¹ tn Heb “Get up!”
²tn Heb “Cross over this Jordan, you and all these people, to the land that I am giving to them, to the children of Israel.” The final phrase, “to the children of Israel,” is probably a scribal addition specifying the identity of “these people/them.”
³tn Heb “Every place on which the sole of your foot walks, to you I have given it, as I said to Moses.” The second person pronouns in vv. 3-4 are plural, indicating that all the people are addressed here. The verbal form wyttn, “I have given it,” is probably a perfect of certitude, emphasizing the certainty of the action. Another option is to translate, “I have already assigned it.” In this case the verb would probably refer to the LORD’s decree to Abraham that he would give this land to his descendents.
⁴tn Heb “the Great Sea.”
⁵tn Heb “From the wilderness and this Lebanon even to the great river, the River Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites, even to the great sea (at) the place where the sun sets, your territory will be.” “The land of the Hittites” does not refer to Anatolia (modern Turkey), where the ancient Hittite kingdom of the second millennium was located, but rather to Syria, the “Hatti land” mentioned in inscriptions of the first millennium. See KB3, 363. The phrase is omitted in the LXX and may be a scribal addition.
⁶tn Heb “A man will not stand before you.” The second person pronouns in this verse are singular, indicating Joshua is the addressee.
⁷tn Heb “For you will cause these people to inherit the land that I swore to their fathers to give to them.” The pronoun “them” at the end of the verse refers to either the people or the fathers.
⁸tn Or “Only be.”
⁹tn Heb “so you can be careful to do.” The use of the infinitive rmvl, “to keep,” after the imperatives suggests that strength and bravery will be necessary for obedience. Another option is to take the form rmvl as a vocative lamed with imperative (see Isa 38:20 for an example of this construction), which could be translated, “Indeed, be careful!”
¹⁰tn Heb “commanded you.”
¹¹tn Heb “be wise,” but the word can mean “be successful” by metonymy.
¹²tn Heb “in all which you go.”
¹³tn Heb “mouth.”
sn This law scroll must not leave your lips. The ancient practice of reading aloud to oneself as an aid to memorization is in view here.
¹⁴tn Heb “read it in undertones,” or “recite it quietly.” See KB3, 237.
¹⁵tn Heb “be careful to do.”
¹⁶tn Heb “you will make your way prosperous.”
¹⁷tn Heb “and be wise,” but the word can mean “be successful” by metonymy.
¹⁸tn Heb “Have I not commanded you?” The rhetorical question emphasizes the importance of the following command by reminding the listener that it is being repeated.
¹⁹tn Or perhaps, “don’t get discouraged!”
²⁰tn Heb “in all which you go.”
²¹tn Or “commanded.”
²²tn Heb “this Jordan.”
²³tn Heb “to enter to possess the land which the LORD your God is giving to you to possess it.”
²⁴tn Heb “remember the word which Moses, the LORD’s servant, commanded you.”
sn This command can be found in Deut 3:18-20. In vv. 13-15 Joshua paraphrases the command, as the third person reference to Moses in v. 14 indicates.
²⁵tn Heb “is providing rest for you and is giving to you this land.”
sn “This land” refers to the trans-Jordanian lands allotted to these tribes.
²⁶tn Heb “But you must cross over armed for battle before your brothers, all (you) mighty men of strength.”
²⁷tn Heb “Then you may return to the land of your possession and possess it, that which Moses, the LORD’s servant, gave to you beyond the Jordan toward the rising of the sun.”
²⁸tn Heb “listened to.”
²⁹tn Or “Only.” Here and in v. 18 this word qualifies what precedes. (See also v. 7.)
³⁰tn Heb “any man who rebels against your mouth and does not listen to your words, to all which you command us, will be put to death.”
³¹tn Or “Only.” Here and in v. 17 this word qualifies what precedes (see also v. 7).
¹tn Heb “Joshua, son of Nun, sent from Shittim two men, spies, secretly, saying.”
²tn Heb “go, see the land, and Jericho.”
³tn Heb “they went and entered the house of a woman, a prostitute, and her name was Rahab, and they slept there.”
⁴tn Or “look.”
⁵tn Heb “men have come here tonight from the sons of Israel.”
⁶tn Heb “and the king of Jericho sent to Rahab, saying.”
⁷tn Heb “bring out.”
⁸tn The idiom “come to” (la awb) probably has sexual connotations here, as it often does elsewhere when a man “comes to” a woman. If so, the phrase could be translated “your clients.” The instructions reflect Rahab’s perspective as to the identity of the men.
⁹tn The words “the ones who came to your house” (Heb “who came to your house”) may be a euphemistic scribal addition designed to blur the sexual connotation of the preceding words.
¹⁰tn Heb “The woman took the two men and hid him.” The third masculine singular pronominal suffix on “hid” has to be a scribal error. See GKC, para. 135p.
