19:28

It went on to Ebron, Rehob, Hammon, and Kanah, as far as Greater Sidon: The term Ebron is spelled “Abdon” in some Hebrew manuscripts and also in Joshua 21:30 and 1 Chronicles 6:59. For this reason some English versions translate this term as “Abdon” here. It is recommended that you follow the major language version in your area when deciding which spelling to follow here.

Greater Sidon: The towns listed here were further north than those listed in the previous verse. The town of Greater Sidon was an important Phoenician town which was on the Mediterranean Sea. The town of Sidon marked the northern limit of the land assigned to the clan of Asher.

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

Their land included the towns of Ebron, Rehob, Hammon and Kanah. The border reached as far north as the great town of Sidon.
-or-
The clan of Asher also received the towns of Ebron and Rehob and Hammon and Kanah. Their land extended in the north to the important town of Sidon.

© 2001, 2011, 2020, 2022, 2023 by SIL International®
Made available under the terms of a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License (CC BY-SA) creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0.
All Scripture quotations in this publication, unless otherwise indicated, are from The Holy Bible, Berean Standard Bible.
BSB is produced in cooperation with Bible Hub, Discovery Bible, OpenBible.com, and the Berean Bible Translation Committee.

20:9a

These are the cities appointed for all the Israelites: The Hebrew verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates as appointed can also be translated “designated” or “agreed upon.” It may be clearer to add the implicit information “towns of refuge.”

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

These towns ⌊of refuge⌋ were appointed for all the people of Israel.
-or-
These were the safe towns that were selected for all the Israel people.

20:9b

and foreigners among them: The Hebrew phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as foreigners among them is more literally “the sojourner who sojourns among them.” This refers to foreigners who were living among the people of Israel.

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

a foreigner who lived among them
-or-
anyone who lived among them

20:9c

so that: The Hebrew word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as so that indicates purpose. It can also be translated as “that.”

anyone who kills a person unintentionally may flee there: This clause is like the clause in verse 20:3a.

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

so that anyone who killed a person accidentally could run there
-or-
anybody who killed a person by mistake could escape there

20:9d

and not die: The phrase and not die indicates the purpose of running away to the town of safety. The person who had killed by accident could escape to a safe town and be safe from the person who wanted to kill him.

by the hand of the avenger of blood: The phrase by the hand of the avenger of blood indicates how the one who had killed might die. The avenger of blood would find him and kill him. You should translate the term avenger of blood the same way as you did in verse 20:3b.

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

Then the relative of the person who died would not kill him
-or-
so that he will be safe from the relative who wanted to kill him

20:9e

prior to standing trial before the assembly: This part of the verse is like verse 20:6a. It may be clearer to include here the information “for judgment” which is found in that verse in Hebrew.

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

until he comes before the assembly ⌊and they judge him⌋
-or-
until the congregation ⌊has judged his case⌋

© 2001, 2011, 2020, 2022, 2023 by SIL International®
Made available under the terms of a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License (CC BY-SA) creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0.
All Scripture quotations in this publication, unless otherwise indicated, are from The Holy Bible, Berean Standard Bible.
BSB is produced in cooperation with Bible Hub, Discovery Bible, OpenBible.com, and the Berean Bible Translation Committee.

21:32a

And from the tribe of Naphtali: The phrase from the tribe of Naphtali can also be translated “from the clan of Naphtali.”

they were given Kedesh in Galilee: The town of Kedesh in Galilee was mentioned in 12:22. It was northwest of the Sea of Galilee.

a city of refuge for the manslayer: This is the same Hebrew phrase as in verse 21:13, 21:21, and 21:27. You should translate it as you did in those verses.

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

From the clan of Naphtali they received the town of Kedesh in ⌊the region of⌋ Galilee, with its grasslands. It was a town where anyone who had killed someone by mistake could run and escape.
-or-
The clan of Naphtali gave them Kedesh in Galilee region and the grazing lands around it. It was a town of safety for anyone who had killed someone accidentally.

21:32b

Hammoth-dor: The town of Hammoth-dor is called “Hammath” in Joshua 19:35.

and Kartan: The location of the town of Kartan is uncertain.

three cities, together with their pasturelands: The phrase three cities indicates that the clan of Naphtali gave a total of three towns to the Gershon families.

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

They also received Hammoth-dor and the grazing lands around it and Kartan and the grazing lands around it. They received three towns in all.
-or-
They also gave the Gershon clans the town of Hammoth-dor with its grasslands and the town of Kartan with its grasslands. The total was three towns.

