Joshua’s greatness as a leader is emphasized. After his death the Israelites continued to be faithful—but only as long as those leaders (Revised Standard Version “the elders”) who had seen the Lord’s great actions were still alive (see the parallel statement in Judges 2.7 and the discouraging epilogue in 2.10).

In order to make this verse more readable, it may be divided into smaller units:

• After Joshua died, the people of Israel remained faithful to the LORD for a while. Their leaders had seen everything that the LORD had done for Israel. So the people remained faithful to the LORD as long as those leaders were alive.

Good News Translation states explicitly that the people of Israel were faithful to the Lord as long as Joshua lived. In this proposed restructuring the people’s faithfulness during Joshua’s lifetime is left implicit, though it is clearly assumed through the use of the verb “remained faithful” (twice): “After Joshua died, the people of Israel remained faithful…. So the people remained faithful….”

Everything includes all the great miracles wrought by the Lord in bringing his people out of Egypt and leading them to the Promised 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 .