SIL Translator’s Notes on Joshua 2023 – Page 27

SIL Translator’s Notes on Joshua 10:3

10:3a

Therefore Adoni-zedek king of Jerusalem sent word: The phrase sent word indicates that the king sent messengers to take his message to the other kings.

King Adoni-zedek of Jerusalem sent this message to… (NET Bible)
-or-
Adoni-zedek king of Jerusalem appealed to… (New International Version)
-or-
King Adoni-zedek of Jerusalem sent messengers to… (New Living Translation (2004))

It may be more natural in some languages to put the title “King” before the names of each of the kings in this list.

10:3b

to Hoham king of Hebron: Hoham is the name of the king of Hebron. Hebron was a town in the hill country southwest of Jerusalem.

Piram king of Jarmuth: Piram is the name of the king of Jarmuth. Jarmuth was a town about 24 kilometers west of Bethlehem in the Elah Valley. It was southwest of Jerusalem.

10:3c

Japhia king of Lachish: Japhia is the name of the king of Lachish. Lachish was about 40 kilometers southwest of Jerusalem.

and Debir king of Eglon, saying: Debir is the name of the king of Eglon. Eglon was about 56 kilometers southwest of Jerusalem.

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SIL Translator’s Notes on Joshua 10:35

10:35a

That day they captured Eglon: The clause That day they captured Eglon indicates that Joshua and the Israelite army captured the town and its inhabitants on the same day that they attacked it. In some languages, it is more natural to reverse the order of the words in this phrase. For example:

They captured Eglon City that same day

That day: The Hebrew phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as That day is stated twice in this verse for emphasis. It contrasts the fact that the Israelites captured and destroyed the town of Eglon in one day, whereas it took them two days to capture the town of Lachish.

and put it to the sword: The clause put it to the sword indicates that the Israelite army killed the people of the town. This is a Hebrew idiom that was used in 10:28, and it is recommended that you translate it the same way in both places.

10:35b

and Joshua devoted to destruction everyone in the city: The Hebrew clause that the Berean Standard Bible translates as and Joshua devoted to destruction everyone in the city has the object stated first because this is a way that the Hebrew language indicates prominence or emphasis. Other languages may have a different way to show emphasis. Indicate emphasis that is natural in your language.

Joshua: The Hebrew word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Joshua refers to Joshua as the representative of the Israelite army. In some languages it may be more natural to include this implied information. For example:

Joshua ⌊and the Israelite soldiers⌋ utterly destroyed the town of Eglon that day

devoted to destruction: The Hebrew verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates as devoted to destruction is the same verb used in 10:28c. It refers to people or things that are claimed by Yahweh and cannot be bought back by any means. They must be destroyed.

10:35c

just as he had done to Lachish: The phrase just as he had done to Lachish may be translated as an independent sentence. For example:

He treated Eglon the same way as he had treated Lachish.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Joshua 12:1

Section 12:1–24 The kings that Joshua and the Israelites defeated

In this section there is a list of the kings that the Israelites defeated on the east side and the west side of the Jordan River.

Here is another possible section heading:

The kings that the Israelites defeated on both sides of the Jordan River

Paragraph 12:1-6

The kings that the Israelites defeated on the east side of the Jordan River.

12:1a

Now: The Hebrew word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Now introduces a list of two kings that the Israelites defeated. Many English versions do not translate this word. Use a word that is appropriate to introduce a list in your language.

these are the kings: In some languages it may be more natural to say that these are the names of the kings.

Here is another way to translate this phrase:

These are the names of the kings (Revised English Bible)

of the land: The phrase the land indicates the land east of the Jordan River. This is not stated until 12:1c. It may be more natural in some languages to reorder this verse. A way to reorder the verse is found at the end of the notes for this verse.

12:1b

whom the Israelites struck down: The Israelites defeated these kings at an earlier time, before they crossed the Jordan River. This story is found in Numbers 21:21-35. It may be helpful to express this implicit information.

Here is another way to translate this phrase:

The people of Israel had defeated these kings ⌊before they crossed the Jordan River⌋

Israelites: The word Israelites indicates the Israelite army.

12:1c

and whose lands they took: The clause whose lands they took indicates that after the Israelites defeated the kings and their armies, they occupied their land and controlled it.

beyond the Jordan to the east: The phrase beyond the Jordan to the east indicates that the land was on the east side of the Jordan River.

12:1d

from the Arnon Valley to Mount Hermon: The Arnon Valley and Mount Hermon were at the south and the north of the area that the Israelites conquered east of the Jordan River.

the Arnon Valley: The Arnon River flows through a deep Valley that is dry during part of the year. It runs into the Dead Sea. Its valley is halfway between the southern and northern ends of the Dead Sea. This was the southern limit of the land that the Israelites conquered on the east side of the Jordan River.

