SIL Translator’s Notes on Joshua 2023

SIL Translator’s Notes on Joshua 2:8

Paragraph 2:8-11

Rahab told the spies that the news about the Israelites had made her people afraid. She believed that the God of Israel would help the Israelites to conquer the land.

2:8

In this verse the storyline changes back to what the two Israelite spies did. This action takes place at approximately the same time as the action in the previous verse. While the soldiers were searching for the Israelite spies along the road to the Jordan River, the spies were getting ready to sleep on the roof of Rahab’s house.

2:8a

Before the spies lay down for the night: The Hebrew clause that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Before the spies lay down is more literally “and they, before they lay down.” The Hebrew conjunction together with the emphatic pronoun indicates a change of subject, from the king’s men back to the Israelite men. Some languages have a grammatical marker which indicates a change of subject.

lay down for the night: The Hebrew verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates as lay down indicates that the men were lying down to go to sleep.

Here are some other ways to translate this part of the verse:

As for the Israelite men, before they lay down to sleep
-or-
Meanwhile, before the two men went to sleep ⌊that night⌋

2:8b

Rahab went up on the roof: The name Rahab refers to Rahab. In some languages it may be necessary to make this explicit.

Here are some other ways to translate this part of the verse:

Rahab went up to them ⌊again⌋ on the roof
-or-
Rahab went up on the roof to talk with them (New Living Translation (2004))

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SIL Translator’s Notes on Joshua 3:16

3:16a

the flowing water: The phrase the flowing water was first used in verse 3:13d. You should translate it the same way in both places.

Here is another way to translate this phrase:

the water that was flowing down toward them

stood still: The Hebrew verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates as stood still can also be translated “stopped moving.” It indicates that the river water stopped flowing down from above. This corresponds to the event described in verse 3:13c.

Here is another way to translate this verb:

stopped flowing

It backed up: The clause It backed up is similar in meaning to the clause “will stand up in a heap” in verse 3:13d. In this verse the narrator used a different verb, but you may be able to use the same verb in both verses.

Here is another way to translate this phrase:

It rose up like a dam (God’s Word)
-or-
it piled up

3:16b

far upstream: Here is another way to translate this phrase:

a long distance away
-or-
far off (Revised Standard Version)

Adam: The town of Adam was about 18 miles north of Jericho.

a city in the area of Zarethan: The location of the town of Zarethan is uncertain.

city: The Hebrew word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as city refers to a permanent settlement of houses with a wall around it for protection. These cities were not large places. The largest of the cities mentioned in Joshua may have had a population of two or three thousand people. Most of them were much smaller.

The Hebrew language does not distinguish between “city” and “town.” It does distinguish between a city/town and a village. Because they were small cities, some English versions translate the Hebrew word as “town” rather than city. In these Notes we follow those versions and use the word “town.”

Consider the word in your language that is appropriate for a small permanent settlement with a wall around it.

Here is another way to translate this part of the verse:

at the town of Adam, which was near the town of Zarethan

3:16c

while the water flowing: The phrase while the water flowing refers to the water that continued to flow downstream from where the people crossed.

toward the Sea of the Arabah (the Salt Sea): The names Sea of the Arabah and Salt Sea both refer to the same lake. This is the lake that the Jordan River flows into. This lake is very salty and no fish can live in it. In Hebrew it is usually called the Salt Sea. In English it is called the Dead Sea.

The name Sea of the Arabah refers to its location. The Hebrew term Arabah refers to the valley of the Jordan River.

In English this lake is called the Dead Sea. If your language has a name other than Salt Sea there are two ways you can translate it.

• Translate it literally as Salt Sea. For example:

Salt Sea (English Standard Version)

• Translate it with its common name in your language. For example:

Dead Sea (New Living Translation (2004))

If you translate it literally you may want to have a footnote. For example:

FOOTNOTE: This refers to the lake that in our language we call the Dead Sea

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

the Dead Sea (the sea of the Jordan River valley)
-or-
the Salt Sea (the sea near the Arabah)

was completely cut off: The Hebrew verb phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as completely cut off is more literally “they were complete, they were cut off.” The water downstream from the Israelites was separated from the heap of water that was upstream. No more water flowed downstream to the Dead Sea.

Here are some other ways to translate this part of the verse:

no more water flowed down to the Salt Sea (also called the sea of the Arabah)
-or-
the water flowing down to the Dead Sea completely stopped

3:16d

So the people crossed over: The clause the people crossed over indicates that the Israelites crossed the river.

opposite Jericho: Jericho was a town on the west side of the Jordan River. Here is another way to translate this phrase:

near the town of Jericho

Here are some other ways to translate this part of the verse:

The people crossed the river opposite Jericho
-or-

⌊When the water was all gone⌋ , the Israelites crossed the Jordan River near Jericho

SIL Translator’s Notes on Joshua 5:7

5:7a

And: Verse 7 is a summary of verses 5–6. The Hebrew word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as And is a connector word. It shows the relationship between this verse and the preceding verses.

