan took belonged to Yahweh. It may be more appropriate in some languages to translate the word took as “stole.” This is how Yahweh describes Achan’s action in 7:11d.
7:21d
The Hebrew word that the Berean Standard Bible leaves untranslated but some English versions translate as “behold” emphasizes the following word or clause. In this case, it adds emphasis to “They are hidden.” You may have a word or grammatical particle in your language that performs the same function. Many English versions leave this word untranslated.
They are hidden in the ground inside my tent: Achan took the things and buried them in a hole in the ground under his tent. In some languages an active verb may be necessary. For example:
I dug a hole under my tent and hid the silver, the gold, and the robe. (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
I hid them in the earth inside my tent
7:21e
with the silver underneath: Achan buried the silver at the bottom of the hole, with the gold and the robe on top of it.
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