Here is another way to translate this phrase:

the valley of the Arnon River

Valley: The Hebrew word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Valley refers to a riverbed that has water in it only during the rainy season. This kind of riverbed is sometimes referred to by its Arabic term, wadi.

Here are some ways to translate this word:

gorge (New Living Translation (2004), New International Version)
-or-
ravine (New Century Version)
-or-
wadi (New Revised Standard Version, Revised English Bible, Tanakh: The Holy Scriptures)

Use the word in your language that best fits this context.

Mount Hermon: Mount Hermon is west of Damascus. It was the northern limit of the land that the Israelites conquered on the east side of the Jordan River.

including all the Arabah eastward: The Arabah is the valley of the Jordan River. The land that the Israelites conquered included all the Jordan River valley and the land to the east of it.

General Comment on 12:1

Here are some other ways to translate verse 1. These examples have partially reordered the parts of the verse. They have also broken the verse into two sentences.

These are the kings of the land east of the Jordan River that the people of Israel defeated. Israel also took possession of their land from the Arnon Valley to Mount Hermon, and all the eastern plains. (God’s Word)
-or-
Before Moses died, he and the Israelites had defeated two kings east of the Jordan River. These kings had ruled the region from the Arnon River Gorge in the south to Mount Hermon in the north, including the eastern side of the Jordan River Valley. (Contemporary English Version)

General Comment on 12:1-5

In the Hebrew text these verses are one long sentence, and the Berean Standard Bible translates them this way. It is recommended that you translate these verses as several sentences. Use the sentence breaks that are most natural in your language. There are some examples of how to do this the end of each verse.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Joshua 13:21

13:21a

all the cities of the plateau: The clause all the cities of the plateau summarizes the list of towns that appear in verses 17-21. This clause is almost identical to the clause in verse 13:17b and you should translate it the same way. In verse 17 this phrase was at the beginning of the list, and here it comes at the end of the list.

13:21b

and all the kingdom of Sihon king of the Amorites: The phrase the kingdom of Sihon king of the Amorites indicates that Moses gave the land that King Sihon ruled on the plateau to the tribe of Reuben.

13:21c

who reigned in Heshbon: The clause who reigned in Heshbon indicates that Heshbon was the capital city of King Sihon. Heshbon was mentioned in 13:10 and 13:17, and you should translate it the same way every time.

until Moses killed him and the chiefs of Midian: Moses defeated King Sihon along with all the other leaders of Midian. It may be helpful to begin a new sentence here. For example:

Moses had defeated him along with the Midianites including Evi, Rekem, Zur, Hur and Reba (New Century Version)

chiefs of Midian: Midian was one of the sons of Abraham and Keturah (Genesis 25:1-2). Midian’s descendants became a group called Midian. They were a nomadic people who lived in northwest Arabia, east of the Gulf of Aqaba.

13:21d

(Evi, Rekem, Zur, Hur, and Reba), the princes of Sihon: These five names are the leaders of the Midian people. The story of how Moses and the Israelites fought and killed these leaders is found in Numbers 31:7-8.

princes of Sihon: The phrase princes of Sihon indicates that these leaders of Midian were under the authority of King Sihon.

Here is another way to translate this phrase:

all of them had ruled the land for King Sihon (Good News Translation)

who lived in the land: The clause who lived in the land indicates that these five Midianite leaders and their people lived in the land that King Sihon ruled.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Joshua 15:5

Paragraph 15:5a

The east boundary of Judah is marked by the Dead Sea.

15:5a

The eastern border was the Salt Sea as far as the mouth of the Jordan: The Salt Sea is another name for the Dead Sea. The phrase as the mouth of the Jordan indicates that the east border of Judah’s land extended the length of the Dead Sea, from its southern point to where the Dead Sea reached the Jordan River in the north.

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

Judah’s east boundary was along the Dead Sea, ⌊from its south end⌋ to where the Jordan River flows into it
-or-
The border on the east was the Dead Sea, going north to the mouth of the Jordan River

Paragraph 15:5b-11

The north boundary of Judah started from the north end of the Dead Sea and went west from there to the Mediterranean Sea. This boundary did not go in a straight line. It swung south to avoid Jerusalem, which was part of the territory of Benjamin.

15:5b

The northern border started: Here are some other ways to translate this part of the verse:

The north border ran
-or-
The boundary on the north began at

15:5c

from the bay of the sea at the mouth of the Jordan: The phrase the bay of the sea indicates the north end of the Dead Sea.

