7:23a
The Hebrew word that the Berean Standard Bible leaves untranslated but some English versions translate as “and” indicates the next event in the storyline. Translate it in a way that is natural in your language.
They: The word They here refers to the men whom Joshua sent to search for the stolen things.
the things: The phrase the things refers to the three stolen things.
7:23b
The Hebrew word that the Berean Standard Bible leaves untranslated but some English versions translate as “and” indicates the next event in the storyline. Translate it in a way that is natural in your language.
brought them to Joshua and all the Israelites: The pronoun them here refers to the stolen things which the messengers found buried in the tent. The men who searched Achan’s tent brought the stolen things to Joshua and the people.
7:23c
and: The Hebrew word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as and indicates the next event in the storyline.
spread them out: The men spread out the stolen things on the ground before Joshua, so that everyone could see them.
before the LORD: The phrase before the LORD means “in the presence of Yahweh.” The presence of Yahweh is represented by the ark of the covenant, which was in the Tent of Meeting. The men spread out the stolen things in front of the Tent of Meeting.
Here are some other ways to translate this part of the verse:
spread them out on the ground before the Lord (New Century Version)
-or-
they laid them on the ground in the presence of the Lord (New Living Translation (2004))
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