7:4a

So: The Berean Standard Bible inserts the word So, which is not found in the Hebrew text. This introduces the result of the advice in 7:3d. Many English versions introduce this result with the word “so.”

Consider what is the most natural way in your language to indicate a result connection.

about three thousand men went up: This clause implies that Joshua sent the three thousand men to Ai, as the spies suggested. In some languages it may be more natural to make this explicit. For example:

Joshua sent about three thousand soldiers to attack Ai (Contemporary English Version)

Notice that the Contemporary English Version included the reason why the men went to Ai, that is, to attack. It may be helpful to make that clear in your translation in some way.

men: The word men indicates “from among the Israelite army.” Only three thousand Israelite soldiers went to Ai. Some English versions omit this phrase because it is implied by the context.

went up: The town of Ai was at a higher elevation than the Israelite camp at Gilgal. The Hebrew language keeps track of elevation, and thus has the word up.

7:4b

but: The Hebrew prefix that the Berean Standard Bible translates as but introduces the next event in the storyline. Mark this next event in a way that is most natural in your language.

Many English versions use a contrastive connector such as but or “however” to show that what happened next is contrary-to-expectation. For example:

but they were routed by the men of Ai (New International Version)

Translate this contrary-to-expectation relation in a way that is most natural in your language.

they fled before the men of Ai: The Hebrew text implies that the Israelites attacked Ai. The men of Ai defeated the Israelites so that the Israelites ran away from the battle. In some languages it may be helpful to make some of this information explicit. For example:

⌊When the soldiers arrived at Ai, they attacked the town. The men of Ai defeated them and⌋ they ran from the battle

they: The word they refers to the three thousand Israelite men.

fled: The word fled indicates that the Israelite army had to run away from the people who were defending Ai.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

they turned back
-or-
they ran away

the men of Ai: This phrase refers to the men who lived in Ai and were defending it against the Israelites. Because they were fighting a battle they could be called:

the soldiers of Ai

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