SIL Translator’s Notes on Joshua 2023 – Page 43

SIL Translator’s Notes on Joshua 15:53

15:53

Janim, Beth-tappuah, Aphekah:

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SIL Translator’s Notes on Joshua 17:12

17:12a

But the descendants of Manasseh were unable to occupy these cities: The phrase the descendants of Manasseh refers to the clan of Manasseh.

But the clan of Manasseh was not able to conquer those towns
-or-
But the descendants of Manasseh clan could not make the ⌊Canaanite⌋ people leave those towns

17:12b

because the Canaanites were determined to stay in this land: Here are some other ways to translate this part of the verse:

The people of Canaan were determined to live in the land
-or-
The Canaan people continued to live there

SIL Translator’s Notes on Joshua 18:26

18:26

Mizpeh, Chephirah, Mozah:

SIL Translator’s Notes on Joshua 19:30

19:30

Ummah, Aphek, and Rehob. There were twenty-two cities, along with their villages: The towns of Ummah, Aphek, and Rehob were in the plain of Acco.

There were twenty-two cities, along with their villages: The list of towns given for the clan of Asher totals twenty-four towns. Some Bible scholars suggest that Mahalab and Achzib is a parenthesis and should not be counted in the total. Others scholars suggest that Tyre and Sidon should not be included in the list.

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

They also received Ummah, Aphek, and Rehob. Their total number of towns was twenty-two, including the villages that were near them
-or-
to Ummah, Aphek, and Rehob. The total number of towns and nearby villages was twenty-two

SIL Translator’s Notes on Joshua 21:2

21:2a

There is a Hebrew conjunction at the beginning of this verse that is often translated as “and.” It introduces the next event in the story. The Berean Standard Bible leaves this conjunction untranslated.

at Shiloh in the land of Canaan and said to them: in 18:1 the Israelites had set up the tent of meeting at Shiloh. Shiloh was a town twelve miles south of Shechem and was in the tribal territory of Ephraim. It was in the center of the Israelite land west of the Jordan River.

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

While they were still at Shiloh town in the land of Canaan, they said

21:2b

The LORD commanded through Moses: The Hebrew clause that the Berean Standard Bible translates as The LORD commanded through Moses is more literally “Yahweh commanded by the hand of Moses.” Yahweh had told Moses to give the following command to the Israelites.

that we be given cities in which to live: In Numbers 35:1 Yahweh had told Moses to command the Israelites to give the Levites towns to live in. These towns belonged to the various clans but the Levites lived in them.

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

Yahweh told Moses to command you (plur.) to give us towns to live in.
-or-
Yahweh said to Moses, “Command the Israelites to give the Levi people towns to live in.”

21:2c

together with pasturelands for our livestock: The phrase together with pasturelands for our livestock indicates that the Levites should receive the lands around the towns where their livestock could eat grass.

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

and the pasturelands around them for our cattle ⌊to graze there⌋
-or-
and the grasslands near them ⌊to provide grass⌋ for our livestock

General Comment on verses 1–2

In some languages it may be more natural to combine verses 1 and 2 and reorder them. For example:

2a While the Israelites were still at Shiloh in the land of Canaan, 1a the heads of the Levi clan went to Eleazar the priest, to Joshua the son of Nun, 1b and to the other heads of the clans of Israel. They said to them, 2b “Yahweh told Moses to command you to give us towns to live in 2c and grasslands for our cattle.”

SIL Translator’s Notes on Joshua 21:34

21:34a

the Merarite clan: The phrase the Merarite clan refers to the families who were descended from Merari. All the Levites who were not yet named were from the Merari families.

the rest of the Levites: The phrase the rest of the Levites refers to all the descendants of Levi who had not been named previously.

21:34b

From the tribe of Zebulun they were given: Here are some other ways to translate this part of the verse:

The Levites that remained belonged to the families descended from Merari. From the clan of Zebulun they were given…
-or-
The other Levi people were descended from Merari. The clan of Zebulun gave them…

Jokneam: The town of Jokneam is mentioned in 12:22. It was northwest of Meggido at the foot of Mount Carmel.

Kartah: The location of the town of Kartah is unknown.

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

The town of Jokne-am with the grazing lands around it, the town of Kartah with the grazing lands around it,
-or-
Jokne-am town with its grasslands, Kartah town with its grasslands

SIL Translator’s Notes on Joshua 22:21

Paragraph: 22:21–29

22:21a

Then: The Hebrew conjunction that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Then indicates the next event in the storyline.

the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh: Here is another way to translate this part of the verse:

Then the clans of Reuben, Gad, and half the clan of Manasseh

22:21b

answered the leaders of the clans of Israel: The Hebrew phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as the leaders of the clans of Israel is like the phrase in 22:14. It can also be translated “the heads of the families of Israel.”

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

answered the leaders of the families of Israel
-or-
said to the heads of the Israel clans,

SIL Translator’s Notes on Joshua 24:3

Paragraph 24:3–7

24:3a

But: The Hebrew word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as But introduces the next event in the storyline. Translate this word with a natural connector in your language.

I took your father Abraham from beyond the Euphrates: Yahweh led Abraham away from his former country, which was on the east side of the Euphrates River. This place was mentioned in verse 2.

I: God is speaking here. The person who said I is God, not Joshua.

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

Then I brought Abraham your ancestor from the east side of the Euphrates River
-or-
But I led your ancestor Abraham away from that land

24:3b

and led him through all the land of Canaan: It may be more natural in many languages to begin a new sentence here.

and I multiplied his descendants: The clause I multiplied his descendants indicates that Yahweh enabled Abraham to have many descendants.

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

I led him through the entire land of Canaan and multiplied his descendants
-or-
I brought him into all the land of Canaan and gave him many children and grandchildren

24:3c

I gave him Isaac: The clause I gave him Isaac indicates that Yahweh was the one who enabled Abraham to become the father of Isaac.

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

I gave Abraham his son Isaac

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Source: SIL Translator’s Notes on Joshua 2023

SIL Translator’s Notes on Joshua 15:53

SIL Translator’s Notes on Joshua 17:12

SIL Translator’s Notes on Joshua 18:26

SIL Translator’s Notes on Joshua 19:30

SIL Translator’s Notes on Joshua 21:2

SIL Translator’s Notes on Joshua 21:34

SIL Translator’s Notes on Joshua 22:21

SIL Translator’s Notes on Joshua 24:3

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