Be faithful to translates a verb meaning “join to,” “stay with”; New English Bible “hold fast to”; Jerusalem Bible “be loyal to.” The two clauses be faithful to the LORD, as you have been till now may be inverted so as to reflect proper historical sequence: “You have always been faithful to the LORD, so continue to be faithful to him.”

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 .