SIL Translator’s Notes on Joshua 2023 – Page 8

SIL Translator’s Notes on Joshua 19:50

19:50a

as the LORD had commanded. They gave him the city of Timnath-serah in the hill country of Ephraim, as he requested: The command that is referred to here is not recorded anywhere in the book of Joshua.

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

Yahweh had said that Joshua could have whatever town he wanted. So, they gave him the town that he chose
-or-
Yahweh had commanded them to give Joshua whatever town he chose

the city of Timnath-serah in the hill country of Ephraim: The town of Timnath-serah was southwest of the town of Shechem.

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

which was Timnath-serah in the mountain country that belonged to the clan of Ephraim
-or-
He chose the town of Timnath-serah which was in the hill country that belonged to the clan of Ephraim

19:50b

He rebuilt the city and settled in it: Archaeology shows that the town of Timnath-serah was abandoned at the time that Joshua settled there. That is why he rebuilt the town.

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

Joshua rebuilt that town and lived in it
-or-
He built up the town and lived there

© 2001, 2011, 2020, 2022, 2023 by SIL International®
Made available under the terms of a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License (CC BY-SA) creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0.
All Scripture quotations in this publication, unless otherwise indicated, are from The Holy Bible, Berean Standard Bible.
BSB is produced in cooperation with Bible Hub, Discovery Bible, OpenBible.com, and the Berean Bible Translation Committee.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Joshua 21:22

21:22

Kibzaim: The town of Kibzaim has not been mentioned previously. The location of this town is uncertain.

Beth-horon: The town of Beth-horon was mentioned in Joshua 10:10–11. It was northwest of Jerusalem.

four cities: The phrase four cities refers to the four towns that the Kohath families received from the clan of Ephraim.

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

Kibza-im town with the grazing lands around it, and Beth-horon town with the grazing lands around it. They received four towns from the clan of Ephraim.
-or-
and the town of Kibza-im with its grasslands and the town of Beth-horon with its grasslands. In all there were four towns.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Joshua 22:9

Section Joshua 22:9–34 The eastern clans built an altar beside the Jordan River

Before the clans of Reuben, Gad and half the clan of Manasseh returned to their homes on the east side of the Jordan River, they built an altar beside the river on the west side. This made the clans on the west side of the river angry. They thought the clans from the east side were rebelling against Yahweh and being unfaithful to the covenant. When the clans from the east side explained their reason for building the altar, the other Israelites were pleased and stopped being angry.

Paragraph: 22:9

22:9a

So: The Hebrew conjunction that the Berean Standard Bible translates as So introduces a new section. Use a connecting word that is natural to begin a new section 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:

Then the clans of Reuben, Gad, and half the clan of Manasseh went home
-or-
The people of Reuben, the people of Gad, and half the people of Manasseh left

22:9b

left the Israelites at Shiloh in the land of Canaan: The Hebrew phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as the Israelites is more literally “sons of Israel.”

Shiloh: The town of Shiloh was last mentioned in 21:2.

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

they left the other Israelites at the town of Shiloh that was in the land of Canaan
-or-
they parted from the other Israelite clans at Shiloh town in the land of Canaan

22:9c

to return to their own land of Gilead: The region of Gilead was on the east side of the Jordan River.

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

and they started to go back to their own land, the region of Gilead
-or-
They went back to the region of Gilead, which was their own land

22:9d

which they had acquired according to the command of the LORD through Moses: Here is another way to translate this part of the verse:

They had taken possession of that land as Yahweh had commanded through Moses

SIL Translator’s Notes on Joshua 23:7

23:7a

So you are not to associate with these nations that remain among you: The Hebrew clause that the Berean Standard Bible translates as not to associate with is more literally “not enter into.” This indicates that the Israelites should not have anything to do with the non-Israelites who still lived in the lands they had conquered.

these nations that remain among you: This indicates that there were non-Israelite people who still lived in the land of Canaan because the Israelites had not yet conquered them.

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

Do not have anything to do with the nations who still live among you.
-or-
Do not make friends with the ⌊other⌋ peoples who still remain around you.

23:7b

You must not call on the names of their gods or swear by them, and you must not serve them or bow down to them: The four verbs that are used in this part of the verse all refer to different acts of worship.

You must not call on the names of their gods: This clause indicates that the Israelites should not speak the names of foreign gods. They should not call on them to pray to them.

or swear by them: The phrase swear by them indicates that the Israelites should not take an oath or a vow using the name of a foreign god.

you must not serve them: The phrase serve them indicates that the Israelites should not worship foreign gods.

or bow down to them: The phrase bow down to them indicates that the Israelites should not bow down to foreign gods as part of their worship.

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

Do not call on the names of their gods or take oaths in their names. Do not serve them or bow down to them.
-or-
You must not speak the names of their gods ⌊in prayer⌋ . You must not make promises in their names. You must not worship them or bow down in front of them.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Joshua 24:23

24:23a

“Now, therefore,” he said: The Hebrew text does not have the words he said. The Berean Standard Bible had supplied these words to indicate that Joshua was speaking again. In your translation, make it clear that Joshua is speaking.

The Hebrew conjunction that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Now, therefore introduces a conclusion from the previous paragraphs. Because of their commitment, the people must put away their other gods. Introduce this conclusion in a way that is natural in your language.

get rid of the foreign gods among you: The Hebrew verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates as get rid of was translated as “cast aside” in verse 24:14.

foreign gods: The phrase foreign gods refers to all gods besides Yahweh. They were the gods of other foreign nations.

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

Joshua told them, “Destroy any foreign god that you have
-or-
Then Joshua said, “Throw away ⌊all⌋ the other gods that you still have

24:23b

and incline your hearts to the LORD, the God of Israel: The clause incline your hearts is an idiom. It means “be completely committed” to Yahweh.

