SIL Translator’s Notes on Joshua 2023 – Page 38

SIL Translator’s Notes on Joshua 15:63

Paragraph: 15:63

This paragraph talks about the Jebus people, whom the people of Judah could not drive out.

15:63a

But the descendants of Judah could not drive out: Here are some other ways to translate this part of the verse:

the people of Judah were not able to make them leave
-or-
The tribe of Judah could not force them to leave Jerusalem.

15:63b

the Jebusites living in Jerusalem: Here are some other ways to translate this part of the verse:

But as for the Jebus people who lived in the town of Jerusalem
-or-
The people of Jebus lived in Jerusalem

15:63c

So to this day the Jebusites live there among the descendants of Judah: The phrase this day refers to the time when the book of Joshua was written.

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

Because of this, the Jebus people still live with the Judah people in the town of Jerusalem up to today
-or-
Therefore, the people of Jebus live with the people of Judah in Jerusalem till this present day

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SIL Translator’s Notes on Joshua 18:4

18:4a

Appoint three men from each tribe: The phrase each tribe probably refers to the seven clans that had not yet received their share of land.

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

Choose three men from each ⌊of the seven⌋ clans
-or-
Appoint three men per clan

18:4b

There is a Hebrew verb at the beginning of this clause that the Berean Standard Bible leaves untranslated. This verb means “and they will arise.” This is a Hebrew idiom which is used to indicate the beginning of an action. Translate this in a way that is natural in your language to indicate the beginning of an action.

to survey the land and map it out: The Hebrew verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates as survey the land and map it out is more literally “they will walk back and forth in the land.”

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

they will walk all around the land
-or-
they will go through the land

18:4c

according to the inheritance of each: This indicates that the men wrote a description of the land that they wanted to receive for their own clan. The description may have been in the form of a map.

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

so that they can make a map of the area they want to receive as their inheritance
-or-
They will write a report. The report will show the boundaries of the land that their clan wishes to receive

18:4d

Then they will return to me: Here are some other ways to translate this part of the verse:

Then they must come back to me
-or-
Then they must return to me ⌊with the report⌋

SIL Translator’s Notes on Joshua 19:8

19:8a

and all the villages surrounding these cities as far as Baalath-beer: Baalath-beer was a town in the southern part of Judah’s territory.

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

They also received all the villages that were near these towns, as far ⌊to the south⌋ as the town of Baalath-beer
-or-
Simeon’s land also included all the other towns and villages as far south as Baalath-Beer (Contemporary English Version)

19:8b

Ramah of the Negev: The phrase Ramah of the Negev is another name for the town of Baalath-beer. The term Negev means “south” in Hebrew.

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

This town also had the name Ramah of the South
-or-
which is also called Ramah of the South (Contemporary English Version)

19:8c

This was the inheritance of the clans of the tribe of Simeon: This is similar to verse 18:20b.

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

This was the land which the family groups of the clan of Simeon received as their inheritance
-or-
That described the land that the Simeon clan received as its permanent possession. Each family received some land.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Joshua 19:40

Section 19:40-48

The clan of Dan received their land

Paragraph 19:40-48

19:40

The seventh lot came out for the clans of the tribe of Dan: This verse is similar to verse 19:24. It is recommended that you translate it in a similar way to that verse.

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

The seventh lot belonged to the tribe of Dan, by its clans (NET Bible)
-or-
Joshua threw the lot a seventh time. Each of the families of the clan of Dan received land

SIL Translator’s Notes on Joshua 21:12

21:12

But: The Hebrew conjunction that the Berean Standard Bible translates as But indicates a contrast.

they had given the fields and villages around the city to Caleb son of Jephunneh as his possession: The Hebrew sentence places the object first to emphasize it. Use the order that is natural in your language.

the fields: The phrase the fields refers to the land around the town that was good for growing crops.

villages around the city: The phrase villages around the city refers to small settlements near the town that did not have a wall around them.

had given…to Caleb: The story of how Caleb received the town of Hebron was told in 14:6–15.

as his possession: The phrase as his possession can also be translated “as his property.”

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

But the fields and villages that were around the town had already been given to Caleb, the son of Jephunneh, as his own property.
-or-
However, Caleb the son of Jephunneh had already received the fields and villages that surrounded the town as his own.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Joshua 21:44

21:44a

And: The Hebrew conjunction that the Berean Standard Bible translates as And indicates the next event in the story. It may be more natural in some languages to omit this conjunction.

the LORD gave them rest on every side: The clause the LORD gave them rest on every side indicates that Yahweh caused the Israelites to have peace throughout their land. The phrase on every side can also be translated “all around them.”

just as He had sworn to their fathers: The clause He had sworn to their fathers indicates that Yahweh had made this promise to the ancestors of the Israelites. The promise to give rest to their ancestors was given in Deuteronomy 12:10. It was repeated in Joshua 1:13.

