The people of the western tribes were satisfied; they praised God (Revised Standard Version “blessed God”) and gave up all ideas of going to war against the eastern tribes.

In place of beginning this verse with The Israelites were satisfied, some languages will require a link with the preceding events: “When the Israelites heard what Phinehas and the ten men told them, they were satisfied.” It is also possible to translate “The Israelites were satisfied with what Phinehas the priest and their ten leaders reported to them.”

And praised God may take the form of direct discourse: “and they said, ‘Let us praise God.’ ” If the word “praise” requires the reason for praise, one may be supplied: “And they said, ‘Let us praise God for what has happened.’ ” In this context the verb “praise” is equivalent to “give thanks to.”

They no longer talked about … had settled may also need to be formulated as direct discourse: “They no longer said, ‘Let’s make war against the people of Reuben and Gad and destroy their land.’ ”

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 .