Translation commentary on Joshua 22:28

It was our idea that is introduced by Good News Translation to help made a smooth transition from the previous verse. The same effect may be gained by translating, “We built this altar so that….”

If this should ever happen may be translated “if your descendants should ever say this to our descendants.”

Verse 28 specifies that the altar built near the Jordan was just like the LORD’s altar—but it was not meant to compete with the one legitimate altar of the Lord at Shiloh.

It was not for burning offerings or for sacrifice may be translated, “They did not build it to burn offerings or sacrifice.”

But as a sign for our people and yours may be clearer if rendered, “but they built it to show that we also belong to the LORD.”

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 .

Translation commentary on Joshua 24:14

Good News Translation introduces Joshua continued in order to indicate that Joshua is no longer quoting the Lord’s message to them. It is for stylistic reasons alone that the first part of Joshua’s address (Now then) is placed before Joshua continued, which may as easily have been placed first in this verse.

Honor translates a Hebrew verb which has traditionally been rendered “fear” (Revised Standard Version) by the majority of English translations. Here the focus of the verb is upon placing the Lord above all other gods. Serve, in its two occurrences in this verse, may mean either “obey” or “worship.”

The adverbs sincerely and faithfully may be translated as either a verb or a verb plus adjective construction: “be true and faithful.”

Get rid of the gods refers to the literal, physical removal of these gods from the premises. Reference would be to the idols and other items used in the worship of these gods. Even at this time in their history, the people of Israel evidently still carried idols or other objects which enabled them to worship and pray to these deities.

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 .

Translation commentary on Joshua 2:16

The hill country would be the region on the west side of the Jordan River.

It may be more effective to place the two commands Go … Hide in closer relation to one another; for example, “Go into the hill country and hide, so that the king’s men will not find you. Stay (hidden) there….”

As the spies leave, she advises them to stay hidden in the hills for three days, that is, until two days later (see 1.11). For three days until they come back may be translated, “They will look for you for three days, and then will come back.”

After that, you can go on your way may be translated “After they return, you can go safely back to your camp.”

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 .

Translation commentary on Joshua 4:14

Verse 14 tells how the promise made in 3.7 is fulfilled (see also 1.5, 17). The Hebrew verb translated honored means basically “to fear, to be in awe of”; Revised Standard Version “stood in awe of”; An American Translation, New English Bible “revered”; New American Bible “respected.” The first sentence of this verse in Good News Translation represents considerable restructuring of the text, which in Hebrew is more literally rendered by Revised Standard Version, “On that day the LORD exalted Joshua in the sight of all Israel.” The means by which the Lord “exalted” Joshua (Revised Standard Version) was the miraculous act of bringing the people of Israel across the Jordan River, and the Good News Translation restructuring represents an attempt to make this meaning explicit. The verb “exalted” is represented in Good News Translation by made … consider … a great man. One may translate the first part of the verse “On that day the LORD placed Joshua in high esteem among the Israelites.”

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 .

Translation commentary on Joshua 6:19

All the metal objects were to be placed in the LORD’s treasury (see verse 24). Good News Translation is set apart for the LORD translates the Hebrew phrase “is holy to the LORD,” which means that all those metal utensils were to be used in the Israelite worship ceremonies: they were sacred vessels and were not to be used for ordinary purposes. A translation should make clear the distinction between “be holy to the LORD” and “be devoted (for destruction) to the LORD.”

Everything made of … is set apart for the LORD may be translated as an active: “Set apart for the LORD everything made of….” The passive structure It is to be put … may also be rendered as an active “We will put it….”

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 .

Translation commentary on Joshua 8:1

Now that Israel has been purged of sin, the Lord is ready to allow the Israelites to capture the city of Ai. He orders Joshua to proceed (verses 1-2). Joshua explains his strategy to his troops (verses 3-9), and the next day the campaign against the city is successfully executed. The city is captured and destroyed, and all its inhabitants, including the king, are killed (verses 10-29). Thus the Lord again demonstrates his invincible power, to which the ruins of the city and the huge pile of stones over the king’s grave are eloquent if mute witnesses.

Good News Translation rearranges the sequence of God’s instructions to Joshua by placing the command Take all the soldiers with you and go on up to Ai as the first part of God’s instructions. For the actual order of the Hebrew, see Revised Standard Version, which begins with the command for Joshua not to be afraid.