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

and turn your hearts to Yahweh, the God of Israel
-or-
Commit yourselves to Yahweh, the God of the Israelite nation.
-or-
Dedicate yourself to serve ⌊only⌋ Yahweh, the God of Israel.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Joshua 1:7

1:7a

Above all, be strong and very courageous: The Hebrew words that the Berean Standard Bible translates as be strong and [be] very courageous are the same as those translated “be strong” and “[be] courageous” in 1:6a. You should translate them the same way in both places.

Above all: The phrase Above all makes the command stronger.

Here is another way to translate this phrase:

you must be strong and very courageous

very: There is a textual issue with this part of the verse.

(1) The Hebrew text includes the word very

(Berean Standard Bible, Revised Standard Version, New International Version, NET Bible, Revised English Bible, God’s Word, Tanakh: The Holy Scriptures, New American Standard Bible, New Living Translation (2004), King James Version)

(2) The Septuagint, the early Greek translation, does not have the word very

(Good News Translation, New Century Version, Contemporary English Version)

It is recommended that you follow the Hebrew text and include a word that means very.

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

You must be strong and very courageous
-or-
Be determined and very brave

1:7b

Be careful to observe all the law: The clause Be careful to observe indicates that Joshua must follow all the law.

all the law: The phrase all the law refers to the laws and commandments that Yahweh gave to Moses to pass on to the Israelites.

that My servant Moses commanded you: Yahweh referred to Moses as My servant in verse 1:2a, and you should translate it the same way in both places.

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

You must carefully keep all the commandments that my servant Moses commanded you
-or-
Be sure to follow all the laws that Moses, my servant, told you to do

1:7c

Do not turn from it to the right or to the left: The phrase Do not turn from it means that Joshua must not disobey the law.

The phrase to the right or to the left is an idiom. It indicates that Joshua must not disobey the law in any way. He must carefully follow every part of the law.

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

Do not stop obeying any of the law
-or-
follow them exactly (New Century Version)
-or-
Do not walk away from any of these laws

1:7d

so that you may prosper wherever you go: This clause indicates that if Joshua obeyed all the laws, he would prosper wherever he went. However, this means more than “wherever he traveled.” It also means that he would be successful in everything he did.

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

so that you will succeed wherever you go
-or-
Then you will be successful in everything you do (New Century Version)
-or-
then everything will go well with you wherever you go

SIL Translator’s Notes on Joshua 2:21

2:21a

The Hebrew conjunction that the Berean Standard Bible leaves untranslated but many English versions translate as “and” introduces the next event in the story.

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

Then

Let it be as you say: The clause Let it be as you say indicates that Rahab agreed to do what the men told her.

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

I agree to what you have said
-or-
I will do as you have said

2:21c

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

she sent them away: The clause she sent them away indicates that Rahab told the men to go.

Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

she said goodbye to them
-or-
she took leave of them

And when they had gone: The clause they had gone indicates that the men left.

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

After that she told them to go on their way, and they left
-or-
Then she said goodbye to them and they ⌊went down the rope and⌋ left

2:21d

The Hebrew conjunction that the Berean Standard Bible leaves untranslated indicates the next event in the story.

she tied the scarlet cord in the window: This states that Rahab tied the red rope in the window after the two men left.

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

Then she tied the red rope in the window
-or-
When they had gone, she tied the red rope to the window

SIL Translator’s Notes on Joshua 4:12

Paragraph 4:12–13

4:12a

The Reubenites: The word Reubenites refers to men of the tribe of Reuben.

Here is another way to translate this phrase:

men from the tribe of Reuben

the Gadites: The word Gadites refers to men of the tribe of Gad.

Here is another way to translate this phrase:

men from the tribe of Gad

and the half-tribe of Manasseh: The phrase the half-tribe of Manasseh refers to the families of the tribe of Manasseh who asked Moses for permission to settle on the east side of the Jordan River along with the tribes of Reuben and Gad. This request and Moses’ answer is found in Numbers 32:16–33.

Here is another way to translate this phrase:

men from the east part of the tribe of Manasseh

There is implied information here. These men were also soldiers. This is made clear in 4:12b. For example:

The armed warriors from the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh (New Living Translation (2004))

4:12b

crossed over before the Israelites, armed for battle: The phrase crossed over…armed for battle indicates that the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh took their weapons with them when they crossed over the Jordan River. They were ready to fight. They did this to show that they would keep the promise they made to Joshua in 1:16-18. They promised to help the other tribes of Israel conquer the land of Canaan.

Here is another way to translate this phrase:

they crossed the river carrying their weapons

before the Israelites: The phrase before the Israelites indicates that the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh crossed the river ahead of the other tribes.

4:12c

as Moses had instructed them: The phrase as Moses had instructed them indicates that these tribes obeyed the command that Moses gave them before he died. This command is recorded in Numbers 32:16–32 and Deuteronomy 3:12–20.

had instructed: The phrase had instructed means “had commanded.”

Search

Step into the multitudes of languages of the Bible and join the worldwide conversation!

Source: SIL Translator’s Notes on Joshua 2023

SIL Translator’s Notes on Joshua 19:50

SIL Translator’s Notes on Joshua 21:22

SIL Translator’s Notes on Joshua 22:9

SIL Translator’s Notes on Joshua 23:7

SIL Translator’s Notes on Joshua 24:23

SIL Translator’s Notes on Joshua 1:7

SIL Translator’s Notes on Joshua 2:21

SIL Translator’s Notes on Joshua 4:12

Search

Step into the multitudes of languages of the Bible and join the worldwide conversation!

American Bible Society