SIL Translator’s Notes on Joshua 2023 – Page 53

SIL Translator’s Notes on Joshua 15:43

15:43

Iphtah, Ashnah, Nezib:

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SIL Translator’s Notes on Joshua 17:2

17:2a

So this allotment was for the rest of the descendants of Manasseh: The Hebrew clause that the Berean Standard Bible translates as allotment was for is more literally “was to.” Both the subject and the object of this clause are missing. In some languages it will be necessary to make them clear. For example:

⌊Joshua⌋ gave ⌊land⌋ to the other descendants of Manasseh according to the lot

the rest of the descendants of Manasseh: The Hebrew phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as the rest of the descendants of Manasseh is more literally “the remaining sons of Manasseh.” This phrase refers to the descendants of Manasseh who did not receive land east of the Jordan River. These people were descendants of Machir and his son Gilead.

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

the rest of the clan of Manasseh also received land ⌊by lot⌋
-or-
the other descendants of Manasseh were also assigned land
-or-
they gave land also to other descendants of Manasseh

17:2b

the clans: The Hebrew phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as the clans was used in Joshua 16:5a. It is recommended that you translate it in the same way as you did in that verse. The Hebrew word is translated in the display as “sub-clans.” See the note at Joshua 7:14.

Abiezer, Helek, Asriel, Shechem, Hepher, and Shemida: These are the names of the sub-clans that received land.

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

according to their sub-clans. These are the names of the sub-clans: Abiezer, Helek, Asriel, Shechem, Hepher, and Shemida
-or-
The names of the sub-clans that received land were Abiezer and Helek and Asriel and Shechem and Hepher and Shemida

17:2c

These are the other male descendants of the clans of Manasseh son of Joseph: The writer wanted to make clear that these were male descendants of Manasseh, because in the next verse he talked about the female descendants of Manasseh.

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

The people named above were the male descendants of Manasseh
-or-
Those people were the other sons of Manasseh, and the heads of their sub-clans

SIL Translator’s Notes on Joshua 18:16

18:16a

Then it went down to the foot of the hill: This indicates that the border descended to the foot of the mountain.

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

Then the border descends to the foot of the mountain (God’s Word)
-or-
The boundary went down to the foot of the hill (New International Version)

18:16b

that faces the Valley of Hinnom: This valley was mentioned in Joshua 15:8. You should translate it the same way that you did there.

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

facing the Valley of Ben Hinnom (New International Version)
-or-
that overlooks the Valley of the Son of Hinnom (English Standard Version)

18:16c

at the northern end of the Valley of Rephaim: This valley was mentioned in Joshua 15:8e. It is recommended that you translate this part of the verse in the same way as you did there.

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

That mountain is on the northern side of the Valley of Rephaim
-or-
It is on the northern edge of Rephaim Valley

18:16d

and ran down the Valley of Hinnom: This indicates that the boundary line of Benjamin’s land continued through the Valley of Hinnom.

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

Then the border went along the Valley of Hinnom
-or-
The boundary line passed through the Hinnom Valley

18:16e

toward the southern slope of the Jebusites: The phrase the southern slope of the Jebusites refers to a mountain ridge that was south of Jerusalem.

Jebusites: The Jebusites were people who lived in Jerusalem. Jebus was the name of the town of Jerusalem before David conquered it.

and downward to En-rogel: The name En-rogel refers to a spring in the Kidron valley east of Jerusalem.

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

It continued to the mountain ridge that was south of Jerusalem and then descended to the spring of En-rogel
-or-
and went on past the hill that was south of the town of Jerusalem and down to En-rogel Spring

SIL Translator’s Notes on Joshua 19:20

19:20

Rabbith, Kishion, Ebez: The exact location of these towns is not certain.

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

Rabbith town and Kishion town and Ebez town

SIL Translator’s Notes on Joshua 20:1

Section: 20:1–9 Joshua set apart towns of refuge so that people could run to them and be safe

Paragraph 20:1–6

20:1

Then the LORD said to Joshua: The Hebrew sentence that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Then the LORD said to Joshua is more literally “and Yahweh spoke to Joshua, saying…” This sentence begins a new topic. Use a word or a phrase that marks a new topic in your language.

Here are some other ways to translate this verse:

After this, Yahweh said to Joshua
-or-
Then Yahweh spoke to Joshua. He said
-or-
Yahweh told Joshua

SIL Translator’s Notes on Joshua 21:24

21:24

Aijalon: The town of Aijalon was mentioned in 19:42. It was northwest of Jerusalem.

Gath-rimmon: The town of Gath-rimmon was mentioned in 19:45. It was probably northeast of Joppa.

four cities, together with their pasturelands: The phrase four cities refers to the four towns that the Kohath families received from the clan of Dan.

Here are some other ways to translate this verse:

They also received the town of Aijalon and the grazing lands around it, and the town of Gath-rimmon and the grazing lands around it.
-or-
Aijalon and its grasslands, Gath-rimmon and its grasslands.

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.

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Source: SIL Translator’s Notes on Joshua 2023

SIL Translator’s Notes on Joshua 15:43

SIL Translator’s Notes on Joshua 17:2

SIL Translator’s Notes on Joshua 18:16

SIL Translator’s Notes on Joshua 19:20

SIL Translator’s Notes on Joshua 20:1

SIL Translator’s Notes on Joshua 21:24

SIL Translator’s Notes on Joshua 22:11

SIL Translator’s Notes on Joshua 23:9

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