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

from the end of the Dead Sea where it meets the Jordan River
-or-
the ⌊north end of the⌋ Dead Sea where the Jordan River flows into it

SIL Translator’s Notes on Joshua 15:37

Paragraph: 15:37-41

This paragraph is a list of more towns that were given to the tribe of Judah.

15:37

Zenan, Hadashah, Migdal-gad: This is the beginning of a new list of towns. It may be helpful to make this clear.

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

⌊There were also the towns of⌋ Zenan, Hadashah, Migdal-gad…

SIL Translator’s Notes on Joshua 16:6

16:6a

and out toward the Sea: There is an interpretation issue in this verse.

(1) The Hebrew word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as toward the Sea refers to the Mediterranean Sea.

(Berean Standard Bible, Revised Standard Version, New Revised Standard Version, NET Bible, English Standard Version, New International Version, Tanakh: The Holy Scriptures, New American Bible, Revised Edition, Good News Translation, King James Version)

(2) The Hebrew word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as toward the Sea means to the west.

Then the border went westward (New American Standard Bible)

(New American Standard Bible, God’s Word)

It is recommended that you follow option (1) which is followed by most English versions.

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

The boundary then continued to the Mediterranean Sea
-or-
From there it went ⌊downhill⌋ to the Mediterranean Sea

16:6b

From Michmethath on the north: The Hebrew clause that the Berean Standard Bible translates as From Michmethath on the north is more literally “Michmethath from north.” Most commentaries agree that this part of the verse describes the northern border of Ephraim.

Michmethath: The town of Michmethath was on the north border of Ephraim, near the town of Shechem. The exact location of Michmethath is unknown.

The English versions spell Michmethath in several ways:

Mich-methath (Revised Standard Version)
-or-
Michmethath (Berean Standard Bible, English Standard Version, God’s Word, New American Bible, Revised Edition, Good News Translation, Contemporary English Version)
-or-
Michmethah (King James Version)
-or-
Micmethath (NET Bible, New International Version (1984), New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
Mikmethath (New International Version (2011))

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

The town of Michmethath was on their northern border
-or-
The town of Michmethath was in the north ⌊of Ephraim’s territory⌋

16:6c

it turned eastward toward Taanath-shiloh: The Hebrew clause that the Berean Standard Bible translates as eastward toward Taanath-shiloh is more literally “the boundary turns east, Taanath-shiloh.”

Taanath-shiloh: Taanath-shiloh refers to a town to the east of Michmethath.

The English versions spell Taanath-shiloh in several ways:

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

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

The border then turned east toward the town of Taanath-shiloh
-or-
The boundary then curved around to the east to the town of Taanath-shiloh

16:6d

and passed by it to Janoah on the east: The clause passed by it to Janoah on the east indicates that the border went past the town of Taanath-shiloh and continued east to the town of Janoah.

The English versions spell Janoah in several ways:

Jan-oah (Revised Standard Version)
-or-
Janoah (Berean Standard Bible, New International Version, NET Bible, English Standard Version, God’s Word, New American Bible, Revised Edition, Good News Translation, Contemporary English Version, New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
Janohah (King James Version)

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

The border then went past that town and continued east to the town of Janoah
-or-
The border continued east from the town of Taanath-shiloh to the town of Janoah

SIL Translator’s Notes on Joshua 18:10

18:10a

And Joshua cast lots for them in the presence of the LORD at Shiloh: The words here are similar to Joshua 18:6c and 18:8e.

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

So there in the town of Shiloh Joshua threw lots for them in the presence of Yahweh
-or-
Joshua threw marked stones in Shiloh town to let Yahweh ⌊decide how to divide the land among the clans⌋

18:10b

where he distributed the land to the Israelites according to their divisions: The clause he distributed the land indicates that Joshua divided up the remaining land.

The word Israelites refers to the seven clans who had not yet received any land.

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

and Joshua divided out the land to the ⌊remaining⌋ clans of Israel. Each clan received its own piece of land.
-or-
There he gave out a share of land to each of the remaining tribes in Israel (NIRV)

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Source: SIL Translator’s Notes on Joshua 2023

SIL Translator’s Notes on Joshua 10:3

SIL Translator’s Notes on Joshua 10:35

SIL Translator’s Notes on Joshua 12:1

SIL Translator’s Notes on Joshua 13:21

SIL Translator’s Notes on Joshua 15:5

SIL Translator’s Notes on Joshua 15:37

SIL Translator’s Notes on Joshua 16:6

SIL Translator’s Notes on Joshua 18:10

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