Attack them from the rear translates a verb found only here and in Deuteronomy 25.18. The sense in this context is better expressed by Soggin: “cut off their retreat” (so Jerusalem Bible “cut off their line of retreat”). The enemy would obviously be fleeing in retreat back to their fortified cities, where they would be safe, and Joshua orders his men to prevent them from reaching their cities, not simply to harass them from the rear.

The entire sentence (Keep on after the enemy and attack them from the rear; don’t let them get to their cities!) may be more briefly translated, “Keep on pursuing the rest of the enemy. Do not let them escape to their cities!”

Has given you victory over them once again translates the Hebrew idiom “has given them into your hand” (Revised Standard Version). The terminology of Good News Translation may be less abstractly translated as “has placed them in your power” or “will cause you to defeat them.”

Quoted with permission from Bratcher, Robert G. and Newman, Barclay M. A Handbook on Joshua. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1983. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .