SIL Translator’s Notes on Joshua 2023 – Page 10

SIL Translator’s Notes on Joshua 1:13

1:13a

Remember: The verb Remember does not imply that the Israelites had forgotten Moses’ command. Joshua reminded them of something they already knew.

Here are some ways to translate this wordː

You know
-or-
Do not forget

what Moses the servant of the LORD commanded you: The term what does not refer to a single word. It refers to all that Moses said to the Reubenites, the Gadites and half of the tribe of Manasseh when they asked for land to settle on the east side of the Jordan.

Moses the servant of the LORD: See the note on 1:1a for other ways to translate a similar phrase. Here are some other ways to translate this part of the verse:

Remember the command which Moses, Yahweh’s servant, gave you
-or-
Do not forget what Moses, Yahweh’s servant, told you
-or-
Remember how the Lord ’s servant Moses told you (Good News Translation)

when he said: The phrase when he said introduces what Moses said. This is direct speech. In some languages it may be more natural to report what Moses said using indirect speech.

1:13b

The LORD your God will give you rest: The sentence The LORD your God will give you rest indicates that Yahweh will give them a permanent place to live. It will be a place where they can live safely.

and He will give you this land: The clause give you this land further explains the clause “give you rest.” The “rest” that Yahweh will give them is the land they are about to enter. It may be more natural to combine the two expressions, for example:

Yahweh your God will provide this land for you, where you may live in safety

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

Moses said, ‘Yahweh your God is giving you this land. It will be a place where you can make your homes and find rest.’
-or-
Moses said, ‘Yahweh your God will provide this land for you, a place where you may live in safety.’
-or-
Moses told you that the Lord your God would give you this land on the east side of the Jordan as your home. (Good News Translation)

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SIL Translator’s Notes on Joshua 3:3

3:3a

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

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

they told the people

3:3b

When you see the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God: The Hebrew word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as ark refers to a “box” or a “chest.”

The ark of the covenant was a box made of acacia wood and covered with gold (see Exodus 25:10-22). Inside the box were the stone tablets on which the Ten Commandments were written. It also contained a pot of manna and Aaron’s walking stick. On top of it were two gold winged creatures called “cherubim.” The box reminded the Israelites of the covenant that Yahweh made with them. It was a sign that Yahweh promised to be with them. When you translate this term, choose a short phrase that describes the box or explains its purpose.

If you have translated the New Testament, see how you translated ark of the covenant in Hebrews 9:4 or Revelation 11:19.

Here are some ways to translate this term:

covenant box
-or-
holy chest
-or-
box of God’s covenant
-or-
golden box

the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God: Here is another way to translate this phrase:

the covenant box which shows that Yahweh your God is with you

covenant: A covenant is a formal agreement between two groups of people. God made a covenant with the people of Israel in which God and the people promised to be faithful to each other. See Genesis 17:1-21.

Here are some other ways to translate this term:

agreement
-or-
promise

of the LORD your God: The phrase the LORD your God was used in Joshua 1:9c. See how you translated the phrase in that verse.

your God: Joshua was one of the Israelite people. In some languages it may be more natural to say:

Yahweh our God

being carried by the Levitical priests: Four priests worked together to carry the covenant box on poles that rested on their shoulders. If your language has several verbs for “carry” you should choose an appropriate one.

Here is another way to translate this clause:

which the Levitical priests carried ⌊on poles over their shoulders⌋

Levitical priests: The Hebrew phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Levitical priests is literally “the priests, the Levites.” The priests were descendants of Levi and belonged to the tribe of Levi. All the priests were Levites.

Here are some other ways to translate this term:

the priests, the Levites
-or-
the priests of the Levi tribe

If this implies that there are some priests who are not of the Levi tribe, it is possible to say “the priests” and put a literal translation in a footnote.

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

When you see the covenant box of Yahweh your God that the priests of the Levi tribe are carrying
-or-
You will see the Levites, the priests, carrying the golden box of Yahweh your God

priests: The priests were people who offered sacrifices to God on behalf of the people. You should translate this term in the same way as in the New Testament. See, for example, Mark 1:44.

3:3c

The Hebrew conjunction that the Berean Standard Bible leaves untranslated but many English versions translate as “then” indicates the next thing that the Israelites must do.

you are to set out from your positions: The clause you are to set out from your positions is a command. The officers told the people to leave the place where they were camping, and to start walking.