Here are some other ways to translate this word:

That is why
-or-
In light of that
-or-
So, for that reason

You should translate this word with a connecting word or phrase that is most natural in your language.

Joshua raised up their sons in their place: The phrase raised up their sons in their place could mean that either God or Joshua allowed the sons of the men who had died to take their place. Although the Berean Standard Bible translates this clause as if Joshua raised up these people, most English versions follow the Hebrew and use the pronoun “he,” which can refer to either interpretation.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

he raised up their sons in their place (New International Version)
-or-
he replaced them with their sons (NET Bible)
-or-
their sons—those who had grown up to take their fathers’ places (New Living Translation (2004))

raised up their sons: The phrase their sons is the object of the sentence, and it is emphasized in the Hebrew text. The construction raised up their sons is a way of emphasizing their sons in English. You should choose a way that is natural in your language to emphasize this phrase.

their sons: The phrase their sons refers to the male children of the people who died in the wilderness because they disobeyed God. And their sons make up the same group of men as those referred to in verse 5:4a.

5:7b

these were the ones he circumcised: The clause these were the ones refers to the words “their sons” in verse 5:7a. Joshua circumcised the sons of the men who died in the wilderness. It may be more natural to reorder the verse. You could put the relative clause next to the noun it modifies. For example, you could say:

So, it was their children whom Joshua circumcised, those whom God had raised up instead of them

5:7c

Until this time they were still uncircumcised: It may be more natural in some languages to leave this clause implicit and untranslated, because the meaning is included in 5:7d. Consider whether such repetition is natural in your language.

5:7d

since they had not been circumcised along the way: The phrase along the way refers to the time that the Israelites walked through the wilderness for forty years.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Joshua 6:24

6:24a

Then the Israelites: The phrase the Israelites refers to the Israelite army, not to the two men who led Rahab’s family to safety.

Here is another way to translate this phrase:

Then the army burned the town

burned up the city: For example:

But they burned the town and all that was in it (NET Bible)

and everything in it: The Israelite soldiers killed every person and animal in the town. They then burned all the bodies and everything else that was still there.

6:24b

However, they put the silver and gold and articles of bronze and iron: The only other exception to the ban besides Rahab’s family are these items.

articles of bronze and iron: The Hebrew word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as articles refers to all handmade items, including containers, tools, and decorative things.

Here is another way to translate this phrase:

things made of bronze and iron

6:24c

into the treasury of the LORD’s house: The term treasury refers to the storehouse where the things used for worship ceremonies were kept. They were probably kept in or near the Tent of Meeting.

the LORD’s house: The term the LORD’s house is another name for the Tent of Meeting, the place where the Israelites worshiped Yahweh.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Joshua 8:3

Paragraph 8:3–8

8:3a

So Joshua and the whole army set out: The Hebrew word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as set out shows that a new action is beginning. This verb does not mean that Joshua was lying down.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

Joshua and all the fighting men set out to go up against Ai (New Revised Standard Version)
-or-
Joshua and all the fighting men started to go up to Ai

and the whole army: The phrase the whole army refers to all the soldiers of Israel.

to attack Ai: The Hebrew verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates as to attack literally means “ascend.” Ai was at a higher elevation than the Israelite camp, and the Hebrew language keeps track of elevation. If your language does not keep track of elevation in this way you can translate it as:

to go to Ai
-or-
to go ⌊and attack⌋ Ai

8:3b

It is recommended that you begin a new sentence here.

Joshua chose 30,000 mighty men of valor: In 4:13 it says that there were forty thousand Israelite soldiers in total. Thirty thousand of them went to hide behind the town, and ten thousand of them stayed with Joshua.

mighty men of valor: The phrase mighty men of valor indicates that the soldiers Joshua chose were strong and brave.

8:3c

and sent them out at night: The clause sent them out at night indicates that the soldiers whom Joshua chose went during the night. They went at night so that the people of Ai would not see them.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Joshua 8:35

8:35a

There was not a word of all that Moses had commanded: The phrase not a word of all that Moses had commanded emphasizes again that Joshua read all Moses’ teaching for the Israelites. This information is given again in this verse to emphasize how important the reading of the law was.

8:35b

that Joshua failed to read before the whole assembly of Israel: In the previous verse, the information that Joshua read the entire law is stated in a positive manner. Now it is restated using a double negative for extra emphasis. In some languages a double negative may convey a wrong meaning. Use a natural means to emphasize that Joshua read the entire law to the Israelites. For example, the Good News Translation states 8:35a-b in a positive way:

Every one of the commandments of Moses was read by Joshua to the whole gathering (Good News Translation)

before the whole assembly of Israel: The phrase before the whole assembly of Israel indicates that Joshua read Moses’ teachings while all the Israelites stood and listened.

