SIL Translator’s Notes on Joshua 2023

SIL Translator’s Notes on Joshua 2:10

2:10a

For: The Hebrew conjunction that the Berean Standard Bible translates as For introduces the reason why the Canaanites were afraid of the Israelites. Use the appropriate connecting word in your language. It may be clearer to supply some implicit information. For example:

⌊We
(excl.) are afraid⌋ because

we have heard how the LORD dried up the waters of the Red Sea before you: The sentence the LORD dried up the waters of the Red Sea before you refers to events described in Exodus 14. In some languages it may be necessary to make explicit why Yahweh dried up the Red Sea, that is, so that the Israelites could cross it. If it is necessary to make this explicit you could say:

we have heard how Yahweh dried up the water of the Red Sea in front of you ⌊so that you could cross it⌋

Red Sea: The Hebrew words that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Red Sea are literally “sea of reeds.” The translation Red Sea comes from the Septuagint translation into Greek. This body of water is not the same as what is known as the Red Sea today. If you use the term Red Sea, you should consider adding a footnote. For example:

FOOTNOTE: The Hebrew phrase is literally “Sea of Reeds.” It refers to the lake that the Israelites had to cross when they left Egypt. See Exodus 14.

The term Red Sea occurs several times in Exodus. See, for example, Exodus 10:19.

you: The Hebrew inflection that the Berean Standard Bible translates as you is plural and refers to the people of Israel.

when you came out of Egypt: The whole story of what happened when the Israelites left Egypt is told in Exodus 12-14.

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

For we have heard how the Lord made a dry path for you through the Red Sea when you left Egypt (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-

⌊We are afraid⌋ because we heard that Yahweh made the Red Sea dry up in front of you ⌊so that you could cross it⌋ when you left Egypt

2:10b

and what you did: This is the middle of a long sentence. In some languages it may be helpful to start a new sentence here. For example:

⌊We have also heard⌋ what you did

to Sihon and Og, the two kings of the Amorites: The Amorites were nations on the east side of the Jordan River. The story of how the Israelites conquered their kings is told in Numbers 21:21-35.

to Sihon and Og: Sihon and Og are the two kings of the Amorites.

across the Jordan: The phrase across the Jordan refers to the east side of the Jordan River.

whom you devoted to destruction: This phrase describes what the Israelites did to King Sihon and King Og.

devoted to destruction: The Hebrew verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates as devoted to destruction means that something was dedicated to Yahweh and could not be used. It must be destroyed or given to Yahweh as an offering. In this context it indicates that they killed the two Amorite kings. This event is described in Numbers 21:21-35 and is retold in Deuteronomy 2:24-3:11.

Here are some other ways to translate this verb:

completely destroyed
-or-
killed

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

We heard what you did when you killed King Sihon and King Og, the two Amorite kings who ruled east of the Jordan River
-or-
We know what you did to Sihon and Og, the two Amorite kings east of the Jordan River. You destroyed them.

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SIL Translator’s Notes on Joshua 4:1

Section 4:1–5:1 The Israelites commemorated the crossing of the Jordan River

Twelve men from among the Israelites each took a stone from the middle of the Jordan River. With these stones Joshua built a monument to remind the Israelite people, and their descendants, about how God helped them cross the river.

Here are some other possible section headings:

Setting up memorial stones
-or-
Twelve memorial stones
-or-
A reminder that God brought them to the promised land

Paragraph 4:1–3

4:1a

When the whole nation had finished crossing the Jordan: In some languages it may be more natural to make this into an independent clause. For example, you could say:

1a All the Israelites finished crossing the Jordan River. 1b Then Yahweh said to Joshua…

the whole nation: The phrase the whole nation refers to all the Israelite people.

had finished crossing the Jordan: The phrase had finished crossing the Jordan means that the Israelites crossed over to the west side of the Jordan River.

4:1b

the LORD said to Joshua: Here is another way to translate this phrase:

Yahweh commanded

SIL Translator’s Notes on Joshua 5:9

5:9a

Then: The Hebrew word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Then signals the next event in the storyline. Use a connecting word in your language that shows that the next event in the story line is taking place.

the LORD said to Joshua: If it is necessary for this verb to have an explicit object, you can add “these words” or “this.” For example:

Yahweh said ⌊these words⌋ to Joshua

5:9b

Today: The word Today means “this day” or “now.”

