SIL Translator’s Notes on Joshua 2023

SIL Translator’s Notes on Joshua 1:6

Paragraph 1:6-9

God encouraged Joshua to be brave and to be faithful to the law.

1:6a

Be strong and courageous: The phrases Be strong and [be] courageous have a similar meaning. The use of these two synonyms shows emphasis in Hebrew. In some languages it may be unnatural or confusing to use two words that mean the same thing. If this is true in your language, you could use one word and add an intensifier, for example:

be very brave

You could also use two words with the same meaning, one positive and one negative. For example:

be strong and do not be afraid

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

Be determined and confident (Good News Translation)
-or-
Be very courageous

1:6b

for: The Hebrew word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as for introduces the reason why Joshua must be brave. He must be brave because he was going to lead the Israelites into Canaan.

you shall give these people the inheritance of the land: The clause you shall give these people the inheritance of the land means that Joshua will lead the Israelites to take the land that Yahweh will give them. Usually, a person does not inherit something until someone has died. In the book of Joshua, Yahweh gave the land of Canaan as an inheritance to the Israelites. The word inheritance means that the Israelites took possession of the land. Some languages may not use the word inheritance in this way.

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

because you will lead them so that they inherit the land
-or-
You must lead these people so they can take the land (New Century Version)
-or-
because you will help these people take possession of the land (God’s Word)

you: The Hebrew word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as you is emphatic. In English we might express this as:

it is you who will cause this people to inherit the land

If you have emphatic pronouns in your language, you may be able to use one here.

1:6c

that I swore: The Hebrew word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as swore can also be translated as:

vowed
-or-
promised

to their fathers I would give them: The word fathers refers to the ancestors of the Israelites, that is, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Yahweh promised Abraham, Isaac and Jacob that he would give them the land of Canaan. See, for example, Genesis 13:14-15. These people were also the ancestors of Joshua. In some languages it may be more natural to translate the phrase to their fathers as “to your fathers.”

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

that I promised their/your fathers that I would give them
-or-
which I vowed to give to their/your ancestors
-or-
I promised their fathers that I would give them this land (English Easy-to-Read Version)

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SIL Translator’s Notes on Joshua 2:20

2:20a

And: The Hebrew conjunction that the Berean Standard Bible translates as And introduces a contrast, so many English version translate it as “But.” In verse 14c the Israelite spies gave the condition on which they will save the lives of Rahab and her family. In this verse they give the condition on which they will not save them. Use a word or a grammar marker which expresses this contrast in your language.

if you report our mission: The phrase if you report our mission uses the same Hebrew words that occurred in 2:14c except that the word “not” is not included. Translate this positive phrase the same way as you did in that verse, without using the negative.

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

However, if you tell anyone what we have been doing (Good News Translation)
-or-
but if you tell anyone about this matter of ours

2:20b

The Hebrew conjunction that the Berean Standard Bible leaves untranslated introduces what will happen if Rahab tells people about them. In some languages it may be more natural to keep this word explicit by using a word like “then.”

we will be released from the oath you made us swear: This Hebrew phrase is the same as the phrase in verse 17b, except for one word. In verse 17b there is the emphatic pronoun “we.” In this verse the verb “we will be” occurs instead. The meaning is the same.

In both these verses the men give conditions on which they will not keep their promise. In the previous verse, they will not keep their promise if Rahab does not tie the red rope in the window. In this verse they will not keep their promise if Rahab tells anyone about what they were doing.

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

we(dual)(excl.) will be free from keeping the promise that you (sing.) asked us to give
-or-
we will be released from the oath you made us take

SIL Translator’s Notes on Joshua 4:11

4:11a

and: The word and indicates that the next action in the story is about to take place.

after: Another time connector might be clearer such as “as soon as.” Use a time connector that is natural in your language.

everyone had finished crossing: The word everyone refers to all the Israelite people except for the priests carrying the ark.

