SIL Translator’s Notes on Joshua 2023 – Page 29

SIL Translator’s Notes on Joshua 6:7

6:7a

And: The Hebrew word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as And introduces the next event in the storyline. Use a connector that is natural in your language.

he told: The word he refers to Joshua.

the people: The word people refers to the Israelite priests and the soldiers.

6:7b

Advance: The Hebrew phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Advance is more literally “pass on.” This is a command and a Hebrew idiom. It indicates that the soldiers and the priests should begin to walk.

march around the city: The Hebrew phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as march around the city is a command. It indicates that the soldiers should walk around the town.

6:7c

with the armed troops going ahead of the ark of the LORD: Joshua commanded that some of the soldiers must walk in front of the ark. There is implied information. Only some of the soldiers walked in front of the ark. There were also soldiers following the ark (see 6:9).

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

have one group of soldiers walk in front of the ark of Yahweh
-or-
with an advance guard going on ahead of the Lord ’s Covenant Box (Good News Translation)

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SIL Translator’s Notes on Joshua 7:12

7:12a

This is why: The Hebrew connector that the Berean Standard Bible translates as This is why introduces the result of what the Israelites have done. Because they stole things dedicated to God, they cannot defeat the town of Ai. You should translate the words This is why with a word or phrase in your language that makes this connection clear.

the Israelites: The phrase the Israelites refers to the Israelite soldiers.

cannot stand against their enemies: The phrase cannot stand against their enemies means that the Israelite army is not able to defeat their enemies. They were not able to defeat the people of Ai, and they will not be able to defeat the people of any other town.

7:12b

They will turn their backs and run from their enemies: The Hebrew phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as They will turn their backs is a Hebrew idiom. It means that the Israelite army turned back and ran away from the soldiers of Ai. If you have a similar idiom in your language, consider using it here.

7:12c

because they themselves have been set apart for destruction: The people of Israel became one of the things which was set apart for Yahweh. The Israelites were told to destroy the things in Jericho. Because they did not do so, now Yahweh will destroy them. If possible, use the same expression for the “thing devoted to destruction” that you used previously (see 6:17 and 7:1).

7:12d

I will no longer be with you: The clause I will no longer be with you expresses a further result of their violating God’s covenant. God will no longer help the Israelite army to defeat their enemies or protect them when they are attacked.

you: The pronoun you is plural. It refers to Joshua and all the Israelites.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

I will not help you anymore (New Century Version)
-or-
I cannot help you anymore (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
I will not remain with you any longer (New Living Translation (2004))

7:12e

unless you remove from among you whatever is devoted to destruction: The Hebrew word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as unless introduces a condition. If the people of Israel do not destroy the devoted things, then God will withdraw his presence and help from them.

remove from among you: This phrase means that the Israelites must not continue to keep the things which belong to Yahweh in their camp.

whatever is devoted to destruction: This phrase refers to the things which Achan stole from Yahweh.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

The things which belong to me
-or-
The things which I told you to destroy
-or-
The things which are set apart for me

General Comment on 7:12d-e

In some languages, it may be clearer to reverse the order of 7:12d and 7:12e. For example, you could say:

12e If you do not destroy the devoted things from among you, 12d then I will no longer be with you ⌊and help you⌋ .

SIL Translator’s Notes on Joshua 8:18

Paragraph 8:18–23

8:18a

Then: The Hebrew word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Then introduces a new event in the storyline.

the LORD said to Joshua: The words that Yahweh told Joshua are a command.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

Yahweh told Joshua
-or-
Yahweh commanded Joshua

8:18b

Hold out your battle lance toward Ai: The clause Hold out your battle lance toward Ai indicates that Joshua must extend his arm to its full length with the javelin pointing towards Ai.

battle lance: The Hebrew word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as battle lance refers to either a short sword used for thrusting and hunting, or a curved, crescent-shaped sword. These are some other ways that English versions have translated it:

sword (New Revised Standard Version)
-or-
curved sword (NET Bible)
-or-
spear (Good News Translation)

You should choose a word that is similar in meaning to one of these terms and will be understood by your readers.