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

Yahweh caused them to have peace all around them, just as he had promised their ancestors that he would do.
-or-
Yahweh kept the promise that he had made to their ancestors and gave them rest from war all through their land.

21:44b

None of their enemies could stand against them: The Hebrew clause that the Berean Standard Bible translates as None of their enemies could stand against them is more literally “A man from all their enemies did not stand before them.” This indicates that none of their enemies had been able to fight against them and win.

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

Not a single one of Israel’s enemies was able to defeat them
-or-
None of their enemies could fight against them and win.

21:44c

for: There is no Hebrew word which corresponds to the word for in the Berean Standard Bible. The Berean Standard Bible added the word for because this clause indicates the reason that Israel’s enemies could not defeat them.

the LORD delivered all their enemies into their hand: The clause the LORD delivered all their enemies into their hand indicates that Yahweh had enabled the Israelites to defeat their enemies.

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

⌊because⌋ Yahweh had handed all Israel’s enemies over to them
-or-
Yahweh had caused Israel to win over all their enemies.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Joshua 22:31

22:31a

Phinehas son of Eleazar the priest: In verse 30a Phinehas was identified as a priest. In this verse he is identified as son of Eleazar the priest. Phinehas and his father Eleazar were both priests.

said to the descendants of Reuben, Gad, and Manasseh: Here are some other ways to translate this part of the verse:

Then Phinehas the son of Eleazar the priest said to the clans of Reuben, Gad and Manasseh
-or-
Then Phinehas the son of Eleazar the priest answered them

22:31b

Today we know that the LORD is among us: The pronouns we and us in this verse are inclusive. Phinehas is including all the clans of Israel, on the western and eastern sides of the Jordan River.

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

Today we (incl.) know that Yahweh is with us (incl.)
-or-
Today we (incl.) know that Yahweh lives among us (incl.)

22:31c

because you have not committed this breach of faith against Him: The Hebrew phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as not committed this breach of faith uses the negative form of the same Hebrew verb phrase as occurred in verse 22:16b. Translate this phrase in a similar way.

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

because you have not acted disloyally against Yahweh
-or-
because you have not disobeyed Yahweh in this matter

22:31d

Consequently: The Hebrew word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Consequently introduces an emphatic phrase.

Here are some other ways to translate this word:

So (Good News Translation)
-or-
Instead (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
As a result (CSB)

you have delivered the Israelites from the hand of the LORD: The phrase the hand of the LORD is a Hebrew idiom that refers to the power of Yahweh. Yahweh has the power to punish the people of Israel, but he will not do so.

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

Instead, you have saved the people of Israel and Yahweh will not punish them
-or-
So you have kept the Israel people from Yahweh’s anger

SIL Translator’s Notes on Joshua 24:13

24:13a

I gave you a land on which you did not toil: The phrase a land on which you did not toil indicates that God gave the Israelites a land where the crops were already planted.

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

I gave you (plur.) a land where you had not planted the crops
-or-
I gave you land where the crops had already been planted

24:13b

and cities that you did not build: The clause cities that you did not build indicates that the Israelites took over the towns that the previous owners had built.

and now you live in them: The clause now you live in them indicates that the Israelites were living in those towns at the time that Joshua was speaking to them.

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

I gave you towns that you had not built for yourselves, and now you live in them.
-or-
I gave you towns that other people had built. You are living in them now.

24:13c

and eat from vineyards and olive groves that you did not plant: The term vineyards refers to a place where grapes grow. The term olive groves refers to a place where olive trees grow.

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

You are eating grapes from vines that you did not plant and olives from trees that you did not plant.

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Source: SIL Translator’s Notes on Joshua 2023

SIL Translator’s Notes on Joshua 15:63

SIL Translator’s Notes on Joshua 18:4

SIL Translator’s Notes on Joshua 19:8

SIL Translator’s Notes on Joshua 19:40

SIL Translator’s Notes on Joshua 21:12

SIL Translator’s Notes on Joshua 21:44

SIL Translator’s Notes on Joshua 22:31

SIL Translator’s Notes on Joshua 24:13

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