4:11b

the priests with the ark of the LORD: The Hebrew language places the ark of the LORD first to emphasize its importance. However, the priests were still carrying the ark. It may be more natural in some languages to translate this phrase as “the priests who were carrying the ark of Yahweh.”

ark: See 3:3 for ideas of how to translate the word ark.

crossed: The word crossed means that the priests crossed the Jordan River to the other side.

in the sight of the people: There are two ways to interpret the phrase in the sight of the people :

(1) The priests crossed the river while the people watched. For example:

…crossed as the people looked on (NET Bible)

(Berean Standard Bible, NET Bible, Revised Standard Version, New Century Version, New International Version, New Living Translation (2004), New Revised Standard Version, King James Version)

(2) The priests crossed the river and went ahead of the people. For example:

…went on ahead of the people (Good News Translation)

(Good News Translation, New American Bible, New Jerusalem Bible, Tanakh: The Holy Scriptures, Revised English Bible)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1). The clause “crossed in the sight of the people” points to 4:15–18. The people came out of the river. Then they watched as the priests finished crossing the river.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Joshua 6:4

6:4a

The Hebrew conjunction that Berean Standard Bible and many English versions leave untranslated can also be translated as “and.” For example:

And seven priests shall bear seven trumpets of rams’ horns (Revised Standard Version)

Have seven priests carry seven rams’ horns: The clause Have seven priests carry seven rams’ horns is a command. The priests are to carry the seven horns.

There is some implied information. Verse 6:9 makes it clear that the priests blew the horns as they carried them. If it is clearer in your language you may include that information in this verse.

seven rams’ horns: A “ram” is a male sheep. These horns were musical instruments made from the horns of male sheep. Female sheep also have horns, but the horns of male sheep are usually larger.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

trumpets made from horns of male sheep (New Century Version)
-or-
sheep horn trumpets

6:4b

in front of the ark: The phrase in front of the ark means that the priests were to walk in front of the ark.

the ark: The term the ark refers to the wooden box that was the symbol of Yahweh’s presence. See how you translated this term in 3:3.

6:4c

Then on the seventh day, march around the city seven times: This is a command. On the first six days they were to walk around the town once a day. On the seventh day they must walk around the town seven times.

march around: The phrase march around is a plural command that refers to Joshua, the seven priests who carried the horns, the four priests who carried the ark, and the soldiers. These people walked around the town in a group together.

6:4d

while the priests blow the horns: On the seventh day, the priests blew the horns continuously as they walked around the town seven times.

Here is another way to translate this phrase:

the priests must blow their trumpets without stopping while you walk

General Comment on 6:4–20

In this and following verses, the “rams’ horns” are sometimes referred to as “trumpets” and sometimes as “horns.” It may be clearer to choose one term for these trumpets that is natural in your language and then continue to use the same term each time.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Joshua 7:9

7:9a

When: The Hebrew word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as When introduces more of Joshua’s thoughts about Israel’s defeat. Some English versions translate this as “For” and others omit it. Use a natural option for your language in this context.

the Canaanites and all who live in the land: This phrase refers to all the people of the country. The Canaanites were one of the groups of people who lived in the land of Canaan.

Here is another way to translate this phrase:

The Canaanites and all the other people in this country (New Century Version)

Canaanites: The name Canaanites refers to the people who live in Canaan.

Here is another way to translate this word:

Canaan people

hear about this: The phrase hear about this indicates that the people who lived in the land will find out that Israel was defeated by Ai.

7:9b

they will surround us: The clause they will surround us states the result of their defeat. After the people hear about Israel’s defeat at Ai, they will attack Israel. In some languages it may be clearer to make the result explicit. For example,

The Canaanites and other people in the land will hear about this. Then they will surround us ⌊and attack us (excl.)⌋

and wipe out our name from the earth: The Hebrew expression that the Berean Standard Bible translates as wipe out our name from the earth is an idiom. It includes two ideas:

(a) They will kill all the Israelites.

(b) When the Israelites are dead, no one will speak their names or remember them anymore.

In some languages it may be clearer to express both these ideas. For example:

Then they will kill us (excl.) all, and no one will remember us anymore

7:9c

Then: The Hebrew connector that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Then introduces another result of their defeat. Some English versions do not translate this connector. For example:

What will you do to protect your great reputation? (NET Bible)

what will You do for Your great name?: In modern English this reads: what will You do for Your great name? This is a rhetorical question. It functions as a strong statement that God’s reputation will be damaged.

