6:17a

Now: The Hebrew word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Now introduces the next event in the storyline. You should use a connecting word that is natural in your language.

the city and everything in it: The phrase the city and everything in it includes living beings, both people and animals, and non-living things.

Here is another way to translate this phrase:

absolutely everything in the town

6:17b

must be devoted to the LORD for destruction: The Hebrew noun that the Berean Standard Bible translates as devoted…for destruction indicates that something is given to Yahweh. It cannot be used for ordinary purposes and so it must be destroyed.

must be devoted: The Berean Standard Bible uses a passive form must be devoted to translate this verb. The passive is a way that the English language uses to emphasize the object of an action. The emphasis is on the people, animals and other things in Jericho that will be destroyed. There are two ways to translate this passive verb:

• Use a passive verb. For example:

The city and everything in it must be totally destroyed as an offering to the Lord (Good News Translation)

• Use an active verb. For example:

You must destroy the city and everything in it to show that it now belongs to the Lord (Contemporary English Version)

Use the forms that are natural in your language.

6:17c

Only Rahab the prostitute and all those with her in her house will live: The word Only indicates that Yahweh made only one exception to his command.

Rahab the prostitute: The word prostitute means “harlot.”

and all those with her in her house: The phrase all those with her in her house refers to Rahab’s extended family. In 2:1–21 Rahab hid the Israelite spies so that they could escape. She asked them to spare the lives of her and all her family.

6:17d

because she hid the spies we sent: Rahab was rewarded because she helped the Israelites when she hid the spies.

the spies: The term the spies refers to the Israelite spies who learned about the town of Jericho in Joshua chapter 2.

we sent: In 2:1 Joshua sent men to explore the land and the town of Jericho. By using the inclusive pronoun we Joshua includes all the Israelites in his action. He acted as their representative.

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