SIL Translator’s Notes on Joshua 2023 – Page 66

SIL Translator’s Notes on Joshua 19:9

19:9a

The inheritance of the Simeonites was taken from the territory of Judah: The information in verse 9a was already stated in verse 1c.

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

The people of the Simeon clan received land within the boundaries of the clan of Judah
-or-
The land that the clan of Simeon received as their permanent possession was inside the land of the clan of Judah

19:9b

because the share for Judah’s descendants was too large for them: Here are some other ways to translate this part of the verse:

because the clan of Judah did not need all the land that it had received
-or-
Judah had received too much land for the number of people in its tribe (Contemporary English Version)

19:9c

So the Simeonites received an inheritance within Judah’s portion: This restates information from verse 9a. The repetition emphasizes that the clan of Simeon did not receive their own separate land. This repetition may not be natural in some languages. A way to avoid this repetition is suggested below.

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

So the inheritance of the clan of Simeon was within the boundaries of the inheritance of the clan of Judah
-or-
Therefore the clan of Simeon received their share of land inside the land that belonged to the clan of Judah

General Comment on verse 19:9

In some languages it may be more natural to combine the information in this verse so that there is less repetition. For example:

Simeon’s tribal land was actually inside Judah’s territory. Judah had received too much land for the number of people in its tribe, so part of Judah’s land was given to Simeon. (Contemporary English Version)

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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

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 21:45

21:45a

Not one of all the LORD’s good promises to the house of Israel had failed: This clause is more literally, “Not a word fell from all the good words that Yahweh spoke to the house of Israel.”

the house of Israel: The phrase the house of Israel refers to all the people of Israel.

had failed: The verb had failed indicates that there was no promise that Yahweh had not kept.

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

None of the good words which Yahweh had spoken to Israel were unfulfilled.
-or-
There was no promise which Yahweh had made to the people of Israel which he did not keep.

21:45b

everything was fulfilled: The clause everything was fulfilled indicates that everything happened that Yahweh had said would happen.

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

Everything happened just as he had said.
-or-
Every one of his promises came true.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Joshua 22:32

22:32a

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

Phinehas son of Eleazar the priest, together with the other leaders: Here is another way to translate this part of the verse:

Then Phinehas the son of Eleazar the priest and the leaders ⌊of Israel⌋

22:32b

returned to the Israelites in the land of Canaan: Here are some other ways to translate this part of the verse:

left the people of Reuben and Gad in the region of Gilead and returned to ⌊the land of⌋ Canaan
-or-
went back to the land of Canaan from the region of Gilead. They left the people of the clans of Reuben and Gad.

22:32c

and brought back a report regarding the Reubenites and Gadites in the land of Gilead: In some languages it may be more natural to begin a new sentence here. For example:

They returned to the people of Israel and told them what had happened.

brought back a report: The clause brought back a report indicates that the leaders gave a report to the assembled people of Israel. They were probably still at Shiloh, but this is not certain.

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

⌊When they reached⌋ the people of Israel, they told them ⌊what the people of Reuben and Gad had said⌋ .
-or-
They made a report to the people of Israel ⌊about what had happened⌋ .

SIL Translator’s Notes on Joshua 24:14

Paragraph 24:14–15

24:14a

Now, therefore: The Hebrew conjunction that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Now, therefore is used to draw a conclusion from the previous paragraphs. In those paragraphs Yahweh spoke to the Israelites through Joshua. Now, in the coming paragraphs, Joshua will exhort the Israelites himself to honor Yahweh.

Make it clear in your translation that God finished speaking at the end of verse 13, and that Joshua is speaking in verse 14.

Here are some other ways to translate this Hebrew conjunction:

So now
-or-
Therefore
-or-
Because of all that Yahweh has done for you (Translation for Translators)

fear the LORD: The Hebrew verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates as fear includes honoring Yahweh and worshiping him.

and serve Him in sincerity and truth: The Hebrew phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as in sincerity can also be translated “completely” or “without fault.” The Hebrew phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as truth indicates honesty. Together these two words indicate that the Israelites should worship and obey Yahweh completely, with their whole hearts. They must be totally loyal to him.

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

So now worship Yahweh and obey him completely and sincerely.
-or-
Therefore you (plur.) must honor and worship Yahweh and be true and faithful to him.

24:14b

cast aside the gods your fathers served: Joshua said that the Israelites must throw away any images of gods that they still had.

beyond the Euphrates: The phrase beyond the Euphrates refers to the east side of the Euphrates River. In the time of Abraham’s parents, the ancestors of the Israelites lived on the east side of the Euphrates River and worshiped other gods. Some of them still worshiped these gods.

and in Egypt: The Israelites worshiped other gods during the time that they lived in Egypt. This is mentioned in Ezekiel 20:7.

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

Destroy the gods that your ancestors worshiped while they lived on the east side of the Euphrates River, and in Egypt.
-or-
Throw away the gods that your ancestors used to worship when they lived on the east side of the Euphrates River, and also in Egypt

24:14c

and serve the LORD: The Hebrew verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates as serve means to worship and obey him.

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).

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Source: SIL Translator’s Notes on Joshua 2023

SIL Translator’s Notes on Joshua 19:9

SIL Translator’s Notes on Joshua 19:41

SIL Translator’s Notes on Joshua 21:13

SIL Translator’s Notes on Joshua 21:45

SIL Translator’s Notes on Joshua 22:32

SIL Translator’s Notes on Joshua 24:14

SIL Translator’s Notes on Joshua 2:12

SIL Translator’s Notes on Joshua 4:3

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