8:18c

for into your hand I will deliver the city: The Hebrew phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as into your hand I will deliver is an idiom. It indicates that Yahweh will enable Joshua and his army to defeat the town of Ai.

8:18d

So: The Hebrew word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as So introduces a new event in the storyline.

Joshua held out his battle lance toward Ai: Joshua obeyed the command that Yahweh gave him. If this repetition is not natural in your language, you can translate the meaning in another way. For example:

Joshua did as he was told (Good News Translation)
-or-
So Joshua held out his spear (God’s Word)
-or-
So Joshua did what Yahweh commanded him

SIL Translator’s Notes on Joshua 9:15

9:15a

And: The Hebrew word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as And indicates the next action in the storyline. Indicate this in a natural way in your language.

Joshua made a treaty of peace with them: The Hebrew that the Berean Standard Bible and many English versions collapse into one clause, Joshua made a treaty of peace with them, is literally two clauses, “Joshua made peace with them, and he made a covenant for them.” Making a covenant, or a treaty, showed that there will be peace between the two groups of people. For example:

So Joshua made peace with them by making a treaty (God’s Word)

to let them live: The terms of the peace treaty allowed the Gibeonites to live as subjects, under the rule of the Israelites. The Israelites promised not to kill the Gibeonites as they did the other inhabitants of Canaan.

9:15b

and the leaders of the congregation swore an oath to them: The phrase the leaders of the congregation refers to the leaders of the whole Israelite community.

congregation: The Hebrew word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as congregation refers to a meeting of free Israelite men who were eligible for military service.

Here are some other ways to translate this word:

the leaders of the assembly (New International Version)
-or-
the leaders of the community (NET Bible, New American Bible, Revised Edition)

Some English versions leave this word implicit. For example:

the Israelite leaders (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
their leaders (Good News Translation)

swore an oath to them: The clause swore an oath to them means that the Israelite leaders swore an oath, or made a solemn promise, that they will keep the agreement that they made with the Gibeonites.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Joshua 10:20

10:20a

So Joshua and the Israelites: The phrase Joshua and the Israelites refers to Joshua and the Israelite army.

continued to inflict a terrible slaughter: The clause continued to inflict a terrible slaughter is a Hebrew idiom. It indicates that the Israelite army killed many of the Amorite soldiers.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

Joshua and the Israelites destroyed them completely (New International Version)
-or-
Joshua and the men of Israel slaughtered them (Good News Translation)

10:20b

until they had finished them off: The clause until they had finished them off indicates that the Israelite army killed almost all the Amorite soldiers. This clause restates the information in 10:20a. It emphasizes how completely the Israelites defeated the Amorites. If repetition is not a natural way to show emphasis, it may be more natural to combine 20a and b. For example,

So Joshua and the Israelites killed the enemy (New Century Version)
-or-
Joshua and the Israelites defeated them decisively, almost destroying them (God’s Word)

In some languages there may be grammatical particles or other means that you can use to emphasize this important information in the story.

10:20c

and: It may be more natural in many languages to begin a new sentence and to leave the word and untranslated.

the remaining survivors: The phrase the remaining survivors indicates that a few Amorite soldiers were still alive.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

and when the survivors (New Revised Standard Version)
-or-
but the few who were left (New International Version)

retreated to the fortified cities: The clause retreated to the fortified cities indicates that a few Amorite soldiers who remained alive escaped into their own towns. These towns had walls to protect them.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Joshua 11:9

11:9a

Joshua treated them: The word them refers to the Canaanite armies.

as the LORD had told him: The clause as the LORD had told him indicates that Joshua obeyed Yahweh’s commands.