© 2001, 2011, 2020, 2022, 2023 by SIL International®
Made available under the terms of a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License (CC BY-SA) creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0.
All Scripture quotations in this publication, unless otherwise indicated, are from The Holy Bible, Berean Standard Bible.
BSB is produced in cooperation with Bible Hub, Discovery Bible, OpenBible.com, and the Berean Bible Translation Committee.

22:19a

If indeed the land of your inheritance is unclean: The people of the western clans implied that the land east of the Jordan was not pure because it was not Yahweh’s land. They thought Yahweh lived on their side of the river, where the Tent of Meeting was set up at Shiloh.

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

But if your land is ⌊ritually⌋ impure
-or-
However, if your land is not a suitable place for worship

22:19b

then cross over to the land of the LORD’s possession: The clause cross over to the land of the LORD’s possession indicates that the people from the west side of the Jordan River were inviting the people on the east side to go and live with them.

the land of the LORD’s possession: The people of the western clans declared that the land on the west side of the Jordan River belonged to Yahweh because the Tent of Meeting was set up there, at Shiloh.

where the LORD’s tabernacle stands: The tabernacle was a tent, and the place where Yahweh lived. In 18:1 this place was referred to as “the Tent of Meeting.”

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

Cross over into the land that belongs to Yahweh, where his tent is.
-or-
Come back to Yahweh’s land. That is where his dwelling place is.

22:19c

and take possession of it among us: It may be more natural to begin a new sentence here.

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

Take some land for yourselves in our land
-or-
We will share some of our land with you.

22:19d

But do not rebel against the LORD: Here are some other ways to translate this part of the verse:

But do not rebel against Yahweh.
-or-
But don’t turn against Yahweh

22:19e

or against us: There is a textual issue in this part of the verse concerning the clause that the Berean Standard Bible translates “rebel…against us.”

(1) The Hebrew Masoretic text reads “do not rebel against us.”

(Berean Standard Bible, New American Standard Bible, NET Bible, New International Version, New Revised Standard Version, God’s Word, Tanakh: The Holy Scriptures, New Living Translation (2004), Contemporary English Version, King James Version)

(2) Some translators change the vowels of the Hebrew verb so that it means “do not make us rebels.”

(Revised Standard Version, English Standard Version, New American Bible, Revised Edition, Revised English Bible, New Jerusalem Bible, Good News Translation)

It is recommended that you follow option (1). This follows the Hebrew text and is followed by many English versions.

by building for yourselves an altar other than the altar of the LORD our God: The phrase the altar of the LORD our God refers to the altar that was in the tent of meeting at Shiloh.

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

Do not rebel against us and build another altar for yourselves besides the altar of Yahweh our God ⌊that is in Shiloh⌋
-or-
or against us by building another altar. We already have the altar of the Lord our God at the Meeting Tent. (English Easy-to-Read Version)

© 2001, 2011, 2020, 2022, 2023 by SIL International®
Made available under the terms of a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License (CC BY-SA) creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0.
All Scripture quotations in this publication, unless otherwise indicated, are from The Holy Bible, Berean Standard Bible.
BSB is produced in cooperation with Bible Hub, Discovery Bible, OpenBible.com, and the Berean Bible Translation Committee.

Section 24:1–33

Israel renewed their covenant with Yahweh

In this section Joshua called the people of Israel together to affirm that they would worship and obey only Yahweh. He warned them that Yahweh would bring disaster on them if they worshiped other gods. Then Joshua died and was buried.

Here are some other possible section headings:

Renewing the covenant at Shechem
-or-
The Israelites promise to worship only Yahweh

Paragraph 24:1–2

24:1a

Then: The Hebrew conjunction that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Then introduces the next event in the storyline. It is not certain how much time had passed between chapter 23 and chapter 24. It is recommended that you use an indefinite marker of time. Some English versions do not use a time marker here.

Here are some other ways to introduce this paragraph:

Afterwards
-or-
Sometime later

Joshua assembled all the tribes of Israel at Shechem: The clause Joshua assembled all the tribes of Israel indicates that Joshua sent a message to all the people of Israel asking them to come and meet together.

the tribes of Israel: The tribes of Israel refers to all the people who were descended from the twelve sons of Jacob. They all shared a common culture and language. Choose a translation of the word “tribe” that reflects this kind of relationship.

Shechem: The town of Shechem was mentioned in 17:7.

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

Later Joshua called all the clans of Israel to come together at Shechem town
-or-
Afterwards, Joshua sent for all the clans of Israel to gather at Shechem town.

24:1b

The Hebrew begins with a conjunction that is usually translated as “and.” However, in some languages it may be more natural to begin a new sentence here like the Berean Standard Bible.

He summoned the elders, leaders, judges, and officers of Israel: This list of terms is like the list in 23:2a. Translate these terms the same way in both places.

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

He called the elders, the heads of families, the judges, and the officers to come together.
-or-
He sent for their clan leaders, and their family leaders, and their judges, and their officials.

24:1c

and they presented themselves before God: The clause they presented themselves before God indicates that the leaders came and stood in the presence of God. This may mean that they stood before the covenant chest of God, but that is not certain.

Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

They came and stood before God.
-or-
They came and stood in the presence of God.

© 2001, 2011, 2020, 2022, 2023 by SIL International®
Made available under the terms of a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License (CC BY-SA) creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0.
All Scripture quotations in this publication, unless otherwise indicated, are from The Holy Bible, Berean Standard Bible.
BSB is produced in cooperation with Bible Hub, Discovery Bible, OpenBible.com, and the Berean Bible Translation Committee.

24:33a

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

Eleazar son of Aaron also died: Eleazar was a priest. He was last mentioned in Joshua 21:1.

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

Later, Eleazar ⌊the priest⌋ the son of Aaron died.
-or-
Some time later, Eleazar died. He was a son of Aaron.

24:33b

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

they buried him at Gibeah: The Hebrew word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Gibeah is the name of a town, and is also a noun meaning “hill.” The English versions do not agree on how to translate it in this context.

(1) It is the name of a town. For example:

and they buried him at Gibeah, the town of Phinehas his son (English Standard Version)

(Berean Standard Bible, English Standard Version, Revised Standard Version, NET Bible, New American Standard Bible, New International Version, Good News Translation, New Living Translation (2004), New Century Version, New Jerusalem Bible)

(2) It is a noun that means “hill.” For example:

and they buried him on the hill of his son Phinehas (Tanakh: The Holy Scriptures)

(Tanakh: The Holy Scriptures, New American Bible, Revised Edition, God’s Word, Revised English Bible, Contemporary English Version, King James Version)

It is recommended that you choose interpretation (1). This is the interpretation taken by many English versions.

The location of Gibeah is uncertain, except that it was in the hill country of Ephraim. It belonged to Phinehas.

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

The Israelites buried him at Gibeah, which belonged to his son Phinehas.
-or-
The people of Israel buried Eleazar in the town of Gibeah. That town had been given to his son Phinehas.

24:33c

which had been given to his son Phinehas in the hill country of Ephraim: Here are some other ways to translate this part of the verse:

It was in the mountain country that belonged to the clan of Ephraim.
-or-
And it was in the hilly region of the clan of Ephraim.

Paragraph 3:7-8

Yahweh promised Joshua that the people will respect him. He also told Joshua what the priests should do.

3:7a

This is the beginning of a new paragraph. Make sure your translation indicates this is a new paragraph in a natural way.

Now the LORD said to Joshua: The Hebrew conjunction that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Now indicates the next event in the story.

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

Then Yahweh said to Joshua,
-or-
Yahweh told Joshua,

3:7b

Today: This can also be translated as Today.

I will begin to exalt you in the sight of all Israel: The Hebrew verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates as exalt is more literally “make great.” Yahweh said that he will make the Israelite people honor and respect Joshua. The clause I will begin to exalt you indicates that this was the beginning of how Yahweh will make Joshua great. This will happen because Joshua will be the leader who takes them across the Jordan River.

in the sight of all Israel: The Hebrew phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as in the sight of all Israel is more literally “in the eyes of all Israel.” This indicates that all the Israelites will see that Joshua is great.

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

Today I will lift you up in the eyes of all the Israelites
-or-
Beginning from today, I will make all the Israel people think that you are great
-or-
What I do today will make all the people of Israel begin to honor you as a great man (Good News Translation)

3:7c

so: The Hebrew relative particle that the Berean Standard Bible translates as so indicates purpose. It can also be translated “so that.” Yahweh will make Joshua great so that the Israelites will know that Yahweh is with Joshua.

they may know that I am with you just as I was with Moses: The clause I am with you indicates that Yahweh is with Joshua to guide and help him. Yahweh gave this promise to Joshua in Joshua 1:5b. You should translate this clause the same way as you did in that verse.

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

so that they will know that I will be with you in the same way that I was with Moses
-or-
then they will know that I will help you as I helped Moses

© 2001, 2011, 2020, 2022, 2023 by SIL International®
Made available under the terms of a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License (CC BY-SA) creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0.
All Scripture quotations in this publication, unless otherwise indicated, are from The Holy Bible, Berean Standard Bible.
BSB is produced in cooperation with Bible Hub, Discovery Bible, OpenBible.com, and the Berean Bible Translation Committee.