Verses 11-13 describe the invasion of Canaan, beginning with the battle for Jericho (chapter 6). For the seven peoples listed in this verse, see comments on 3.10.New English Bible, without any textual justification, omits the list of seven peoples; it must be admitted that this list looks like a later addition (see Gray). Hebrew Old Testament Text Project stays with the Masoretic text. The phrase the men of Jericho represents the Hebrew “the lords (or, owners) of Jericho”; Jerusalem Bible “those who held Jericho”; and Traduction œcuménique de la Bible “the owners (or, masters) of Jericho.” It also seems adequate to translate “The fighting men from Jericho” or “The soldiers from Jericho.”

But I gave you victory over them all may more effectively be introduced earlier in the verse: “The people of Jericho fought you, but I caused you to defeat them. Then the Amorites … and the Jebusites fought against you. But I caused you to defeat all of them.”

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 .

The request of the previous verse is repeated and includes all the immediate members of Rahab’s family (father, mother, brothers, sisters) and their families. Verses 12-13 may be combined by relating the sign to the content of the promise in verse 13: “I beg you, swear to me by him that you will treat my family as I have treated you. Prove your faithfulness to me in this way: Let my parents and my brothers and sisters and their families live. Save us from death!”

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 .

Because of the way in which the story is told (see Revised Standard Version), it may appear that after the priests blew their trumpets, at the finish of the seventh march around the city (verse 16), Joshua gave the people their instructions (verses 16b-19); then the people shouted, the priests blew their trumpets, the people shouted again, and the walls fell in (verse 20). But it seems better to understand the text as New English Bible, Good News Translation have done: just before the priests blew their trumpets, Joshua gave his order; the trumpets were blown, the people shouted, and the walls fell in.A translator of the Hebrew text detects the various doublets, repetitions, and additions which are preserved in the final form of the text, and he/she is forced to decide whether or not to smooth out the text or to translate it as it is, warts and all.

The seventh time around (Hebrew “And it happened on the seventh time”) is difficult, because it contains a hidden subject and predicate. The phrase may need to be translated, “When they had gone around the city seven times….” If this shift is made, then the sentence may continue: “…, the priests got ready to blow their trumpets. So Joshua said to his men, ‘Shout! the LORD has given you the city!’ ” It may be preferable to translate the pronoun you as “us” (inclusive form), so as to indicate that Joshua and the other Israelites were also to share in the victory.

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 .

In Good News Translation this verse consists of one rather lengthy sentence, which may need to be divided into at least two smaller units. For example, “Then Joshua and all the people of Israel took Achan and the things that he had stolen down to Trouble Valley. They also took his sons and daughters, his cattle, donkeys, and sheep, his tent, and everything else he owned.”It should be noticed that in verse 24 the silver, the cloak, and the gold bar are among the objects taken to Trouble Valley to be destroyed; but 6.19 specifies that all silver and gold was to be placed in the Lord’s treasury (see also 6.24). The Septuagint omits “the silver, the cloak, the bar of gold,” which may have been added to the original Hebrew text; see Bright.

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 .

Every one of the commandments of Moses was read by Joshua may be simplified: “Joshua read every one of the commandments that Moses had written” or “Joshua read every word that Moses had written.” A negative form is permissible: “He did not leave out a word that Moses had said.”

The whole gathering translates the Hebrew “all the assembly of Israel” (Revised Standard Version). In the Septuagint the Hebrew noun “assembly” is translated by a noun which in the New Testament usually means “church.” The Hebrew word itself in the Old Testament is used of a formal coming together of the people of Israel for cultic purpose. Here the biblical writer emphasizes the participation of all the people by explicitly mentioning women and children, and the resident aliens as well. Was read by Joshua to the whole gathering may be stated quite differently: “The entire Israelite community heard it, including the women and children, and also the foreigners who lived with them.”

The clause which included women and children may seem redundant, but it reflects the organization of the ancient Israelite society in which women and children played a secondary role. Therefore in order to reflect the cultural situation, this clause should be maintained.

In translating the phrase among them, one should take care that the pronoun them is not taken to refer back to women and children; it refers, of course, to the whole gathering.

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 .

If the restructuring suggested above is followed (“someone … told Joshua”), them He said should be translated “So Joshua said.”

Joshua orders the entrance of the cave to be blocked with huge stones and has guards stationed there, to prevent the five kings from escaping. Then he orders his troops to pursue the enemy and kill them all before they can reach their fortified cities.

Joshua’s two commands (Roll some big stones in front of the entrance to the cave and Place some guards there) were apparently directed to his soldiers. But then there is a distinction made between the persons whom Joshua addresses and the persons who are to be stationed as guards (see verse 19). Who then are these guards (Revised Standard Version “men”) stationed at the entrance to the cave? Is this a distinction, for example, between Joshua’s “best troops” and the rest of his men (see verse 7)? Or is this a distinction between Joshua’s men and local citizens? It seems quite possible that some local citizen (or perhaps even a Gibeonite) may have found where the kings were hiding and subsequently informed Joshua. Given the circumstances, most any of the local citizens could be trusted at this point to stand guard before the mouth of the sealed-up cave. The verse may therefore be translated, “Joshua said to his men, ‘Roll some big stones in front of the entrance to the cave. Then place some men there to guard 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 .

The whole land conquered, Joshua proceeded to divide it among the tribes (see chapters 13–21). For “inheritance” (Revised Standard Version) see 1.6; “according to their tribal allotments” (Revised Standard Version) means that each tribe received a share of the land (see New English Bible “allotting to each tribe its share”). At long last there was a period of peace.

One for each tribe, a phrase hanging on at the end of the second sentence, may tend to confuse the meaning. This potential difficulty may be avoided if the sentence is shortened and translated, “Joshua divided the land up among the tribes of Israel” or “… among the tribes of Israel and gave each tribe its share.”

So the people rested from war is literally “And the land had rest from war.” An idiomatic expression will be appropriate in many languages. Otherwise, it is possible to translate “The Israelites then lived in peace (throughout the 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 .