11:9b

he hamstrung their horses: The clause he hamstrung their horses indicates that Joshua had the tendons in the back legs of the enemy horses cut so that they could not walk. Probably Joshua ordered his soldiers to do this. He did not do it himself. It may be clearer in some languages to make this information explicit. Translate this using similar words to 11:6c.

and burned up their chariots: The clause burned up their chariots indicates that Joshua had his soldiers burn the enemy chariots. Translate this using similar words to 11:6d.

Here is another way to translate these phrases:

Joshua told his soldiers to cut the hamstrings of their horses and burn their chariots ⌊as Yahweh had commanded them⌋

SIL Translator’s Notes on Joshua 13:6

13:6a

All the inhabitants of the hill country: The phrase the inhabitants of the hill country indicates the people who lived in the mountain range that runs from north to south in Lebanon, away from the coastal plain.

from Lebanon to Misrephoth-maim: The phrase from Lebanon to Misrephoth-maim indicates that the mountain range extended from the north part of the country of Lebanon south to the town of Misrephoth-maim.

Misrephoth-maim: The location of the town of Misrephoth-maim is uncertain. It was probably north of Galilee and not far from Sidon, near the Litani River.

Here is another way to spell Misrephoth-maim:

Misrephoth Maim (New International Version, NET Bible)

13:6b

all the Sidonians: The phrase the Sidonians indicates that the people who lived in the mountain range of Lebanon were Sidonians. This region was governed by Sidon. The town of Sidon was twenty-four miles southwest of Beirut on the Lebanese coast.

In some languages it may be more natural to reorder verses 6a and 6b. For example:

This includes all the territory of the Sidonians, who live in the hill country between the Lebanon Mountains and Misrephoth Maim (Good News Translation)

13:6c

I Myself will drive out: The Hebrew pronoun that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Myself emphasizes that Yahweh is the one who will give the Israelites victory. Use the most natural way in your language to show this emphasis.

before the Israelites: The phrase before the Israelites indicates that God will give the Israelites victory as they move forward to conquer the land.

13:6d

Be sure to: The Hebrew word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Be sure to introduces a command. It contrasts what is Joshua’s responsibility with what Yahweh would do for the Israelites.

Here are some other ways that English versions emphasize this command:

So be sure to give this land to Israel as a special possession (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
All you have to do is to distribute the territory as a heritage for the Israelites as I have commanded you (New Jerusalem Bible)

divide it by lot as an inheritance to Israel: The clause divide it by lot as an inheritance to Israel indicates that Joshua must divide the land among the tribes of Israel who would live on the west side of the Jordan River.

as an inheritance: The phrase as an inheritance indicates that the Israelites received the land of Canaan as a gift from Yahweh to them. It would then belong to them and their descendants forever if they obeyed Yahweh. The word “inheritance” was used in 11:23, and you should translate it the same way in both places.

13:6e

as I have commanded you: Yahweh gave this command to Moses in Numbers 33:54. Moses told Joshua to carry out this command in Deuteronomy 31:7.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Joshua 14:5

14:5a

So the Israelites did as the LORD had commanded Moses: This is a summary of verses 1-5. Yahweh told Moses how to divide up the land when they were on the plains of Moab, before they entered the land of Canaan (Numbers 33:50-54).

Here is another way to translate this clause:

The Israelites followed the Lord ’s instructions to Moses. (NET Bible)

14:5b

and they divided the land: Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

they allotted the land (Revised Standard Version)
-or-
they assigned the land to the people

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Source: SIL Translator’s Notes on Joshua 2023

SIL Translator’s Notes on Joshua 6:7

SIL Translator’s Notes on Joshua 7:12

SIL Translator’s Notes on Joshua 8:18

SIL Translator’s Notes on Joshua 9:15

SIL Translator’s Notes on Joshua 10:20

SIL Translator’s Notes on Joshua 11:9

SIL Translator’s Notes on Joshua 13:6

SIL Translator’s Notes on Joshua 14:5

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