Here is another way to translate this phrase:

leave the place where you are camped

and follow it: The pronoun it refers to the covenant box.

Here is another way to translate this phrase:

and go behind the covenant box

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

Then you must start to walk from your camp and go behind it
-or-
Then you should leave your camping place and follow the covenant box

General Comment on 3:3b-c

The Hebrew sentence gives prominence to the covenant box, not to the priests. The people were told to follow the covenant box. If possible, translate this sentence in a way that gives prominence to the covenant box. For example:

When you see the covenant box and the priests who are carrying it, then you should follow the covenant box

SIL Translator’s Notes on Joshua 4:18

4:18a

The Hebrew word that the Berean Standard Bible leaves untranslated but many English versions translate as “and” signals the next event in the storyline.

the ark of the covenant of the LORD: See how you translated this in 3:3.

4:18b

came up out of the Jordan: The clause came up out of the Jordan indicates that the priests came up from the middle of the dry riverbed to the west side of the Jordan River.

4:18c

touched the dry land: The phrase touched the dry land means that the priests stepped up out of the riverbed, and onto the dry ground. It may be more natural in some languages to leave the words touched implicit. For example:

And their feet were on high ground (New Living Translation (2004))

4:18d

the waters of the Jordan: Another way to translate this is:

the Jordan River

returned to their course: The phrase returned to their course means that the water began to flow again, as it had before the priests first stepped into the river.

4:18e

and overflowed all the banks as before: In 3:15 it says that the Jordan River was in flood. The clause overflowed all the banks as before indicates that the river now returned to being flooded again. The water was as high as it was before the priests stepped into it.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Joshua 6:11

6:11a

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

In this context, the word So also marks the result. Joshua obeyed God’s command and made the army walk around the town on the first day.

he had the ark of the LORD carried around the city: This clause has some implied information. It was not only the ark of the LORD but also the priests and the soldiers that walked around the town. It may be more natural in some languages to include this implicit information. For example:

They obeyed Joshua’s orders and carried the chest once around the town (Contemporary English Version)

he: The pronoun he refers to Joshua.

carried around: The Hebrew word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as carried around means “to go around.”

6:11b

circling it once: On this first day they walked once around the town.

6:11c

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

the people returned to the camp and spent the night there: After they walked once around the town, they returned to their camping place.

Here is another way to translate this phrase:

they returned to their camp and slept there that night

SIL Translator’s Notes on Joshua 7:16

Paragraph 7:16–18

Yahweh chose Achan as the man who was guilty of the sin.

7:16a

So: The Hebrew connector that the Berean Standard Bible translates as So introduces the result of God’s instructions to Joshua and Israel. Use a natural way in your language to indicate a result.

Joshua arose early the next morning: The Hebrew verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates as arose early can also be translated as:

woke up early
-or-
got up early

7:16b

and had Israel come forward tribe by tribe: Joshua told the people of Israel to come and stand in front of the entrance to the Tent of Meeting. Then each tribe came forward one tribe at a time.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

Joshua had Israel come forward by tribes (New International Version)
-or-
he made Israel come forward tribe by tribe (New Jerusalem Bible)

7:16c

and the tribe of Judah was selected: The phrase was selected means that God chose the tribe of Judah. The method of choosing is unknown, but many scholars believe that they cast lots. To cast lots they threw small stones. The way the stones fell on the ground indicated the choice. The Israelites believed that God governed the way the stones fell.

The verb phrase was selected is passive. If you need to use an active verb in your language these are some ways you could translate this phrase:

the Lord chose the tribe of Judah (New Century Version)
-or-
the lot indicated the tribe was Judah (New Jerusalem Bible)

SIL Translator’s Notes on Joshua 8:22

8:22a

Meanwhile: The Hebrew conjunction that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Meanwhile is used to add emphasis to what happens next. Use a connecting word that is most natural in your language. It may be most natural to leave the word implicit.

those in the ambush came out of the city against them: This clause indicates that the Israelite soldiers who captured the town now came out of it to help Joshua and the rest of the army attack the soldiers of Ai.

8:22b

and the men of Ai were trapped between the Israelite forces on both sides: The clause were trapped between the Israelite forces on both sides indicates that the soldiers of Ai were surrounded by the Israelite army. It may be more natural to begin a new sentence here.

on both sides: This indicates that the Israelite army were on both sides of the men of Ai.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

the soldiers of Ai were caught between the two groups of Israelite soldiers
-or-
the Israelite soldiers were around them in front and behind
-or-
the Israelite soldiers surrounded the soldiers of Ai

8:22c

So: The Hebrew word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as So introduces the next event in the storyline. It may be clearer in some languages to begin another sentence here.