All the soldiers may be translated “all the soldiers of Israel” or “all your soldiers.” And the command go on up to Ai may need to be more specific: “attack the city of Ai a second time.” In Hebrew the natural way of saying this would be to use the directive “go up,” because the cities of Ancient Palestine were customarily built on hills or mountains for the sake of protection.

The Lord says to Joshua, Don’t be afraid or discouraged (as in 1.9), for he, the Lord, will give Joshua and his men victory. The Hebrew verbs translated be afraid and discouraged are virtually synonyms, except that the verb translated discouraged literally means “be shattered” or “be filled with terror.” This is a very strong formula in Hebrew, and it should be rendered in a way which is most effective in the receptor language, whether with a single verb or with two verbs. If the pattern of Good News Translation is followed, one may translate “Do not be afraid of the people of Ai! Do not be discouraged because of what happened before!” Using a single verb one may render “Do not be frightened!” or “Do not be the least bit frightened!”

The city, its king, his people, and all his land will be handed over to Joshua (Revised Standard Version “I have given into your hand”). Give you victory over and will be yours translate the one verb rendered “given into your hand” by Revised Standard Version. Many languages will have quite vivid idioms for describing power over one’s enemies. It may be more effective if a single verb is used; for example, “I have placed in your power the king of Ai, his people, his city, and his 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 .

Translation commentary on Joshua 9:4 - 9:5

In verse 4 They … got some food (Revised Standard Version “made ready provisions”) translates a Hebrew verb found in some Hebrew manuscripts and the ancient versions (and also in verse 12 in the Masoretic text); the Masoretic text has a verb found only here in the Old Testament, and it seems to mean here “disguise oneself as messenger” (Soggin; see King James Version “made as if they had been ambassadors”); Bible de Jérusalem says the form is unintelligible. New English Bible, Traduction œcuménique de la Bible prefer Masoretic text; Revised Standard Version, Good News Translation, New American Bible, Bible de Jérusalem, Jerusalem Bible translate the textual variant. Hebrew Old Testament Text Project also prefers the Masoretic text but evaluates its choice a “C” rating, indicating “considerable doubt.”

The two occurrences of the pronoun they in this verse do not refer absolutely to the same people. In its first occurrence (they decided) the reference is to all the people of Gibeon; its second occurrence (They went), however, refers to only a part of the people of Gibeon (see verse 11). Therefore They went may be translated, “Some of them went.”

Verses 4-5 give in detail the elaborate trick they used: worn-out sacks (in which they placed their provisions) on their donkeys; they wore ragged clothes and worn-out sandals that had been mended, and supplied themselves with bread that was dry and moldy. All of this would give the impression that they had finished a long, arduous journey from some far-off place.

By placing items of food and clothing in two separate groups, it is possible to translate verses 4-5 as a unit. This can be done with either exegesis: (1) By accepting the textual variant with Good News Translation and Revised Standard Version (“made ready provisions”), and by equating food (verse 4) with bread (verse 5):

• They put on ragged clothes and worn-out sandals that had been mended. Then they loaded their donkeys with worn-out sacks and patched-up wineskins, and took along bread that was dry and moldy.

(2) By accepting the alternative textual possibility (“disguise oneself as a messenger”):

• Several of them dressed themselves as messengers from a distant land. They put on ragged clothes and worn-out sandals that had been mended. They loaded their donkeys with worn-out sacks and patched up wineskins, and they took along bread that was dry and moldy.

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 .

Translation commentary on Joshua 10:21

Safe translates the Hebrew “in peace”; see Jerusalem Bible “safe and sound.”

The section (10.16-21) ends with a graphic statement of the fear all the Canaanites felt. Not only did active opposition against the Israelites cease, but even criticism of them; “not a man moved his tongue” (Revised Standard Version). The verb translated “moved” means literally “to sharpen.”It is impossible to tell where New English Bible got its interpretation, “not a man of the Israelites suffered so much as a scratch on his tongue”—which seems an odd place to be wounded. Good News Translation, by rendering dared even to speak against, removes the metaphor of the Hebraic expression. Although it is doubtful if many languages can use the Hebrew idiom very effectively, it is quite possible that a number of languages will have their own idiomatic expressions which might be very effective. For example, “No one dared even to cast a glance toward the Israelites” or “… squint at the Israelites.”

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 .