8:35c

including the women, the little ones: The phrase including the women, the little ones indicates that women and children were present and listened while Joshua read the law. Women and children were not present at every gathering. The author includes this information to show that the entire population of Israel listened while Joshua read aloud the law.

Here is another way to translate this phrase:

including the women and the children

and the foreigners who lived among them: The foreigners were foreigners who lived with the Israelites. They were not Israelites by birth.

General Comment on verse 8:35

It may be more natural in some languages to reorder the parts of this verse so that 8:35c is first, as in the New Century Version:

35b All the Israelites were gathered together–35c men, women and children, along with the non-Israelites who lived among them. 35a Joshua read every command that Moses had given. (New Century Version)

SIL Translator’s Notes on Joshua 10:5

10:5a

So the five kings of the Amorites: The phrase the five kings of the Amorites refers to the kings who were mentioned in verse 3. These kings were all “Amorite” kings. The term “Amorite” referred to people who lived in the hill country. These five kings lived in the southwestern hill country. The towns of the Gibeonites were north of Jerusalem. These kings wanted to attack Gibeon because they had trade connections with it. The peace treaty that the Gibeonites made with the Israelites made it difficult to trade with them.

10:5b

the kings of Jerusalem, Hebron, Jarmuth, Lachish, and Eglon: This list of kings is repeated from verse 3. In some languages it may be more natural to avoid some of the repetition.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

Then the five kings of the Amorites—the kings of Jerusalem, Hebron, Jarmuth, Lachish and Eglon (New International Version)
-or-
When these five Amorite kings (Contemporary English Version)

10:5c

joined forces: The clause joined forces indicates that the five kings assembled their armies together.

and advanced with all their armies: The clause advanced with all their armies indicates that the five kings led their armies and went to the towns of Gibeon.

advanced: The Hebrew text says they advanced. Although the towns of Gibeon were at about the same elevation as Jerusalem, they were higher than the other four towns. In languages that do not keep track of elevation, it may be more natural to say:

they went with all their armies

10:5d

They camped before Gibeon: The clause camped before Gibeon indicates that the armies surrounded the town so that the Gibeonites could not leave it. They could not find food and would soon become weak. Then the five Amorite armies could conquer it.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

(they) surrounded Gibeon (Good News Translation)
-or-
(they) moved all their troops into place (New Living Translation (2004))

In 9:17 it says that the Gibeonites lived in four towns: Gibeon, Kephirah, Beeroth and Kiriath Jearim. Probably this attack was only against the town of Gibeon.

and made war against it: The clause made war against it indicates that the five armies attacked the towns of Gibeon.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Joshua 10:37

10:37a

They captured it: The clause captured it indicates that the Israelites captured the town.

put to the sword: The clause put to the sword indicates that the Israelite army killed the people in Hebron. This is a Hebrew idiom that was used in 10:28, and it is recommended that you translate it the same way in both places.

10:37b

its king, all its villages, and all the people: The phrase its king, all its villages refers to the king of Hebron and the surrounding villages that were under the control of Hebron. All the people in Hebron and its villages were killed.

10:37c

Joshua left no survivors: The Hebrew clause that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Joshua left no survivors is more literally “not a survivor remained.” This indicates that the Israelite army killed every person in Hebron and its surrounding towns.

just as he had done at Eglon: The clause just as he had done at Eglon is similar to the clause in verse 10:35c. It is recommended that you translate it in a similar way.

he devoted to destruction Hebron and everyone in it: The clause he devoted to destruction Hebron and everyone in it is similar to verse 10:35b. The verb devoted to destruction refers to the action of destroying people and things that Yahweh had claimed and could not be bought back by any means.

General Comment on verse 10:37

It may be more natural in some languages to reorder the parts of 10:37.

Here is another way to translate this verse:

and captured it. They killed the king and everyone else in the city as well as in the nearby towns. Joshua condemned the city to total destruction, just as he had done to Eglon. No one in it was left alive. (Good News Translation)

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Source: SIL Translator’s Notes on Joshua 2023

SIL Translator’s Notes on Joshua 2:8

SIL Translator’s Notes on Joshua 3:16

SIL Translator’s Notes on Joshua 5:7

SIL Translator’s Notes on Joshua 6:24

SIL Translator’s Notes on Joshua 8:3

SIL Translator’s Notes on Joshua 8:35

SIL Translator’s Notes on Joshua 10:5

SIL Translator’s Notes on Joshua 10:37

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