Israel struck them down: The Hebrew word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as struck…down is more literally “hit.” This is an idiom. It means that the Israelites attacked them and killed them.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

Israel smote them (Revised Standard Version)
-or-
Israel cut them down (New International Version)
-or-
Israel attacked them (New Living Translation (2004))

8:22d

until no survivor or fugitive remained: This clause indicates that the Israelite army killed all the soldiers of Ai. The Israelites did not let any of them escape and run away. They killed them all. For example:

until no one was left who survived or escaped (New Revised Standard Version)

SIL Translator’s Notes on Joshua 9:19

9:19a

All the leaders answered: The subject and the object of this sentence are repeated in the Hebrew text for emphasis. In some languages it may be more natural to use pronouns. For example:

But they answered (Good News Translation)
-or-
But the leaders said to them

9:19b

We have sworn an oath to them by the LORD, the God of Israel: It may be more natural in some languages to introduce this clause with a word which shows it is the reason for the action. For example:

Since we have sworn an oath in the presence of the Lord, the God of Israel, we cannot touch them (New Living Translation (2004))

9:19c

and now we cannot touch them: The clause we cannot touch them indicates that the Israelites could not attack the Gibeonites or harm them. This was because they made a vow to them in the name of Yahweh and this vow was binding.

General Comment on 9:19b-c

It may be more natural in some languages to switch the order of 19b and 19c, and put the reason for the action at the end of the sentence. For example:

19c We must not harm them in any way, 19b because we have made a promise to them in the name of Yahweh, the God of Israel.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Joshua 10:24

10:24a

When they had brought the kings to Joshua: The clause When they had brought the kings to Joshua repeats information already stated in 10:23. It links 10:23 with 10:24 and emphasizes that the soldiers obeyed Joshua’s commands. This head-tail linkage is natural in some languages but not in others. It may be more natural to leave some of this information implicit. For example,

When they brought them to Joshua (God’s Word)
-or-
When they brought them out (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
After this

10:24b

he summoned all the men of Israel: The clause he summoned indicates that he called all the soldiers together.

all the men of Israel: The phrase all the men of Israel refers to all the soldiers in the Israelite army.

and said to the army commanders who had accompanied him: It may be more natural in some languages to begin a new sentence. For example:

He said to all the commanders of his army (New Century Version)
-or-
He told the army officers

the army commanders: The phrase the army commanders indicates the officers of the Israelite army.

who had accompanied him: The relative clause who had accompanied him refers to the officers of Joshua’s army. If translating this clause implies that there were some officers who did not go with Joshua, it may be better to leave it untranslated. Some English versions leave this information implicit. For example:

He said to the commanders of his army (New Century Version)
-or-
Joshua told the commanders of his army (New Living Translation (2004))

10:24c

Come here: The clause Come here indicates that Joshua commanded his officers to come close to where he was.

and put your feet on the necks of these kings: Joshua ordered his officers to put your feet on the necks of these kings because this symbolized victory in the Ancient Near East. There is implied information. Before the army officers could put their feet on the necks of the defeated kings, they must force the kings to lie down. It may be helpful to make this implied information explicit. For example:

⌊Make the five kings lie down⌋ and put your feet on their necks

10:24d

So the commanders came forward: The clause commanders came forward indicates that the army officers came close to Joshua as he had told them to.

and put their feet on their necks: Joshua’s command to the soldiers in the first part of the verse is repeated using the same words to emphasize that the army officers obeyed Joshua exactly. It may not be natural in some languages to repeat this information in the same words. In other languages it may be more natural to make a summary statement. For example:

So the army commanders did exactly as Joshua had commanded them
-or-
The officers obeyed Joshua and did so.

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Source: SIL Translator’s Notes on Joshua 2023

SIL Translator’s Notes on Joshua 1:13

SIL Translator’s Notes on Joshua 3:3

SIL Translator’s Notes on Joshua 4:18

SIL Translator’s Notes on Joshua 6:11

SIL Translator’s Notes on Joshua 7:16

SIL Translator’s Notes on Joshua 8:22

SIL Translator’s Notes on Joshua 9:19

SIL Translator’s Notes on Joshua 10:24

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