SIL Translator’s Notes on Joshua 2023 – Page 81

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

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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.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Joshua 1:1

Section 1:1–9 Yahweh spoke to Joshua

In this section Yahweh commanded Joshua to lead the Israelites into the land that he had promised them. He told Joshua that no enemy would be able to oppose him, and that he must obey the law which Yahweh gave to Moses. Joshua told the Israelites to prepare to cross the Jordan River.

Here are some other possible section headings:

Yahweh told Joshua to be strong and courageous
-or-
Yahweh told Joshua to lead the people across the Jordan River

Paragraph 1:1–5

Moses led the Israelite people through the wilderness for forty years. At the end of the book of Deuteronomy the people were almost ready to enter the land of Canaan, and Moses died. Here at the beginning of the book of Joshua, Yahweh put Joshua in command of the Israelites, and told him to lead them into Canaan. Yahweh promised to be with Joshua and to help him.

1:1a

after the death of His servant Moses: The death of…Moses is described in Deuteronomy 34. The book of Joshua follows that story. This sentence is the opening words of a new book. Think about the natural way to begin a new book in your language. In some languages it may be better to begin with a main clause, for example:

Moses had ⌊recently⌋ died

His servant Moses: The Hebrew word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as servant can also be translated as “slave.” It refers to someone who must obey the commands of a master. It is recommended that you use a term that indicates the lowly position of a slave or a servant.

In some languages it may be more natural to place Moses’ title His servant after his name, for example:

Moses, Yahweh’s servant

In some languages it may be more natural to use the verb “serve” instead of the noun servant, for example:

Moses, a man who served Yahweh

General Comment on 1:1a

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

After Moses, Yahweh’s servant, died
-or-
Moses had recently died. He was a man who served Yahweh.

1:1b

the LORD spoke to Joshua son of Nun: This is the first event of the book. If you used a main clause to translate 1:1a you may want to use a temporal phrase here, such as “at that time.”

Here is another way to translate this clause:

⌊At that time⌋ Yahweh said to Joshua the son of Nun

the LORD: The Hebrew word that the Berean Standard Bible translates LORD is “Yahweh,” the personal name of God. See the notes in the Introduction on how to translate this term.

Joshua son of Nun: In some languages it may be more natural to say:

Joshua whose father was called Nun

Moses’ assistant: The Hebrew word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as assistant comes from a verb that means “to be an attendant on” or “to wait on.” It is different from the Hebrew word translated as “servant” in 1:1a. This word was used when Joshua accompanied Moses up Mount Sinai (Exodus 24:13) where the Berean Standard Bible translated it as “attendant.” Joshua’s task was not that of a servant but of an assistant.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

the person who helped Moses
-or-
Moses’ aide (New International Version)
-or-
Moses’ helper (Good News Translation)

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

Yahweh said to Joshua, Nun’s son, who had been Moses’ assistant
-or-
Yahweh spoke to Joshua. Joshua was the son of Nun, and he was the person who had helped Moses

SIL Translator’s Notes on Joshua 2:15

Paragraph 2:15-21

Rahab helped the spies escape. Before they left, they explained what she must do so that they can save her and her family.

2:15a

Then: The Hebrew connector that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Then indicates the next event in the story. Choose a connecting word that is appropriate in your language.

Rahab let them down by a rope through the window: The sentence Rahab let them down by a rope through the window indicates that Rahab tied a rope to the outer window of her house. The two men climbed down the rope to the ground.

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

She lowered the two men by a rope through her window
-or-
Then she put a rope through the window and they climbed down the rope

2:15b

since: The Hebrew conjunction that the Berean Standard Bible translates as since introduces an explanation of why Rahab was able to help the spies escape. She could help them because her house was built into the town wall. Her window opened onto the area outside the town.

the house where she lived was built into the wall of the city: The Hebrew clause that the Berean Standard Bible translates as the house where she lived was built into the wall of the city is more literally “her house was in the wall of the town wall.” It indicates that one of the walls of Rahab’s house formed a part of the wall that surrounded the town.

the house…was built into the wall of the city: Archaeological research shows that at one time Jericho had two town walls. There was a space between the walls and people could build their houses using the two walls. The sentence the house …was built into the wall of the city indicates that Rahab’s house was built between the inner and outer town wall.

A literal translation of the house where she lived was built into the wall of the city may not make any sense in many languages. It may be necessary to combine the two clauses in this part of the verse.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

she lived in a house that was a part of the town wall
-or-
the house where she lived was built using the town wall

General Comment on 2:15

In some languages it may be clearer to describe Rahab’s house first, and then say that she lowered the spies down. For example,

Her house was built as part of the town wall, so she let them down by a rope through the window.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Joshua 4:6

4:6a

to serve as a sign among you: The clause to serve as a sign among you states the reason they gathered the twelve stones.

sign: The word sign indicates that these stones were a reminder to the Israelites of how God helped them to cross the Jordan River. When the Israelites saw the stones in the future, they would remember that Yahweh made the Jordan River stop flowing so that they could cross it.

among you: The phrase among you indicates that the stones remained where the men placed them, and were there for people to see whenever they passed by.

4:6b

In the future, when your children ask: The clause In the future, when your children ask refers to the children of the Israelites as well as the future generations of Israelites.

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

in the future, when your children and grandchildren ask

4:6c

What do these stones mean to you?: The question What do these stones mean to you? asks why those stones are important to the Israelites.

Here are some other ways of translating this question:

Why are these stones important to you? (NET Bible)
-or-
What event do these stones help you to remember?

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Source: SIL Translator’s Notes on Joshua 2023

SIL Translator’s Notes on Joshua 22:14

SIL Translator’s Notes on Joshua 23:12

SIL Translator’s Notes on Joshua 24:28

SIL Translator’s Notes on Joshua 1:1

SIL Translator’s Notes on Joshua 2:15

SIL Translator’s Notes on Joshua 4:6

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