SIL Translator’s Notes on Joshua 2023 – Page 31

SIL Translator’s Notes on Joshua 19:41

19:41

The territory of their inheritance included Zorah, Eshtaol, Ir-shemesh: The clan of Dan received the towns of Zorah and Eshtaol from the clan of Judah. These towns are mentioned in chapter 15:33. The town of Ir-shemesh was also called Beth-shemesh and was listed as a border town of the clan of Judah in chapter 15:10.

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

Their land included the towns of Zorah, Eshtaol, Ir-shemesh
-or-
The land that they received had the following towns: Zorah and Eshtaol and Ir-shemesh

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SIL Translator’s Notes on Joshua 21:13

21:13a

So: This verse repeats information which was stated in verse 21:10-11. Some English versions translate this Hebrew conjunction as So, as “thus” or “and.” Use the connecting word that is natural in your language.

to the descendants of Aaron the priest they gave these cities, together with their pasturelands: Hebron, a city of refuge for the manslayer: In this verse Aaron is given the title of Aaron the priest, which is slightly different from verse 21:10. The Hebrew sentence puts the object of the sentence first to emphasize it. Use the sentence order that is natural in your language.

together with their pasturelands: The phrase together with their pasturelands refers to the land around Hebron where livestock could eat grass.

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

So the people of Israel gave Hebron town with its pasturelands to the descendants of Aaron the priest. Hebron was a town of safety for those who had killed someone by mistake.

a city of refuge for the manslayer: The Hebrew word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as manslayer is the same Hebrew word that occurred in 20:3. In that verse the Berean Standard Bible translated it as “anyone who kills another.” It is recommended that you translate this term the same way as you did in verse 20:3.

21:13b

Libnah: The town of Libnah was southwest of Jerusalem.

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

⌊They also gave them⌋ Libnah and the grazing lands around it,
-or-
Libnah town and the grasslands around it,

SIL Translator’s Notes on Joshua 22:11

22:11a

Then the Israelites received the report: The clause the Israelites received the report indicates that the other Israel people who were still at Shiloh, heard a report from somebody about the altar.

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

The other Israelite clans heard this news
-or-
Somebody told the rest of the Israel people

22:11b

Behold: The Hebrew word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Behold draws attention to what follows.

Here are some other ways to translate this word:

Listen!
-or-
Look!

Several English versions do not use a separate word or expression here. Languages have a wide variety of ways to direct the listener’s attention to the next statement. Use a way that is natural in your language.

the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh: Here are some other ways to translate this part of the verse:

Listen! The people of Reuben and Gad and the half-tribe of Manasseh
-or-
Look! Those people

22:11c

have built an altar on the border of the land of Canaan: The Hebrew phrase the border of the land of Canaan is more literally “the front of the land of Canaan.” It refers to the frontier of the land, or the edge of the land.

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

have built an altar at the border of the land of Canaan
-or-
have built an altar at the edge of the land of Canaan

22:11d

at Geliloth near the Jordan: The phrase Geliloth near the Jordan is the same as in verse 22:10. You should translate it the same way as you did there.

on the Israelite side: The phrase on the Israelite side indicates that the altar was on the west side of the Jordan River.

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

in the district that is by the Jordan River, on the side that belongs to we (incl.) Israelites
-or-
in the region near the Jordan River, on the Israel side

SIL Translator’s Notes on Joshua 23:9

Paragraph 23:9–13

23:9a

The Hebrew conjunction that the Berean Standard Bible leaves untranslated but some English versions translate as “For” is the conjunction that joins sentences and can be translated as “and.” Many English versions do not translate this conjunction. Use a connecting word that is natural in your language.

The LORD has driven out great and powerful nations before you: The Hebrew verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates as driven out was used in verse 23:5b. See how you translated it there.

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

Yahweh has made great and powerful nations leave as you conquered the land.
-or-
Yahweh has taken away the land from large, strong peoples in front of you.

23:9b

and: The Hebrew phrase that the Berean Standard Bible as and is literally “and you.” The plural pronoun “you” is emphatic. Some English translations add the words “as for” as a way to show emphasis in English. Other English versions, such as the Berean Standard Bible, do not make this emphasis explicit. Show this emphasis in a way that is natural in your language.

no one can stand against you: The Hebrew clause that the Berean Standard Bible translates as no one can stand against you is more literally “no man has stood before you until this day.” It indicates that none of their enemies had been able to defeat them. The Israelites had defeated all of them.

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

As for you, no one has defeated you up to this present day.
-or-
But you, none ⌊of your enemies⌋ has won against you yet.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Joshua 24:25

Paragraph 24:25–26

24:25a

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

Joshua made a covenant for the people: The term covenant was first mentioned in the book of Joshua in 3:3. It was also used in 23:16. You will probably be able to translate it the same way in all three places.

for the people: The Hebrew preposition that the Berean Standard Bible translates as for can also be translated “with.” Joshua did not make an agreement between the people and himself. Instead, he acted as Yahweh’s representative. He established a covenant between the people and Yahweh.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

That day Joshua drew up an agreement for the people (NET Bible)
-or-
Joshua helped Israel make an agreement with the Lord that day (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
That day, Joshua established an agreement between the people and Yahweh (Translation for Translators)

24:25b

and there at Shechem he established for them a statute and ordinance: The words statute and ordinance refer to all the laws that Yahweh specified should be part of the covenant. Some languages may not have two terms that refer to laws. In this case, only one term may be used.

Shechem: The town of Shechem was mentioned in verse 24:1.