Here are two ways to translate this strong statement:

• As a rhetorical question. For example:

And then what will happen to the honor of your great name? (New Living Translation (2004))

• As a statement. For example:

Then people will dishonor your great name. You will not be able to let them know how great you are.

Express this strong statement in a natural way in your language.

great name: The phrase great name refers to what people think about God. People thought that Yahweh was a great and powerful God. A god should be able to give his people success in battle.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

What will you do to protect your great reputation? (NET Bible)
-or-
You will not be able to make people believe that you are a great God

SIL Translator’s Notes on Joshua 8:15

8:15a

The Hebrew connector that the Berean Standard Bible leaves untranslated but many English versions translate as “And” indicates the next event in the story.

Joshua and all Israel let themselves be beaten back before them: Joshua and the Israelite soldiers pretended that the soldiers of Ai were winning the battle by running away from them.

all Israel: The phrase all Israel refers to the Israelite soldiers.

8:15b

and they fled toward the wilderness: The word fled means “ran away.” The Israelite soldiers ran away towards the wilderness.

the wilderness: The wilderness refers to the uninhabited land east of Ai, between Ai and the Jordan River valley. Only a little vegetation grows in this area. Although some English versions use the word “desert,” this area is not sand. It is a rocky area that leads down to the Jordan River valley.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Joshua 9:12

9:12a

This bread of ours: The Gibeonites said This bread of ours to call attention to the old bread they brought with them. In some languages it may be better to translate this as an imperative command, or as a rhetorical question. For example:

Look, see what our bread is like!
-or-
See this dry, crumbly bread of ours? (Contemporary English Version)

9:12b

was warm when we packed it at home: The clause was warm indicates that they had just finished baking the bread. It was warm because they took it out of the oven. If people are not familiar with making bread, it may be necessary to make this information explicit. For example:

it was hot out of the oven on the day we packed the food when we left our homes (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
we had just baked this bread and it was still warm when we took it from our houses

on the day we left to come to you: The phrase on the day we left to come to you refers to the day that the Gibeonites started their trip to the Israelite camp.

Here is another way to translate this phrase:

on the day we left our houses

The phrase on the day we left to come to you may be incorporated into the first verse part, as in Contemporary English Version above. It may also be left as implicit information and not translated, as in New Century Version:

Look at our bread. On the day we left home to come to you it was warm and fresh (New Century Version)

9:12c

But take a look: The phrase But take a look calls attention to something important. It emphasizes that the journey was long because the bread is all dried up. Show this emphasis in a way that is natural in your language.

it is now dry and moldy: The Hebrew word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as moldy is used only three times in the Old Testament. The meaning is uncertain. You should translate it the same way you did in 9:5b.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Joshua 10:17

10:17a

And Joshua was informed: The phrase Joshua was informed indicates that somebody spoke to Joshua. This passive form makes it possible to leave the speaker unnamed. Use a form in your language to indicate that the speaker is not known.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

Someone told Joshua
-or-
Joshua heard the news that
-or-
Joshua’s soldiers told him (Contemporary English Version)

10:17b

The five kings have been found: The clause The five kings have been found is a passive construction. If a passive construction is not natural, it is possible to translate this clause in the active voice.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

We have found the five kings
-or-
They have found the five enemy kings.

they are hiding in the cave at Makkedah: The town of Makkedah was mentioned in 10:10. It may be more natural in some languages to translate the clause hiding in the cave at Makkedah as an independent sentence. For example:

They are hiding in a cave near the town of Makkeda

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Source: SIL Translator’s Notes on Joshua 2023

SIL Translator’s Notes on Joshua 1:6

SIL Translator’s Notes on Joshua 2:20

SIL Translator’s Notes on Joshua 4:11

SIL Translator’s Notes on Joshua 6:4

SIL Translator’s Notes on Joshua 7:9

SIL Translator’s Notes on Joshua 8:15

SIL Translator’s Notes on Joshua 9:12

SIL Translator’s Notes on Joshua 10:17

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