Through repetition, this verse emphasizes the close relationship between the people of Israel and the LORD: they served him all the days of Joshua, and all the days of the elders who outlived Joshua. The same information is given with slightly different wording in verse 24.31.
And the people served the LORD: The Hebrew waw conjunction rendered And introduces a kind of summary statement covering that time period. Many languages will not need to use a conjunction here (New International Version, NET Bible). For people (ʿam in Hebrew), see verse 2.4. The Hebrew verb rendered served (ʿabad) is central to a description of Israel’s relationship to the LORD. It is a broad word that includes the idea of “worship” (New Revised Standard Version), as well as a certain behavior and way of living. The root of this verb also expresses the notion of slavery, so the idea of “serving” is very prominent. In many languages served the LORD can be rendered literally if this does not signify working for a salary. It might be possible to say “followed the LORD” or “remained faithful to the LORD” (Contemporary English Version), in the sense that this was their regular practice. Far from designating an employer-employee relationship, this verb expresses a profound link between two parties characterized by loyalty and faithfulness.
All the days of Joshua, and all the days of the elders who outlived Joshua: This gives the time period that the people faithfully served the LORD. Throughout the Old Testament, a frequent theme is that the spiritual state of the national leaders and the people’s faithfulness to the LORD are closely linked. All the days refers to a given time period, in this context covering the life span of Joshua and the elders. If a literal reference to days is not acceptable, the translator can say “throughout the lives of…,” “throughout the lifetime of…,” or “during the whole time that….” The word all is part of the literary flavor in this book, so if possible, it should be maintained.
For Joshua see verse 1.1.
The elders who outlived Joshua translates a Hebrew idiom that is literally “the old ones who lengthened days after Joshua.” These leaders assisted Moses and then Joshua, who took Moses’ place. The Hebrew word translated elders refers to the older men who headed up each tribe. This system of governance is still very common in many places around the world, and thus an expression such as “old persons” or “stay-long-persons” will have the same positive connotation as in Hebrew. These people are seen as wise and worthy of respect. If old people are not respected in the translator’s culture, or the term has negative connotations, it may be necessary to say “those respected old men” or “leaders.” In some cultures these men would be considered ancestors or “fathers,” so that might be a term that can be used here as well.
Those who outlived Joshua refer to people from Joshua’s generation who lived longer than he did. They died after Joshua died.
Who had seen all the great work which the LORD had done for Israel: This relative clause describes both Joshua and the elders and shows why the Israelites were able to remain faithful to the LORD. They had experienced “close up” what God had done for the Israelites. Who had seen … is a relative clause, but many languages may prefer to start a new sentence here, for example, “These men had seen…” or “They were the ones who had seen….” Though the Hebrew verb rendered seen can mean “to see with the eyes,” here it has a broader meaning. These leaders “participated in,” “witnessed,” or “experienced” what the LORD had done. The English idiomatic expression “saw with their own eyes” expresses this meaning well. Good News Translation says “had seen for themselves,” which is another good model. Revised Standard Version uses the past anterior verb tense, had seen, which shows that this event is something that happened before the main line of events in this passage.
All the great work which the LORD had done for Israel refers certainly to all the LORD had done for Israel. But here the focus is probably on the incredible deliverance from the Egyptians at the Sea of Reeds (Exo 14.21-31), along with the other miracles of the exodus from Egypt, including God’s provision of food and water as the people crossed the desert. It is important to remember that most people died in the desert, while the heroes, Joshua and Caleb, and their families survived. In Hebrew both the noun rendered work and the verb had done come from the same root, meaning “do” or “make.” So we might speak of “his great deeds” or “the great things he has done.” The Hebrew adjective for great often refers to size or number, but in this context it seems to signal importance or significance. The things the LORD did were not small feats, but works of magnitude. New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh says “marvelous,” and Contemporary English Version has “wonderful.” Some translators may wish to be more specific, with “the wonderful deliverance” or “the great saving work,” but in most languages a general expression can be used, for example, “all the wonderful things.”
The LORD is the subject of the verb had done. Some languages may have another verb that would be appropriate here, such as “carried out” or “brought to pass.” For Israel means “on behalf of [or, for the benefit of] the people of Israel.” The great work was not just for Joshua and his assistants but for the entire people of Israel.
Some possible models for this verse are:
• The people were faithful to the LORD throughout Joshua’s life, as well as during the time of those leaders who outlived him. These men had witnessed all the wonderful things that the LORD had done for Israel.
• As long as Joshua lived and then as long as the elders who lived longer than Joshua were alive, the people served Yahweh. These men had seen [with their own eyes] the great deeds Yahweh had performed for Israel.
Quoted with permission from Zogbo, Lynell and Ogden, Graham S. A Handbook on Judges. (UBS Helps for Translators). Miami: UBS, 2019. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .