SIL Translator’s Notes on Joshua 2023 – Page 14

SIL Translator’s Notes on Joshua 6:21

6:21a

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

At the edge of the sword: The Hebrew phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as At the edge of the sword is more literally “with the mouth of the sword.” This is a Hebrew idiom. It means that they killed the people and animals.

Here is another way to translate this Hebrew idiom:

they killed everyone…they even killed every cow, sheep, and donkey (Contemporary English Version)

they devoted to destruction everything in the city: The phrase they devoted to destruction indicates that they destroyed everything in the town (including people, animals, and other things).

6:21b

man and woman, young and old: They killed every human being in the town.

oxen, sheep, and donkeys: The word oxen refers to bulls and cows.

Here is another way to translate this phrase:

all the domestic animals

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SIL Translator’s Notes on Joshua 7:26

7:26a

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

they heaped over Achan a large pile of rocks: This phrase indicates that the people of Israel took stones and piled them over him until his body was hidden.

7:26b

that remains to this day: This phrase indicates that the pile of stones was still there when the author wrote the book of Joshua.

7:26c

So: The Hebrew prefix that the Berean Standard Bible translates as So introduces the next event in the storyline. Introduce the next event in a way that is natural in your language.

the LORD turned from His burning anger: The Hebrew word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as turned from is more literally “turned back.” It indicates that Yahweh stopped being angry.

His burning anger: The Hebrew phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as His burning anger is more literally “the burning of his anger.” This is an idiom. It means that Yahweh was angry at the Israelites. However, they obeyed him by destroying the devoted things, and so Yahweh was no longer angry.

7:26d

Therefore: The Hebrew connector that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Therefore introduces the reason why the place is called Achor.

that place is called the Valley of Achor: The word Achor in Hebrew means “trouble.” You should translate it as you did in 7:24e. It is recommended that you translate it as “Trouble Valley.”

to this day: This phrase this day refers to the time that the book of Joshua was written.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Joshua 8:32

8:32a

And there: The Hebrew word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as there refers to the site of the altar on Mount Ebal. The ceremony at this place represents a climax for Israel because it fulfilled Moses’ command in Deuteronomy 27.

in the presence of the Israelites: The phrase in the presence of the Israelites indicates that Joshua wrote a copy of the law while all the Israelites watched him.

8:32b

Joshua inscribed on the stones a copy of the law of Moses: The word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Joshua is literally the pronoun “he.” Use the word that would be most natural in your language.

the stones: In Deuteronomy 27:2-4 Moses told Joshua to write the law of Moses on large stones which they should first coat with plaster. The term the stones does not refer to the stones used to build the altar.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

he wrote on some ⌊flat⌋ stones
-or-
he chose some ⌊flat⌋ stones and wrote on them

a copy of the law of Moses: The stones were not large enough for the entire law of Moses, which is Genesis through Deuteronomy. Joshua copied some part of the law of Moses onto the stones, perhaps the Ten Commandments.

Here is another way to translate this phrase:

he copied parts of the book of the Law of Moses onto the stones (Contemporary English Version)

8:32c

which he had written: It is not clear in the Hebrew text whether the pronoun he refers to Joshua or to Moses. It is recommended that you translate the pronoun he as referring to Moses, as in the NET Bible, New Jerusalem Bible, Tanakh: The Holy Scriptures, New Living Translation (2004), and Good News Translation.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

which Moses had written (Good News Translation)
-or-
the instructions Moses had given them (New Living Translation (2004))

SIL Translator’s Notes on Joshua 10:2

10:2a

So Adoni-zedek and his people were greatly alarmed: The words greatly alarmed refer to King Adoni-zedek. They indicate that the king was very afraid.

There is a textual issue here.

(1) The Hebrew Masoretic text and the Septuagint translation into Greek both read “they feared greatly.” For example:

he and his people were very much alarmed (New International Version)

(Berean Standard Bible, New International Version, NET Bible, New American Bible, Revised Edition, God’s Word, New Century Version, New Living Translation (2004), Good News Translation, Contemporary English Version, King James Version)

(2) Some ancient translations such as the Syriac read “he feared greatly.” For example:

he feared greatly (English Standard Version)

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

It is recommended that you follow option (1). Usually we translate the Hebrew text unless it is very difficult. Your translation could say “they” or it could say “the king and his people.” Here is another way to translate this:

the people of Jerusalem were greatly alarmed (Good News Translation)

If you have translated 10:1 as an independent sentence, you may need to supply some implicit information here. For example, the New Living Translation (2004) supplies this information:

He and his people became very afraid when they heard all this (New Living Translation (2004))

10:2b

because: The word because introduces the reason why the king and his people were afraid.

Gibeon was a great city: In 9:17 it said that Gibeon was actually a group of four towns. The phrase a great city indicates that Gibeon was a large and important place.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

a large city (NET Bible)
-or-
an important city (New International Version)

like one of the royal cities: The phrase like one of the royal cities indicates that Gibeon was equal in size and importance to the towns that had a king to rule them. Gibeon was ruled by an assembly of leaders and did not have a king.