¹¹tn Heb “the men came to me.” See the note on this phrase in v. 3.
¹²tn Heb “And the gate was to be shut in the darkness and the men went out.”
¹³tn Heb “arranged in rows by her.”
¹⁴tn Another way to translate vv. 6-7 would be, “While she took them up to the roof and hid them…, the king’s men tried to find them….” Both of the main clauses have the subject prior to the predicate, perhaps indicating simultaneous action. (On the grammatical point, see WHS, para. 235.) In this case she moves them from the hiding place referred to in v. 4 to a safer and less accessible hiding place.
¹⁵tn Heb “And the men chased after them (on) the road (leading to) the Jordan to the fords.” The text is written from the perspective of the king’s men. As far as they were concerned, they were chasing the spies.
¹⁶tn Heb “And they shut the gate after—as soon as the ones chasing after them went out.” The expressions “after” and “as soon as” may be a conflation of alternate readings.
¹⁷tn Heb “they.”
¹⁸tn The Hebrew text adds, “to them.”
¹⁹tn Heb “has given the land to you.” Rahab uses the Hebrew perfect, suggesting certitude.
²⁰tn Heb “terror of you has fallen upon us.”
²¹tn Or “melting away because of.”
²²tn Both of these statements are actually subordinated to “I know” in the Hebrew text, which reads, “I know that the LORD…and that terror of you…and that all the inhabitants….”
²³tn Heb “and what you did to the two Amorite kings who were beyond the Jordan, Sihon and Og, how you annihilated them.”
²⁴tn Heb “And we heard and our heart(s) melted and there remained no longer breath in a man because of you.”
²⁵tn Heb “Now, swear to me by the LORD.”
sn To swear an oath in the LORD’s name would make him the witness and guarantor of the promise attached to the oath. If the one making the oath should go back on the promise, the LORD would judge him for breaking the contract.
²⁶tn Heb “with the house of my father.”
²⁷tn Heb “true sign,” that is, “an inviolable token or pledge.”
²⁸tn Or “our lives.”
²⁹tn The second person pronoun is masculine plural, indicating that Rahab’s entire family is in view.
³⁰tn Heb “Our lives in return for you to die.”
sn If the lives of Rahab’s family are not spared, then the spies will pay for the broken vow with their own lives.
³¹tn Heb “If you do not report this matter of ours.”
³²tn Heb “allegiance and faithfulness.” These virtual synonyms are joined in the translation as “unswerving allegiance” to emphasize the degree of promised loyalty.
³³tn The second person pronoun is feminine singular, referring specifically to Rahab.
³⁴tc The phrase “by a rope” is omitted in the LXX. It may be a later clarifying addition. If original, the omission in the LXX is likely due to an error of homoioarcton. A scribe’s or translator’s eye could have jumped from the initial b in the phrase lbjb, “with a rope,” to the initial b on the immediately following dub, “through,” and accidentally omitted the intervening letters.
³⁵tc These explanatory statements are omitted in the LXX and are probably a later scribal addition.
tn Heb “For her house….”
³⁶tn Heb “Go.”
³⁷tn Heb “so that the pursuers might not meet you.”
³⁸tn Heb “the pursuers.” The object (“you”) is not in the Hebrew text but is implied.
³⁹tn Heb “We are free from this oath of yours which you made us swear.” The words “unless the following conditions are met” are not in the Hebrew text, but are added for clarification.
⁴⁰tn Heb “Look! We are about to enter the land.”
⁴¹tn Heb “the cord of this red thread.”
⁴²tn Heb “and your father and your mother and your brothers and all the house of your father gather to yourself to the house.”
⁴³tn Heb “Anyone who goes out from the doors of your house to the outside, his blood is on his head. We are innocent.”
⁴⁴tn Heb “But anyone who is with you in the house, his blood is on our head if a hand should be on him.”
⁴⁵tn Heb “and if you report this matter of ours.”
⁴⁶tn Heb “According to your words, so it (will be).”
⁴⁷tn Heb “she sent them away and they went.”
⁴⁸tn Heb “they went and came.”
⁴⁹tn Heb “the pursuers.” The object (“them”) is added for clarification.
⁵⁰tn Heb “The pursuers looked in all the way and did not find (them).”
⁵¹tn The words “the river,” though not in the Hebrew text, are added for clarification.
⁵²tn Heb “Surely the LORD has given into our hand all the land.” The report by the spies uses the Hebrew perfect, suggesting certitude.
⁵³tn Heb “are melting away because of us.”
¹tn Heb “And Joshua arose early in the morning and he and the Israelites left Shittim and came to the Jordan.”
²tn The words “the river,” though not in the Hebrew text, have been supplied in the translation for clarity.
³sn The ark of the covenant refers to the wooden chest that symbolized God’s presence among his covenant people.
⁴tn Heb “set out from your place.”
⁵tn Or “march.”
