They recall the enormous sin at Peor (see Num 25.1-9) as a result of which twenty-four thousand Israelites were killed by an epidemic; they were all still suffering because of that (Revised Standard Version “even yet we have not cleansed ourselves”).

Remember our sin…. Wasn’t that sin enough? apparently translates the Hebrew “Was that sin too little for us?” New English Bible translates “Was that offense so slight…?” and Revised Standard Version “Have we not had enough of the sin…?” The intent of the Hebrew seems to be to suggest that the sin of building an altar to a god other than the Lord is worse than the sin which the Israelites earlier committed at Peor.

Both the possessive pronoun our and the phrase his own people have the same referent, though this is not clear in Good News Translation. With somewhat more clarity the verse may be translated, “Remember what a terrible sin we (inclusive) committed against the LORD at Peor. The LORD punished us with an epidemic, even though we are his own people. And we are still suffering because of that sin.” Instead of the positive Remember, a negative “Do not forget” may also be used.

The inclusion of a footnote, explaining what happened at Peor, or at least giving the scripture reference, or both, may be useful. The precise extent of the note will depend upon the intended readers and whether the edition is a complete Old Testament, or a volume of Old Testament selections in which Numbers 25.1-9 may not be included.

Two further observations may be made regarding the verse: (1) The word epidemic may be translated “a terrible disease that killed many people.” (2) If the form of Good News Translation is maintained, the question Wasn’t that sin enough? should not lead the reader to conclude that it was not enough.

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 .