SIL Translator’s Notes on Joshua 2023 – Page 81

SIL Translator’s Notes on Joshua 19:23

19:23a

This was the inheritance of the clans of the tribe of Issachar: This part of the verse is similar to verse 19:16a.

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

This was the land that the clan of Issachar received as their inheritance, according to its families
-or-
The clan of Issachar received this land as their permanent possession. Each family received some land

19:23b

including these cities and their villages: This part of the verse is the same as verse 19:16b.

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

and they received these towns with the villages that were around them
-or-
They received these towns with the villages nearby them

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SIL Translator’s Notes on Joshua 20:4

20:4a

When someone flees to one of these cities: Here are some other ways to translate this part of the verse:

The person who has killed someone should run to one of these towns.
-or-
Anyone who kills someone ⌊accidentally⌋ can escape to one of these towns.

20:4b

stands at the entrance of the city gate: The entrance of the city gate was an open area near the town entrance. The town leaders gathered there to decide about cases between people that needed to be settled. It may be helpful to include this implicit information when translating this part of the verse. For example,

He should stand at the entrance to the town gate ⌊where the elders judge cases⌋ .
-or-
There he will stand at the entrance to the town ⌊where the leaders hold court⌋ .

20:4c

and states his case before its elders: The clause that the Berean Standard Bible translates as states his case before its elders is more literally in Hebrew “he will speak his words in the ears of the elders of that town.” The term elders refers to the leaders of the town.

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

He should state his case to the elders of that town.
-or-
He must tell the town leaders what he did.

20:4d

they are to bring him into the city: The Hebrew clause that the Berean Standard Bible translates as they are to bring him into the city is more literally “and they will gather him to the town, to themselves.” It means that the elders will allow him to enter the town.

and give him a place: The clause give him a place indicates that the elders would find a place where he could live.

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

Then the elders will allow him to come into the town, and they will give him a place to live there.
-or-
The town leaders will bring him into the town and give him a place to stay.

20:4e

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

and he will stay ⌊in that town⌋ with them
-or-
and he will live among them

SIL Translator’s Notes on Joshua 21:27

Paragraph 21: 27–33

21:27a

The Hebrew conjunction that the Berean Standard Bible leaves untranslated indicates the next event in the story. It may be more natural in some languages to begin a new sentence and to omit this conjunction.

the Levite clans of the Gershonites: The Hebrew phrase which the Berean Standard Bible translates as Gershonites is more literally “the descendants of Gershon.” Gershon was one of the three sons of Levi, and the Gershonites were his descendants.

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

The families that descended from Gershon, who was one of the sons of Levi
-or-
The family groups that descended from Gershon also belonged to the clan of Levi

21:27b

From the half-tribe of Manasseh they were given: The phrase the half-tribe of Manasseh refers to the part of the Manasseh clan that lived on the east side of the Jordan River.

Golan in Bashan: The town of Golan was mentioned in 20:8. It was east of the Sea of Galilee, in the region of Bashan.

a city of refuge for the manslayer: This is the same Hebrew phrase as in verse 21:13 and 21. You should translate it as you did in those verses.

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

received the town of Golan in Bashan with its grazing lands from the half-clan of Manasseh ⌊that lived east of the Jordan River⌋ . It was a town where anyone who had killed someone by mistake could run and escape.

21:27c

and Beeshterah—two cities, together with their pasturelands: The town of Beeshterah is called Ashtaroth in I Chronicles 6:71. It was in the region of Bashan, east of the Jordan River.

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

They also received the town of Beeshterah with its grazing lands. They received two towns from this clan.
-or-
They were also given Beeshterah and the grasslands around it. The total was two towns.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Joshua 22:14

22:14a

With him they sent ten chiefs—one family leader from each tribe of Israel: The Hebrew word that the Berean Standard Bible translates chiefs can also be translated “leaders” or “leading men.”

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

Ten leaders came with him, one from each of the ten clans of Israel
-or-
and ten leaders came with him. There was one leader from each of the ten ⌊western⌋ clans of Israel

22:14b

each the head of a family among the clans of Israel: Here are some other ways to translate this part of the verse:

Each one of them was the head of a family within the clans of Israel
-or-
Every one of them was the leader of his family among the clans of Israel

SIL Translator’s Notes on Joshua 23:12

23:12a

For: The Hebrew conjunction that the Berean Standard Bible translates as For can also be translated as “because” or “but.” Use a connecting word that fits this context in your language.

if: The word if introduces a condition that is explained in verse 12. The result is explained in verse 13. If the Israelites associate with the other nations around them, then God will not drive those nations out.

you turn away: The Hebrew verb construction that the Berean Standard Bible translates as turn away indicates emphasis. Some English versions represent this emphasis. For example:

But if you ever turn away (NET Bible)
-or-
If indeed you do go back (New King James Version)

turn away: The expression turn away is an idiom that means to be disloyal or unfaithful.

Here are some other ways to translate this:

For if you ever turn away ⌊from following him⌋
-or-
Because if you are at all disloyal ⌊to him⌋
-or-
Do not be unfaithful to him in any way

and cling to the rest of these nations that remain among you: The Hebrew verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates literally as cling to is the same verb that the Berean Standard Bible translated as “hold fast to” in verse 23:8. It indicates that the Israelites should not have anything to do with the nations that still live in the land in which the Israelites settled. Instead, they should be faithful to Yahweh.

the rest of these nations that remain among you: This phrase is like the phrase in verse 23:7, but one more word is added at the beginning. The Hebrew word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as rest can also be translated “what is left” or “what remains.”

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

Because if you ever stop following Yahweh, and become friends with the nations who are left here among you,
-or-
Do not be unfaithful to Yahweh in any way. Do not have anything to do with the peoples who are still left among you in the land,

23:12b

if you intermarry: The Israelite people were not to marry the people of other nations.

and associate with them: There is an interpretation issue in this part of the verse. The Hebrew words are more literally “you go in them and they in you.”

(1) The clause “you go in them and they in you” indicates association or friendship of people with each other. For example:

and you associate with them (New International Version)

(Berean Standard Bible, New International Version, English Standard Version, New American Bible, Revised Edition, NET Bible, God’s Word, Revised English Bible, Tanakh: The Holy Scriptures, Contemporary English Version, New American Standard Bible)

(2) The clause “you go in them and they in you” indicates sexual intercourse and is another way to refer to marriage. For example:

and intermarry with them (Good News Translation)

(Good News Translation, Revised Standard Version, New Living Translation (2004))

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1). This is supported by many English versions and Bible commentaries.

Here are some ways to translate verses 12b–c:

and if you marry with them and you associate with them
-or-
Do not marry with them. Do not make friends with them.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Joshua 24:28

24:28

Then: The Hebrew word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Then introduces the next event in the storyline. Introduce the next event in a natural way in your language.

Joshua sent the people away, each to his own inheritance: The phrase each to his own inheritance indicates that each person returned to the land that Joshua gave him when land was divided among the clans of Israel.

Here are some other ways to translate this verse:

Then Joshua told all the people to leave and return to their own property.
-or-
Then Joshua told all the people to go to their homes.

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Source: SIL Translator’s Notes on Joshua 2023

SIL Translator’s Notes on Joshua 19:23

SIL Translator’s Notes on Joshua 20:4

SIL Translator’s Notes on Joshua 21:27

SIL Translator’s Notes on Joshua 22:14

SIL Translator’s Notes on Joshua 23:12

SIL Translator’s Notes on Joshua 24:28

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