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

At Shechem, he set up rules and commands for them ⌊to follow⌋
-or-
He established laws and regulations for them at the town of Shechem
-or-
at Shechem…Joshua made laws for Israel (Contemporary English Version)

SIL Translator’s Notes on Joshua 2:12

Paragraph 2:12-14

Rahab asked the spies to spare her and her family. The spies promised to do this if she helped them escape.

2:12a

Now therefore: The Hebrew word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Now therefore can also be translated “so” or “then.” It shows that Rahab’s request was urgent. It is not a time word. Choose an appropriate way to express this in your language.

please swear to me: The Hebrew verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates as swear can also be translated “promise.” It is used here in the sense of taking an oath. This verb is also used in 1:6c where God is the one who swore. In this verse the two Israelite men are the ones who swear.

Here are some other ways to translate this word:

promise(dual)
-or-
make an oath
-or-
pledge

by the LORD: The phrase by the LORD indicates that the person makes an oath or promise in the name of Yahweh. He says that he expects Yahweh to punish him if he does not keep his promise.

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

So now take an oath in the name of Yahweh
-or-
Therefore, promise me by the name of Yahweh
-or-
So, promise me, and may Yahweh punish you if you do not keep the promise.

2:12b

you will indeed show kindness: The Hebrew clause that the Berean Standard Bible translates as you will indeed show kindness is more literally “and you will do, also you, ḥesed.” The emphatic pronoun emphasizes that the Israelites should show loyalty to her as she has done to them. Use a term or grammatical marker that is natural to show this emphasis in your language.

The expression show kindness uses the same Hebrew word ḥesed as in 12c. You should translate it the same way in both places.

to my family: The phrase to my family refers to Rahab and her family.

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

you in turn will show loyalty to my family (Tanakh: The Holy Scriptures)
-or-
You yourselves will also treat my family kindly
-or-
You will act as faithfully to my family as I have acted faithfully to you

2:12c

because I showed kindness to you: The Hebrew phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as I showed kindness to you is more literally “I have done ḥesed with you.” The Hebrew word ḥesed is a key biblical term. It means that one is loyal to a covenant relationship. It includes the meanings of faithfulness and loyalty. Consider what is the most appropriate word in your language in this context.

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

Since I have shown loyalty to you (Tanakh: The Holy Scriptures)
-or-
Because I have treated you kindly
-or-
Because I have acted faithfully with you

2:12d

Give me a sure sign: The Hebrew expression that the Berean Standard Bible translates as a sure sign is more literally “a sign of faithfulness.”

Here are some ways to translate this expression:

give me a sign that I can trust
-or-
do something so that I can be certain that you will do what you promised

SIL Translator’s Notes on Joshua 4:3

4:3a-b

The Berean Standard Bible uses a direct quote. In some languages it may be more natural to use an indirect quote. For example, you could say:

Command them to take twelve stones

4:3a

and command them: The Hebrew phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as command them is imperative. It means that God commanded Joshua to give a command (4:3b-e) to the group of men he chose.

4:3b

Take up for yourselves twelve stones: The phrase Take up for yourselves twelve stones means that each of the twelve men must pick up one stone.

stones: These would have been large stones, about as large as a single person could carry.

from the middle of the Jordan: The phrase from the middle of the Jordan indicates that the men must take stones from the place where the priests were standing. The priests were standing in the middle of the Jordan river. The water had stopped flowing when the priests entered the water, which allowed the people to walk across the bottom of the (dry) river bed (see 3:17b-c). The men were supposed to take the twelve rocks from the bottom of the river from that same area. Here are some other ways to translate these verse part:

Take twelve stones out of the middle of the Jordan (Good News Translation)
-or-
Tell them to get twelve rocks from the middle of the river (New Century Version)

4:3c

where the priests were standing: The Hebrew phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as where the priests were standing is more literally “the firm standing place of the feet of the priests.” The twelve men picked up the stones while the priests were still standing in the middle of the river. Another way to translate this is:

from right where the priests are standing (New International Version)

where: The Hebrew word translated as where emphasizes that the men must pick up stones from the exact place where the priests are standing. Another way to show this emphasis would be:

from the very place where the priests’ feet stood (Revised Standard Version)

4:3d

carry them with you: The phrase carry them with you means that each man must carry the stone he picked up, and take it to the other side of the river.

4:3e

and set them down: The phrase set them down means that each man is to put his rock down on the ground.

in the place where you spend the night: The phrase in the place where you spend the night indicates the place where they were to put down the stones.

spend the night: The phrase spend the night means that the Israelites lived in that place for a short time (probably a few days or weeks).

SIL Translator’s Notes on Joshua 5:11

5:11a

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

The day after: The phrase The day after refers to the morning after the Israelites had eaten the Passover feast.

the Passover: It may be more natural in some languages to translate this phrase as a clause. For example:

they ate the Passover feast
-or-
they celebrated the Passover

5:11b

on that very day, they ate: The phrase on that very day emphasizes that now the Israelites could eat the crops that grew in the land of Canaan.

unleavened bread: The phrase unleavened bread refers to loaves of barley bread that they made without yeast.

and roasted grain: The phrase roasted grain refers to barley grain that they roasted over a fire.

from the produce of the land: The phrase the produce of the land refers to barley grain. Barley was ready to harvest at this time (see 3:15). The Israelites gathered barley from the fields belonging to the people of Jericho.

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Source: SIL Translator’s Notes on Joshua 2023

SIL Translator’s Notes on Joshua 19:41

SIL Translator’s Notes on Joshua 21:13

SIL Translator’s Notes on Joshua 22:11

SIL Translator’s Notes on Joshua 23:9

SIL Translator’s Notes on Joshua 24:25

SIL Translator’s Notes on Joshua 2:12

SIL Translator’s Notes on Joshua 4:3

SIL Translator’s Notes on Joshua 5:11

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