I have rolled away: The Hebrew phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as I have rolled away is a Hebrew idiom. It means “to remove” or “to take away.”

the reproach of Egypt from you: The phrase the reproach of Egypt refers to the shame the Israelites suffered while they were slaves in Egypt. Being circumcised was the final step in their freedom from this shame.

The reproach does not mean that the Israelites could not be circumcised in Egypt.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

I have removed from you the disgrace of being slaves in Egypt (Good News Translation)
-or-
It was shameful for you to be slaves in Egypt. Now I have taken away your shame

5:9c

So: The word So can also be translated:

therefore
-or-
for this reason

that place has been called Gilgal: The Israelites called this place Gilgal when they made their camp there. It was not yet a town at that time. Later it became a center of worship. In some languages it may be more natural to say:

that place is called Gilgal
-or-
they named that place Gilgal

that place: The phrase that place refers to where the Israelites camped and were circumcised.

Gilgal: The name Gilgal sounds similar to the Hebrew word which means “to roll.” This is a pun on the idiom “I have rolled away the reproach of Egypt from you.” If you have used the idiom “roll” in verse 9b you could include this information in a footnote. For example:

FOOTNOTE: The name Gilgal sounds like the Hebrew word “roll”

to this day: The phrase to this day means “until now” or “until today” and refers to the time when the author was writing the book of Joshua.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Joshua 6:26

Paragraph 6:26

This paragraph is a final statement about the destruction of Jericho. Even the land that Jericho is built upon is devoted to Yahweh for destruction. The town was to be left for Yahweh only. Anybody who disobeyed Yahweh would be punished.

6:26a

At that time: The phrase At that time refers to the time after the Israelites defeated Jericho. For example:

After Jericho was destroyed… (Contemporary English Version)

Joshua invoked this solemn oath: The clause Joshua invoked this solemn oath means that Joshua warned the Israelites.

invoked this solemn oath: The expression invoked this solemn oath can be expressed in many ways. For example:

Joshua made this solemn declaration (NET Bible)
-or-
Joshua issued a solemn warning (Good News Translation)
-or-
Joshua pronounced this curse (Revised English Bible)

solemn oath: A solemn oath is a promise, declaration, or warning.

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

Joshua laid an oath upon them at that time, saying, “Cursed before the Lord… (Revised Standard Version)
-or-
After Jericho was destroyed, Joshua said this curse. He said to them, “Yahweh will punish…

6:26b

Cursed before the LORD is the man: The phrase Cursed before the LORD is the man indicates that Yahweh will curse anyone who rebuilds Jericho.

Here is another way to translate this phrase:

Yahweh will punish anybody who rebuilds Jericho

man: The Hebrew word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as man is more literally “person.” (In other contexts the word can mean a “male person.”) You should use a word such as “person” or “anyone.”

who rises up and rebuilds: The Hebrew word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as rises up refers to the beginning of an action.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

anybody who starts to rebuild
-or-
the person who tries to rebuild

this city, Jericho: The words this city and Jericho refer to the same place.

Here is another way to translate this phrase:

Jericho town

6:26c

at the cost of his firstborn: The phrase at the cost of his firstborn means that if anyone lays the foundation of the town of Jericho, their oldest son will die.

he will lay its foundations: The word foundations refers to the foundation of the town wall.

In some languages it may be clearer to reorder the parts of 6:26c. For example:

If anyone lays the foundation for the town wall, that person’s oldest son will die.

6:26d

at the cost of his youngest: The phrase at the cost of his youngest means if he sets up its gates, his youngest son will die.

he will set up its gates: The gates refer to the gates in the town wall.

In some languages it may be clearer to reorder the parts of 6:26d. For example:

If anyone sets up the gates to the town, that person’s youngest son will die.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Joshua 8:5

8:5a

Then I and all the troops with me: The phrase all the troops with me refers to the ten thousand Israelite soldiers who stayed with Joshua and who did not hide behind Ai.

will advance on the city: The phrase will advance on the city indicates that Joshua and the soldiers with him will move toward the town as if they are going to attack it.

