Verse 8 reports that Joshua’s order was obeyed, and the twelve stones were taken from the middle of the Jordan and placed at the camping place. Translators often find it difficult to place the clause As the LORD had commanded Joshua in a satisfactory position in the text. Grammatically it may be less complicated to include it as a coordinate clause in the first sentence: “The man followed Joshua’s orders and did as the LORD had commanded him.”

Difficult also is the positioning of one for each of the tribes of Israel. It may be less difficult if placed at the end of the verse as a separate statement: “They took twelve stones from the middle of the Jordan, carried them to the camping place, and put them down there. These twelve stones represented the twelve tribes of Israel.” Or “… Each of these stones represented one of the twelve tribes of Israel.”

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 .