SIL Translator’s Notes on Joshua 2023

SIL Translator’s Notes on Joshua 2:2

2:2a

And: The Hebrew conjunction that the Berean Standard Bible translates as And introduces the next event in the story.

Here is another way to translate this conjunction:

then

Translate this conjunction in a way that is natural to introduce the next event in the narrative.

it was reported to the king of Jericho: We do not know who told the king of Jericho.

Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

somebody told the king of Jericho
-or-
people told the king of Jericho

the king of Jericho: There were many towns in the land of Canaan at that time, and each town had its own king.

2:2b

Behold: The Hebrew word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Behold introduces something that is surprising or unexpected. Some English versions do not translate this word. Some languages may have a grammatical marker which shows this information.

Here are some other ways to translate this word:

look
-or-
listen
-or-
take note

some men of Israel have come here tonight: The Hebrew phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as some men of Israel is more literally “men of the sons of Israel.”

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

some Israelite men have come to our town tonight
-or-
men from Israel are in our town tonight

to spy out the land: The clause to spy out the land means that the men planned to explore the land to find out information about it.

the land: As in 2:1b, the men were spying on the land of Canaan. It may be helpful to say “our land” or “this land” to make it clear that Jericho was part of the land they referred to.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

to spy on our land
-or-
They want to find out things about this land.

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SIL Translator’s Notes on Joshua 3:10

3:10a

The Hebrew conjunction that the Berean Standard Bible leaves untranslated and many English versions translate as “And” indicates the next action in the story.

He continued: There is some implied information here. In verse 9b Joshua told the people to “come here.” The people came, and then Joshua continued to speak.

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

⌊after the people had come⌋ Joshua said
-or-

⌊the people came together and then⌋ Joshua said

This is how you will know: The Hebrew phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as This is how is more literally “in this” or “by this.” It refers to what Joshua will say in 3:11-13.

that the living God: Joshua refers to Yahweh as the living God. This means that Yahweh is alive, and that he acts to help his people. The Israelites will know he is alive by the things he does.

Here are some other ways to translate this term:

the God who has life
-or-
the God who always lives

is among you: The phrase among you means that God was with the Israelites.

Joshua was also an Israelite. In some languages it may be better to say:

is among us (incl.)

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

⌊After the people gathered,⌋ Joshua said to them, “By this you will know that the God who is alive is with you
-or-

⌊When the people had come,⌋ Joshua told them, “This is how you will know that the God who has life is with us

3:10b

and that He will surely drive out before you: The Hebrew words that the Berean Standard Bible translates as He will surely drive out are more literally “drive out he will drive out.” This is a Hebrew idiom that indicates emphasis. Yahweh will certainly drive the Canaanites out of the land. He will take away the land from them and give it to the Israelites. Some languages have a grammatical marker or particle to indicate this emphasis.

before you: The phrase before you can also be translated “in front of you” or “ahead of you.”

Here is another way to translate this phrase:

as you go forward, he will certainly drive out…

Joshua was one of the Israelites. In some languages it may be more natural to say:

from before us (incl.)

the Canaanites, Hittites, Hivites, Perizzites, Girgashites, Amorites, and Jebusites: These seven groups of people lived in the land of Canaan. This list is the same as the list in Deuteronomy 7:1.

The suffix “ite” is an English suffix that means “people.” It does not come from Hebrew. The Hebrew name of these seven groups is similar to this:

Canaan people, Hitti people, Hiw people, Periz people, Girgash people, Amor people, Yabus people

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

Yahweh will surely force these groups of people to leave from before you: the Canaan people, the Hitti people, the Hiw people, the Periz people, the Girgash people, the Amor people and the Jebus people
-or-
As you go forward, he will certainly drive out the Canaan group, the Hitti group, the Hiw group, the Periz group, the Girgash group, the Amor group and the Yabus group

SIL Translator’s Notes on Joshua 5:1

Paragraph 5:1

This paragraph tells the reaction of the Israelites’ enemies when they heard about the things that God had done for the Israelites.

5:1a

Now when all the Amorite kings west of the Jordan: There is a contrast between the reaction of the Israelites and the reaction of their enemies, the Amorites and Canaanites. When the Israelites saw what God had done, they respected and honored him, but their enemies were terrified. There may be a word or particle in your language that will help to emphasize that contrast.

Amorite: The Amorite people were people who lived in the hills in the land of Canaan west of the Jordan River.

Here is another way to translate this name:

Amor people

kings: The word kings refers to the rulers of the small towns in the hills of Canaan. Each “king” ruled one town and the villages around it.

Here are some other ways to translate this word:

rulers
-or-
leaders

west of the Jordan: The phrase west of the Jordan refers to the land on the west side of the Jordan River.

5:1b

and all the Canaanite kings: Here are some other ways to translate the word kings :

rulers
-or-
leaders

the Canaanite: The Canaanite people were people who lived in the land of Canaan west of the Jordan River.

