The first sentence of this verse may be inverted: “You did not plant any crops on that land, and you did not build any of its cities. But I gave it all to you.” Or, in order to maintain a strong focus upon the Lord as the one who provided these things for the people of Israel: “I was the one who gave you their land and their cities, You did not have to plant any crops or build any cities.”

It is possible to divide the second sentence of this verse into two sentences: “You are now living in this land I gave you. You are eating grapes from vines that you did not plant, and olives from trees that did not plant.” That you did not plant may also be translated “that other people planted” or “that were planted by the people who lived there before you.”

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 .