SIL Translator’s Notes on Joshua 2023 – Page 81

SIL Translator’s Notes on Joshua 19:19

19:19

Hapharaim, Shion, Anaharath: The location of these three towns is not certain.

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

and Hapharaim town and Shion town and Anaharath town

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SIL Translator’s Notes on Joshua 19:51

19:51a

These are the inheritances that Eleazar the priest, Joshua son of Nun: This verse is similar to chapter 14:1. You should compare how you translated similar words and phrases in that verse and translate in a similar way here.

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

These are the pieces of land that Eleazar the priest and Joshua the son of Nun assigned as an inheritance
-or-
Eleazar the priest and Joshua ⌊son of Nun⌋ divided out all of this land

19:51b

and the heads of the families: This phrase refers to the leaders of the Israelite clans. In Numbers 34:16–29 Yahweh told Moses to appoint one leader from each of the clans of Israel to help assign the land along with Joshua and Eleazar the priest. Moses decided who each of these leaders would be.

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

and the leaders of the families of the Israelite tribes (Good News Translation)
-or-
along with the leaders of all the tribes of Israel (New Century Version)

distributed by lot: The phrase distributed by lot indicates that Eleazar and the tribal leaders cast a lot to decide which pieces of land each clan should receive.

19:51c

at Shiloh: The term Shiloh was first used in chapter 18:1a. Shiloh was twelve miles south of Shechem and was in the tribal territory of Ephraim. It was in the center of the Israelite land west of the Jordan River.

before the LORD: The phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as before the LORD indicates the presence of Yahweh. Yahweh was present in the tent of meeting, which is mentioned in the next part of the verse.

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

They used the lot to divide the land in the presence of Yahweh at Shiloh
-or-
They threw the lot to assign these inheritance lands in the presence of Yahweh at Shiloh

19:51d

at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting: The term Tent of Meeting is first used in chapter 18:1b. You should translate the term here in the same way as you did in Chapter 18.

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

at the entrance of the Meeting Tent
-or-
They stood at the door of the Holy Tent

19:51e

So they finished dividing up the land: This sentence is the conclusion to chapters 14–19.

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

They finished giving out all the land ⌊to the clans⌋
-or-
In that way they completed dividing up the land (Translation for Translators)

SIL Translator’s Notes on Joshua 21:23

21:23

The Hebrew conjunction that the Berean Standard Bible leaves untranslated is often translated as “and.” It 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.

From the tribe of Dan they were given: The phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as From the tribe of Dan can also be translated as “from the clan of Dan.”

Elteke: The town of Elteke was mentioned in 19:44. Its location is uncertain.

Gibbethon: The town of Gibbethon was also mentioned in Joshua 19:44. It was south of Joppa and west of Gezer.

Here are some other ways to translate this verse:

From the clan of Dan they received the town of Elteke with the grazing lands around it, and the town of Gibbethon with the grazing lands around it.
-or-
They received these towns from the clan of Dan: Elteke and its grasslands, Gibbethon and its grasslands,

SIL Translator’s Notes on Joshua 22:10

Paragraph: 22: 10–12

22:10a

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

when: The Hebrew text does not have the word when. The Berean Standard Bible has added it to make the meaning clear in English. It may be natural in your language to omit the word when.

they came to Geliloth near the Jordan: There is an interpretation issue concerning the Hebrew word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Geliloth :

(1) This word means region.

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

(2) This word is Geliloth, the name of a place.

(Berean Standard Bible, New International Version, NET Bible, Good News Translation, New Living Translation (2004), New Century Version, Revised English Bible)

(3) This word means circle of stones.

(New Jerusalem Bible)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1). This agrees with Hebrew lexicons and many English versions.

in the land of Canaan: The land of Canaan refers to the west side of the Jordan River.

Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

that is in the land of Canaan
-or-
in the land of Canaan ⌊on the west side of the river⌋

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

they came to the district near the Jordan River, in the land of Canaan
-or-
they came to the region that was near the Jordan River in the land of Canaan

22:10b

the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh: In some languages it may be more natural to use the proper names of the clans in 22:10a of this verse and use a pronoun reference in this part of the verse. For example:

Reuben, Gad, and half of the clan of Manasseh came to the region of the Jordan that was still in Canaan. They built an altar by the Jordan River. (God’s Word)

built an imposing altar there by the Jordan: The clans of Reuben, Gad, and half of the clan of Manasseh built an altar by the side of the Jordan River.

an imposing altar: The Hebrew phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as an imposing altar is more literally “an altar great of appearance.” The altar was large, and it was grand and impressive to look at.

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

Then the clans of Reuben, Gad, and half of the clan of Manasseh built an altar by ⌊the side of⌋ the Jordan River. It was large and impressive to look at.
-or-
and built an altar near the Jordan River. The altar was large and grand.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Joshua 23:8

23:8

Instead: The Hebrew conjunction that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Instead indicates a strong contrast. They should not worship other gods, but they should be loyal to Yahweh.

you shall hold fast to the LORD your God: The verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates as hold fast can also be translated as “cling to” or “hold tightly to.” This is a metaphor which indicates that the Israelites must remain completely loyal to Yahweh.

as you have done to this day: The clause as you have done to this day indicates that the Israelites had been loyal to Yahweh up to that time.

Here are some other ways to translate this verse:

But rather, you must be loyal to Yahweh your God, as you have done to the present day.
-or-
Instead, be faithful to Yahweh our God, as you have been doing up till now.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Joshua 24:24

24:24a

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

the people said to Joshua: The phrase the people refers to the Israelite people who were present there with Joshua.

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

Then the people answered Joshua,
-or-
The Israelites answered him,

24:24b

We will serve the LORD our God and obey His voice: Some English versions follow the Hebrew by putting the object at the beginning of each clause. This emphasizes their commitment to the LORD and to obeying his voice. Use a natural way to show this emphasis in your language.

obey His voice: This is a Hebrew idiom. It means that they will obey Yahweh.

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

⌊Yes,⌋ we (excl.) will serve Yahweh. We will obey ⌊only⌋ him.
-or-
We will worship ⌊only⌋ Yahweh. We will obey him ⌊alone⌋ .
-or-
It is Yahweh whom we will serve. When he speaks to us, we will obey him.

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Source: SIL Translator’s Notes on Joshua 2023

SIL Translator’s Notes on Joshua 19:19

SIL Translator’s Notes on Joshua 19:51

SIL Translator’s Notes on Joshua 21:23

SIL Translator’s Notes on Joshua 22:10

SIL Translator’s Notes on Joshua 23:8

SIL Translator’s Notes on Joshua 24:24

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