SIL Translator’s Notes on Joshua 2023 – Page 79

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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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 1:9

1:9a

Have I not commanded you to be strong and courageous?: This is a rhetorical question. It functions as a strong statement and emphasizes a fact that is true.

There are two ways to translate this statement:

• Use a question, as the Berean Standard Bible does.

• Use a strong statement. For example:

I have commanded you, be strong and courageous (God’s Word)
-or-
I repeat, be strong and brave (NET Bible)
-or-
Remember that I have commanded you to be determined and confident (Good News Translation)

Translate this in a way that is natural in your language to express a strong statement.

be strong and courageous: The Hebrew words that the Berean Standard Bible translates as be strong and courageous are the same as in verse 1:6a. You should translate them the same way in both places. Yahweh commanded Joshua “be strong and courageous” in 1:6a and 1:7a, and he repeated the command here.

1:9b

Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged: These two negative commands have the same meaning as the positive commands in 1:9a. This is a way to emphasize those commands. The command Do not be afraid has the same meaning as the command do not be discouraged. In some languages it may not be natural to use two verbs that have the same meaning.

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

Do not be at all frightened
-or-
Do not be frightened, but be brave

1:9c

for the LORD your God is with you: The phrase the LORD your God is another way to refer to Yahweh. The word for God is added to the personal name of Yahweh. This title for Yahweh indicates that Yahweh is the God whom Joshua worships.

As it is Yahweh who is speaking, another way to translate this isː

⌊I,⌋ Yahweh your God, am with you (sing.)

is with you: This refers to the time when Yahweh was talking to Joshua. It is also a promise for the future. You could translate this “will be with you” if that would be more natural in your language.

you: The Hebrew word that the Berean Standard Bible translate as you is singular. It refers to Joshua.

wherever you go: The phrase wherever you go is the same phrase as is used at the end of verse 7d.

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

I, Yahweh your God, am with you in all you do (NET Bible)
-or-
I am Yahweh your God. I will be with you everywhere you go

SIL Translator’s Notes on Joshua 2:23

2:23a

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

the two men started back, came down from the hill country: The Hebrew clause that the Berean Standard Bible translates as the two men started back, came down from the hill country is more literally “and the two men returned, and they came down from the hills.” The phrase the two men refers to the Israelite spies.

from the hill country: It may be helpful to include the implicit information “where they were hiding.” For example:

they came down from the mountains ⌊where they hid⌋

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

Then the two Israelite men came back down from the hilly country
-or-
Then the two spies went down from the hills ⌊where they had been hiding⌋

2:23b

and crossed the river: That Hebrew verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates as crossed the river can also be translated “crossed.” On their way back to Joshua, the men had to cross the Jordan River. You may need to make the term Jordan River explicit in your translation.

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

and they crossed ⌊the Jordan River⌋
-or-
they crossed ⌊the river⌋

2:23c

So they came to Joshua son of Nun: See the note about Joshua at verse 1:1b. It may be helpful to supply implicit information about the location.

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

They returned ⌊to the camp⌋ and went to see Joshua, the son of Nun
-or-
They came to Joshua the son of Nun ⌊at the Israelite camp⌋

2:23d

and reported all that had happened to them: The Hebrew clause that the Berean Standard Bible translates as all that had happened to them is more literally “all the things finding them.” This is a Hebrew idiom. It means “everything that had happened to them.” The word happened is an older way to say “happen.”

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

They told him everything that had happened to them
-or-
They told him all the things that they had learned

SIL Translator’s Notes on Joshua 4:14

Paragraph 4:14

4:14a

On that day: The phrase On that day refers to the day that the Israelites crossed the Jordan River.

the LORD exalted Joshua: The phrase the LORD exalted Joshua means that Yahweh honored Joshua when he made the Jordan River stop flowing. Yahweh showed the Israelites that Joshua was a leader whom they must respect because Yahweh had done this miracle by speaking through Joshua.

in the sight of all Israel: The phrase in the sight of all Israel indicates that all the people of Israel saw what Yahweh had done.

4:14b

and: The word and marks the result of what Yahweh did through Joshua’s leadership. It might be more natural in some languages to translate this word with a word or phrase that expresses result, such as:

therefore
-or-
because of this

they revered him: The clause they revered him indicates that the Israelites honored and respected Joshua.

4:14c

all the days of his life: The phrase all the days of his life refers to the rest of Joshua’s life, or for as long as Joshua lived.

4:14d

just as: The words just as mean “in the same way.”

they had revered Moses: The clause they had revered Moses indicates that the Israelites had honored and respected Moses.

Here is another way to translate this phrase:

in the same way that they had honored Moses

SIL Translator’s Notes on Joshua 6:7

6:7a

And: The Hebrew word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as And introduces the next event in the storyline. Use a connector that is natural in your language.

he told: The word he refers to Joshua.

the people: The word people refers to the Israelite priests and the soldiers.