Here is another way to translate this phrase:

as large as any of the cities that had a king (Good News Translation)

10:2c

it was: The words it was introduce a second reason why the king and his people were afraid.

and all its men were mighty: The clause all its men were mighty indicates that all the men of Ai were good at fighting.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

all its men were warriors (NET Bible)
-or-
all its men were good fighters (New International Version)

SIL Translator’s Notes on Joshua 10:34

Paragraph 10:34–35

10:34a

So Joshua moved on from Lachish to Eglon, and all Israel with him: The clause Joshua moved on from Lachish to Eglon, and all Israel with him has similar wording as 10:31a. The town of Eglon was about 16 kilometers west of Lachish. It is possible to translate this clause in the same way as 10:31a. In languages where a repetitious style is not natural, it may be possible to vary the wording a little bit.

10:34b

They laid siege to it and fought against it: The clause They laid siege to it and fought against it is the same as the clause in 10:31b. It is recommended that you translate it the same way.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Joshua 11:23

Paragraph 11:23

11:23a

So Joshua took the entire land: The clause Joshua took the entire land indicates that Joshua and the Israelite army conquered the whole land of Canaan. This verse is the conclusion to the first section of the book of Joshua. Chapter 12 contains a list of conquered kings and territories and forms a kind of appendix to chapter 11.

11:23b

in keeping with all that the LORD had spoken to Moses: The phrase in keeping with all that the LORD had spoken to Moses indicates that Joshua followed every command that Yahweh gave to Moses. Yahweh told Moses to drive out all the other nations from the land of Canaan.

11:23c

And Joshua gave it as an inheritance to Israel: The clause Joshua gave it as an inheritance to Israel indicates that Joshua divided up the land for each tribe of Israel to live in. Each of the twelve tribes of Israel got a certain part of the land.

inheritance: The Hebrew word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as inheritance is more literally “property.” Yahweh gave land to each tribe for that tribe to own. Each family could pass this land on to their children and grandchildren.

Here are some other ways to translate this term:

a possession (God’s Word)
-or-
a gift (NLV)

In some languages it may be more natural to translate this term as a clause. For example:

The Lord gave that land to Israel as he promised (English Easy-to-Read Version)
-or-
Joshua gave it to the Israelites as their own (Good News Translation)

according to the allotments to their tribes: The phrase according to the allotments to their tribes indicates that Joshua divided the land into sections and each tribe received one section of the land for their people to live in.

11:23d

Then the land had rest from war: The clause the land had rest from war indicates that the Israelite army no longer fought. The soldiers could rest. The countryside was peaceful and no longer destroyed by battles.

Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

Then there was peace in the land
-or-
Then there was no war in the land

SIL Translator’s Notes on Joshua 13:20

13:20

Beth-peor: The term Beth-peor indicates a town east of the Jordan River, where the Israelites stayed while Moses gave them the law (Deuteronomy 4:46). It was also the place where Balaam gave one of his prophecies about the Israelites (Numbers 23:28). Its location is uncertain.

Here is another way to spell the name of this town:

Beth Peor (New International Version, NET Bible)

the slopes of Pisgah: The slopes of Pisgah indicates the area around Mount Pisgah. It formed the south boundary of King Sihon’s territory. The location of Mount Pisgah is uncertain.

and Beth-jeshimoth: The town of Beth-jeshimoth is referred to in Joshua 12:3 and you should translate it the same way in both places.

Here is another way to spell the name of this town:

Beth Jeshimoth (New International Version, NET Bible)

SIL Translator’s Notes on Joshua 15:4

15:4a

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

The border then continued to Azmon
-or-
The boundary line went past the town of Azmon

15:4b

joined the Brook of Egypt: The Hebrew word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Brook refers to a river. This river had water only in the rainy season. See Joshua 12:1 where this Hebrew word was translated “Valley.”

Brook of Egypt: The phrase Brook of Egypt refers to a river that drains rainwater from the Sinai Peninsula into the Mediterranean Sea. This river is usually dry but becomes a large river when it rains. It formed the boundary between Israel and Egypt. Today this river is called the Wadi el Arish.

Here are some ways to translate this phrase:

Stream of Egypt (NET Bible)
-or-
River of Egypt (God’s Word, King James Version)
-or-
Wadi of Egypt (New International Version, Tanakh: The Holy Scriptures)
-or-
the stream on the border of Egypt (Good News Translation)

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

⌊The boundary line⌋ followed the river valley on the border of Egypt
-or-
and continued along the Brook of Egypt

15:4c

and ended at the Sea: The term the Sea refers to the Mediterranean Sea. It may be helpful to make this clear.

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

and ended at the Mediterranean Sea
-or-
until it reached the Mediterranean Sea

15:4d

This was their southern border: Here the author speaks directly to the people of Judah. The Berean Standard Bible translates this as their southern border, while some English versions chose to translate this with a second person plural reference. For example:

All this describes your boundary on the south

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

their south boundary (New International Version, NET Bible)
-or-
That was the south border of the tribe of Judah

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Source: SIL Translator’s Notes on Joshua 2023

SIL Translator’s Notes on Joshua 6:21

SIL Translator’s Notes on Joshua 7:26

SIL Translator’s Notes on Joshua 8:32

SIL Translator’s Notes on Joshua 10:2

SIL Translator’s Notes on Joshua 10:34

SIL Translator’s Notes on Joshua 11:23

SIL Translator’s Notes on Joshua 13:20

SIL Translator’s Notes on Joshua 15:4

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