Joshua calls together the Israelites, including all their leaders—elders, leaders, judges, and officers (see verses 1.10; 8.33)—and addresses them. He reminds them of how the Lord has defeated all the nations in Canaan as he fought for his people (see verses 10.14, 42; also 23.10). If elders, leaders, judges, and officers are taken in apposition to all Israel, then the meaning is that Joshua called together these people as representatives of all Israel. Accordingly the text may be translated, “So Joshua called together the representatives from all the tribes of Israel. He called together their elders, leaders, judges, and officers. Then he said….”

I am very old now translates the Hebrew idiom “I am old, having gone forward in days.” Revised Standard Version translates “I am now old and well advanced in years.” It is legitimate also to translate “I am now very old and do not have much longer to live.”

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 .