6:7b

Advance: The Hebrew phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Advance is more literally “pass on.” This is a command and a Hebrew idiom. It indicates that the soldiers and the priests should begin to walk.

march around the city: The Hebrew phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as march around the city is a command. It indicates that the soldiers should walk around the town.

6:7c

with the armed troops going ahead of the ark of the LORD: Joshua commanded that some of the soldiers must walk in front of the ark. There is implied information. Only some of the soldiers walked in front of the ark. There were also soldiers following the ark (see 6:9).

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

have one group of soldiers walk in front of the ark of Yahweh
-or-
with an advance guard going on ahead of the Lord ’s Covenant Box (Good News Translation)

SIL Translator’s Notes on Joshua 7:12

7:12a

This is why: The Hebrew connector that the Berean Standard Bible translates as This is why introduces the result of what the Israelites have done. Because they stole things dedicated to God, they cannot defeat the town of Ai. You should translate the words This is why with a word or phrase in your language that makes this connection clear.

the Israelites: The phrase the Israelites refers to the Israelite soldiers.

cannot stand against their enemies: The phrase cannot stand against their enemies means that the Israelite army is not able to defeat their enemies. They were not able to defeat the people of Ai, and they will not be able to defeat the people of any other town.

7:12b

They will turn their backs and run from their enemies: The Hebrew phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as They will turn their backs is a Hebrew idiom. It means that the Israelite army turned back and ran away from the soldiers of Ai. If you have a similar idiom in your language, consider using it here.

7:12c

because they themselves have been set apart for destruction: The people of Israel became one of the things which was set apart for Yahweh. The Israelites were told to destroy the things in Jericho. Because they did not do so, now Yahweh will destroy them. If possible, use the same expression for the “thing devoted to destruction” that you used previously (see 6:17 and 7:1).

7:12d

I will no longer be with you: The clause I will no longer be with you expresses a further result of their violating God’s covenant. God will no longer help the Israelite army to defeat their enemies or protect them when they are attacked.

you: The pronoun you is plural. It refers to Joshua and all the Israelites.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

I will not help you anymore (New Century Version)
-or-
I cannot help you anymore (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
I will not remain with you any longer (New Living Translation (2004))

7:12e

unless you remove from among you whatever is devoted to destruction: The Hebrew word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as unless introduces a condition. If the people of Israel do not destroy the devoted things, then God will withdraw his presence and help from them.

remove from among you: This phrase means that the Israelites must not continue to keep the things which belong to Yahweh in their camp.

whatever is devoted to destruction: This phrase refers to the things which Achan stole from Yahweh.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

The things which belong to me
-or-
The things which I told you to destroy
-or-
The things which are set apart for me

General Comment on 7:12d-e

In some languages, it may be clearer to reverse the order of 7:12d and 7:12e. For example, you could say:

12e If you do not destroy the devoted things from among you, 12d then I will no longer be with you ⌊and help you⌋ .

SIL Translator’s Notes on Joshua 8:18

Paragraph 8:18–23

8:18a

Then: The Hebrew word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Then introduces a new event in the storyline.

the LORD said to Joshua: The words that Yahweh told Joshua are a command.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

Yahweh told Joshua
-or-
Yahweh commanded Joshua

8:18b

Hold out your battle lance toward Ai: The clause Hold out your battle lance toward Ai indicates that Joshua must extend his arm to its full length with the javelin pointing towards Ai.

battle lance: The Hebrew word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as battle lance refers to either a short sword used for thrusting and hunting, or a curved, crescent-shaped sword. These are some other ways that English versions have translated it:

sword (New Revised Standard Version)
-or-
curved sword (NET Bible)
-or-
spear (Good News Translation)

You should choose a word that is similar in meaning to one of these terms and will be understood by your readers.

8:18c

for into your hand I will deliver the city: The Hebrew phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as into your hand I will deliver is an idiom. It indicates that Yahweh will enable Joshua and his army to defeat the town of Ai.

8:18d

So: The Hebrew word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as So introduces a new event in the storyline.

Joshua held out his battle lance toward Ai: Joshua obeyed the command that Yahweh gave him. If this repetition is not natural in your language, you can translate the meaning in another way. For example:

Joshua did as he was told (Good News Translation)
-or-
So Joshua held out his spear (God’s Word)
-or-
So Joshua did what Yahweh commanded him

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Source: SIL Translator’s Notes on Joshua 2023

SIL Translator’s Notes on Joshua 23:9

SIL Translator’s Notes on Joshua 24:25

SIL Translator’s Notes on Joshua 1:9

SIL Translator’s Notes on Joshua 2:23

SIL Translator’s Notes on Joshua 4:14

SIL Translator’s Notes on Joshua 6:7

SIL Translator’s Notes on Joshua 7:12

SIL Translator’s Notes on Joshua 8:18

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