Before this translates “Now … formerly” (Revised Standard Version) of the Hebrew text. Further definition may be necessary; for example, “Before the city of Hebron belonged to Caleb, it was called…” or “Before Caleb captured the city of Hebron….”

The city of Arba is a translation of the Hebrew Kiriath Arba (which Revised Standard Version transliterates). In 15.13 Arba is said to have been the father of Anak (for whom the Anakim were named). The first sentence of this verse may then be translated, “Before the city of Hebron belonged to Caleb, its name was Arba City.” The parenthetical statement would then say “A man named Arba had been the greatest of the Anakim.” It may also be advisable to remove the parentheses markers (round brackets), except for rather sophisticated readers.

There was now peace in the land translates “And the land had rest from war” (Revised Standard Version). Many languages will have idiomatic expressions which will be quite satisfactory for the rendering of this statement.

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 .