Here is another way to translate this word:

Canaan people

along the coast: The phrase along the coast refers to the Mediterranean Sea.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

who lived along the coast of the sea
-or-
who lived near the Mediterranean Sea

5:1c

heard: The Amorite and Canaanite kings heard that the Israelites had crossed the Jordan River.

how the LORD had dried up the waters of the Jordan: The main thing the kings heard was that the LORD had dried up the waters of the Jordan. They understood the significance of this. Now that the Israelites had crossed the river they were a threat to their safety, especially because a powerful God was helping them.

before the Israelites: There are two ways to understand the phrase before the Israelites :

(1) God had acted on behalf of the people of Israel. For example:

the Lord had dried up the waters of the Jordan for the people of Israel (English Standard Version)

(English Standard Version, Revised Standard Version, Good News Translation, Contemporary English Version, New Living Translation (2004))

(2) God had acted in the sight of the people of Israel. For example:

the Lord had dried up the Jordan before the Israelites (New International Version)

(Berean Standard Bible, New International Version, NET Bible, King James Version)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1). This is followed by many English versions and by many commentaries.

5:1d

until they had crossed over: The phrase until they had crossed over indicates that God kept the Jordan River from flowing until the Israelites had walked across it.

they: There is a textual issue here.

(1) The Hebrew Masoretic text reads: “until they had crossed over.” For example:

until they had crossed (New Jerusalem Bible)

(Berean Standard Bible, New Jerusalem Bible, Revised Standard Version, Contemporary English Version, English Standard Version, God’s Word, New American Bible, New American Standard Bible, New Century Version, Tanakh: The Holy Scriptures, New Living Translation (2004), Good News Translation)

(2) An alternate reading in the Hebrew Masoretic text reads: “until we had crossed over.” For example:

until we had crossed over (New International Version)

(New International Version)

It is recommended that you follow option (1). The standard Hebrew text, nearly all the English versions, and most commentaries follow option (1).

5:1e

their hearts melted: The Hebrew phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as their hearts melted is an idiom. It means that the kings were afraid. There may be an idiom in your language that expresses this meaning in a vivid way.

5:1f

and their spirits failed: The Hebrew phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as and their spirits failed is an idiom. It means that the kings were afraid and lacked courage to fight against the Israelites.

The two idioms “their hearts melted” and their spirits failed mean the same thing. The Hebrew text uses two phrases to describe their fear to add emphasis to how fearful they were. In some languages, it may be helpful to combine the two idioms into one emphatic statement. For example, you could say:

The kings were very frightened

Use a way that is natural in your language to emphasize their fear.

Here is another way to translate this phrase:

The kings were very fearful and felt powerless to fight

5:1g

for fear of the Israelites: The phrase for fear of the Israelites indicates that they were fearful because of what God had done for the people of Israel. If this is not clear you might need to make this explicit. For example, you could say:

because of ⌊what God had done for⌋ the Israelites

SIL Translator’s Notes on Joshua 6:18

6:18a

But: The Hebrew word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as But marks a contrast. In 6:17 Yahweh said that the Israelite soldiers were not to kill Rahab and her family. But they are to destroy all the other things in the town.

keep away from the things devoted to destruction: The Hebrew phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as keep away is an emphatic direct address to the Israelites. It stresses that it is important for the Israelite soldiers to obey Joshua’s (and Yahweh’s) command.

keep away: The phrase keep away means that the Israelite soldiers must be careful not to take for themselves the things that belong to Yahweh.

the things devoted to destruction: The phrase the things devoted to destruction includes the people, animals, and other things in the town that belong to Yahweh. The Israelites must offer these things to Yahweh by destroying them.

Translate 6:18a in a natural way in your language that emphasizes this command. For example:

It is important that none of you take any of the things that belong to Yahweh
-or-

But remember! You must be careful not to take for yourselves anything or any person that belongs to Yahweh

6:18b

lest you yourself be set apart for destruction: There is a textual issue in the clause lest you yourself be set apart for destruction.

(1) The Greek Septuagint reads “lest you should covet.” For example:

for fear that, moved by greed, you take something lying under the curse (New Jerusalem Bible)

(New Jerusalem Bible, New Revised Standard Version, New International Version, Contemporary English Version, New American Bible, New American Standard Bible, Revised English Bible)

(2) The Hebrew text reads “lest you should devote to destruction.” For example:

lest when you have devoted them you take any of the devoted things (English Standard Version)

(Berean Standard Bible, English Standard Version, Revised Standard Version, New Century Version, Tanakh: The Holy Scriptures)

It is recommended that you follow option (1). There is strong support for it among English versions, and in the Septuagint, and it makes better sense of the verse.

Some versions that are based on the Hebrew (option 2) leave out the parts of the verse that are difficult to understand.

It may help to reorder the parts of this verse so that the meaning is clearer. See the General Comment at the end of 6:18.