8:5b

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

they come out against us: The clause they come out against us indicates that the soldiers of Ai will come out of the town gate to attack the Israelite soldiers.

us: The word us is exclusive. Joshua spoke to the soldiers who were not with him.

Here is another way to translate this phrase:

when they come out of the town to attack us (excl.)

as they did the first time: The phrase as they did the first time refers to the first time that the Israelites tried to capture Ai in 7:4-5. Some English versions place this phrase at the end of verse 5c. For example:

When the men of Ai come out against us, we will turn and run, just as we did the first time. (Good News Translation)

8:5c

we will flee from them: The clause we will flee from them indicates that the soldiers who are with Joshua will run away from the soldiers of Ai.

Here is another way to translate this phrase:

we (excl.) will run away from them

SIL Translator’s Notes on Joshua 9:2

9:2

they came together: The clause they came together indicates that the kings and their armies joined as one group to fight the Israelites.

together: The Hebrew phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as together is more literally “one mouth.” This means that all the kings agreed to do this.

to wage war against Joshua and Israel: The clause to wage war against Joshua and Israel indicates that the kings agreed that they and their armies would fight against Joshua and his army, the Israelites.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Joshua 10:7

10:7a

Joshua and his whole army: The phrase his whole army refers the Israelite soldiers. These soldiers went with Joshua to fight against the Amorites.

10:7b

all the mighty men of valor: The phrase mighty men of valor refers to the strongest and bravest soldiers in the Israelite army.

Here are some other way to translate this phrase:

including the bravest warriors (NET Bible)
-or-
including all the best fighting men (New International Version)

10:7c

came from Gilgal: The clause came from Gilgal indicates that when Joshua received the message from the Gibeonites, he left the Israelite camp at Gilgal to help the Gibeonites fight against the Amorites. Here, as in 10:6c, the Hebrew word indicates elevation, that the army went up a steep hill/mountain since Gibeon was a higher elevation than Gilgal.

General Comment on 10:7

It may be more natural in some languages to include the whole subject (Joshua and his army) at the beginning of the verse followed by the verb, like the Berean Standard Bible does.

The Hebrew text mentions Joshua first as a way to show the importance of Joshua as the leader. Use a way that is natural in your language to emphasize Joshua’s importance. For an example of the Hebrew word order, the Revised Standard Version says:

Joshua went up from Gilgal, he and all the people of war with him, and all the mighty men of valor (Revised Standard Version)

SIL Translator’s Notes on Joshua 10:39

10:39a

And they captured Debir, its king, and all its villages: In some languages it may be more natural to begin a new sentence, as in the Berean Standard Bible. The clause they captured Debir, its king, and all its villages is similar to verse 10:37a-b. It indicates that the Israelite army captured the king and all the people of Debir and he also captured the small towns that were close by.

10:39b

They put them to the sword: The clause They put them to the sword indicates that the Israelite army killed the people of Debir and the nearby towns. This is a Hebrew idiom that is similar to the clauses in verses 28b, 30b, 32b, 35a, and 37a. It is recommended that you translate it the same way in all these places.

10:39c-d

and devoted to destruction everyone in the city, leaving no survivors: These two clauses are similar to verse 10:37.

devoted to destruction: The phrase devoted to destruction indicates that Yahweh had claimed these people for himself and they could not be bought back by any means. They must be destroyed.

leaving no survivors: The clause leaving no survivors indicates that not a single person was left alive in the town of Debir and the surrounding towns.

10:39e

Joshua did to Debir and its king as he had done to Hebron and as he had done to Libnah and its king: Here is another example of how to translate this verse part:

Joshua did the same thing to Debir and its king as he had done to Hebron and as he had done to Libnah and its king

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Source: SIL Translator’s Notes on Joshua 2023

SIL Translator’s Notes on Joshua 2:10

SIL Translator’s Notes on Joshua 4:1

SIL Translator’s Notes on Joshua 5:9

SIL Translator’s Notes on Joshua 6:26

SIL Translator’s Notes on Joshua 8:5

SIL Translator’s Notes on Joshua 9:2

SIL Translator’s Notes on Joshua 10:7

SIL Translator’s Notes on Joshua 10:39

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