If you take any of these: The clause take any of these is the result of coveting.

these: The word these refers to things that were mentioned in 6:18a. It may be more natural to refer to them by a pronoun. For example, you could say:

so that you are not tempted to take them for yourselves

6:18c

you will set apart the camp of Israel for destruction: The result of taking the “devoted things” is that the whole Israelite camp would also become part of what must be destroyed.

and bring disaster upon it: The Hebrew verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates as bring disaster can also be translated as:

bring trouble
-or-
cause a calamity

it: The pronoun it refers to the “camp of Israel” and all the Israelite people.

General Comment on 6:18

In some languages it may help to reorder the parts of this verse. For example:

18b And you must beware of coveting anything that is forbidden under the ban; 18a you must take none of it for yourselves, 18c or else you will put the Israelite camp itself under the ban and bring disaster on it. (Revised English Bible)
-or-

18a Be careful not to take anything, 18b because of your greed, 18a that is devoted to Yahweh for destruction. 18c If you do, you will also bring disaster and destruction on Israel.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Joshua 7:23

7:23a

The Hebrew word that the Berean Standard Bible leaves untranslated but some English versions translate as “and” indicates the next event in the storyline. Translate it in a way that is natural in your language.

They: The word They here refers to the men whom Joshua sent to search for the stolen things.

the things: The phrase the things refers to the three stolen things.

7:23b

brought them to Joshua and all the Israelites: The pronoun them here refers to the stolen things which the messengers found buried in the tent. The men who searched Achan’s tent brought the stolen things to Joshua and the people.

7:23c

and: The Hebrew word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as and indicates the next event in the storyline.

spread them out: The men spread out the stolen things on the ground before Joshua, so that everyone could see them.

before the LORD: The phrase before the LORD means “in the presence of Yahweh.” The presence of Yahweh is represented by the ark of the covenant, which was in the Tent of Meeting. The men spread out the stolen things in front of the Tent of Meeting.

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

spread them out on the ground before the Lord (New Century Version)
-or-
they laid them on the ground in the presence of the Lord (New Living Translation (2004))

SIL Translator’s Notes on Joshua 8:29

8:29a

He hung the king of Ai on a tree until evening: It is most likely that Joshua ordered his soldiers to kill the king. Then his dead body was hung on a tree. This was a common practice in the Ancient Near East. The bodies of defeated enemies were hung up as an example to others of what might happen to them.

until evening: The phrase until evening means until the sun went down.

8:29b

and at sunset: It may be more natural to begin a new sentence here. For example:

When the sun was setting

Joshua commanded: It may be necessary to make explicit to whom Joshua gave the command. He commanded some of his soldiers. For example:

Joshua told ⌊his soldiers⌋

8:29c

that they take down the body from the tree: The Israelite soldiers took the dead body of the king down from the tree on which it was hanging.

8:29d

and throw it down: The phrase throw it indicates that the soldiers threw down the corpse of the king.

at the entrance of the city gate: The phrase at the entrance of the city gate indicates a place in front of the town gates. A wall enclosed the town and people entered and left the town through the town gate.

8:29e

And over it they raised a large pile of rocks: The clause over it they raised a large pile of rocks indicates that the Israelite soldiers piled stones over the king’s dead body so that it was covered up.

which remains to this day: The pile of stones was still there in front of Ai at the time that the author wrote the book of Joshua.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Joshua 9:26

Paragraph 9:26–27

9:26a

So Joshua did this and delivered them: The two clauses Joshua did this and delivered them indicate that Joshua decided to save the lives of the Gibeonites. These clauses can be combined as one clause, for example,

So Joshua saved them from the Israelites. (New International Version)
-or-
So Joshua rescued them (God’s Word)

from the hands of the Israelites: The phrase from the hands of the Israelites indicates that Joshua did not allow the Israelites to kill the Gibeonites.

9:26b

and they did not kill the Gibeonites: The clause they did not kill the Gibeonites states the same meaning as 26a in different words. Joshua kept the Israelites from killing the Gibeonites, and the Israelites did not kill them.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Joshua 10:31

Paragraph 10:31–32

10:31a

And Joshua and all Israel with him moved on from Libnah to Lachish: The clause Joshua and all Israel with him moved on from Libnah to Lachish has similar wording to 10:29a. It indicates that Joshua and his army went from Libnah to Lachish. It is recommended that you translate this clause in the same way that you translated the clause in 10:29a.

Lachish: The town of Lachish was about 17 kilometers south of Libnah.

10:31b

They laid siege to it: The verb laid siege indicates that Joshua and the Israelites set up their camp around the town so that no one could leave the town.

and fought against it: The clause fought against it indicates that the Israelite army attacked the town of Lachish.

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Source: SIL Translator’s Notes on Joshua 2023

SIL Translator’s Notes on Joshua 2:2

SIL Translator’s Notes on Joshua 3:10

SIL Translator’s Notes on Joshua 5:1

SIL Translator’s Notes on Joshua 6:18

SIL Translator’s Notes on Joshua 7:23

SIL Translator’s Notes on Joshua 8:29

SIL Translator’s Notes on Joshua 9:26

SIL Translator’s Notes on Joshua 10:31

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