⁶tn Heb “But there should be a distance between you and it, about 2000 cubits in measurement.”
sn The precise distance is uncertain, but an hma, “cubit,” was probably equivalent to approximately 18 inches (a foot and half) in length.
⁷tn Heb “do not approach it.”
⁸tn Heb “know.”
⁹tn Or more literally, “to exalt you in the eyes of all Israel.”
¹⁰tn Heb “the edge of the waters of the Jordan.” The word “River” is not in the Hebrew text, but has been supplied for clarity.
¹¹tn Heb “stand in the Jordan.” Here the repetition of the word “Jordan” would be redundant according to contemporary English style, so it was not included in the translation.
¹²tn Heb “said.”
¹³tn Or “Lord”; or “Master.”
¹⁴tn Heb “the soles of the feet.”
¹⁵tn Or “Lord”; or “Master.”
¹⁶tn Or “rest in.”
¹⁷tn Heb “the waters of the Jordan, the waters descending from above, will be cut off so that they will stand in one pile.”
¹⁸tn The verb, though not in the Hebrew, is added for clarification.
¹⁹tn Heb “dipped into the edge.”
²⁰tn Heb “and the Jordan overflows all its banks all the days of harvest.”
sn The wordy description of the priests’ arrival at the Jordan and the parenthetical reminder that the Jordan was at floodstage delay the climax of the story and add to its dramatic buildup.
²¹tn Heb “the waters descending from above stood still.”
²²tn Heb “they stood in one pile very far away.”
²³tn Heb “the (waters) descending toward the sea of the Arabah (the Salt Sea) were completely cut off.”
sn The Salt Sea is an ancient name for the Dead Sea.
²⁴tn Heb “and all Israel was crossing over on dry ground until all the nation had finished crossing the Jordan.”
¹tn Heb “And when all the nation had finished crossing the Jordan.”
²tn Heb “the feet of the priests.”
³tn Heb “in order that this might be a sign among you.”
⁴tn Heb “were cut off.”
⁵tn Heb “how the waters descending from above stood still.”
⁶sn As v. 20 makes clear, these are not the same stones the men took from the river bed.
⁷tn Heb “in the presence of the people.”
⁸tn Heb “men equipped for battle.”
⁹tn Heb “for war.”
¹⁰tn Heb “feared.”
¹¹tn Heb “all the days of his life.”
¹²tn Heb “had feared.”
¹³tn Traditionally, “the ark of the testimony,” another name for the ark of the covenant. Hebrew twdu, “testimony, witness,” here refers to the Mosaic covenant and the body of stipulations contained within it. See KB, 791.
¹⁴tn Heb “and the soles of the feet of the priests were brought up to the dry land.”
¹⁵tn Heb “and the waters of the Jordan returned to their place and went as formerly over their banks.”
sn Verses 15-18 give a more detailed account of the priests’ crossing briefly described in v. 11.
¹⁶sn The first month was the month Abib (= late March-early April in our calendar). The Passover in Egypt also occurred on the tenth day of the first month (Exod 12:2; 13:4).
¹⁷tn Heb “these,” referring specifically to the 12 stones mentioned in vv. 3-7.
¹⁸tn Heb “What are these stones?”
¹⁹tn Heb “make known.”
²⁰tn Heb “crossed this Jordan”; the word “River” is not in the Hebrew text, but has been supplied to clarify the meaning.
²¹tn Heb “just as the LORD your God did to the Red Sea when he dried (it) up before us while we crossed over.”
²²tn Heb “in order that.”
²³tn or, “peoples.”
²⁴tn Heb “know the hand of the LORD that it is strong.”
²⁵tn Heb “fear.”
¹tc Another textual tradition has, “while we crossed.”
²tn Heb “their heart(s) melted and there was no longer in them breathe because of the sons of Israel.”
³tn Heb. “return, circumcise the sons of Israel a second time.” bwv, “return,” is used here in an adverbial sense to indicate the repetition of an action.
⁴sn The name Hill of the Foreskins was an obvious reminder of this important event.
⁵tn Heb “All the people who went out from Egypt, the males, all the men of war, died in the desert in the way when they went out from Egypt.”
⁶tn Or “indeed.”
⁷tn Heb “people.”
⁸tn Heb “all the people.”
⁹tn Heb “…all the nation, the men of war who went out from Egypt, who did not listen to the voice of the LORD, came to an end.”
¹⁰tn Some Hebrew manuscripts, as well as the Syriac version, support this reading. Most ancient witnesses read “us.”
¹¹tn Heb “flowing with.”
sn The word picture a land rich in milk and honey depicts the land as containing many grazing areas and flowering plants.
¹²tn Heb “their sons he raised up in their place.”
¹³tn Heb “nation.”
¹⁴tn Heb “rolled away.”
¹⁵sn One might take the disgrace of Egypt as a reference to their uncircumcised condition (see Gen 34:14), but the generation that left Egypt was circumcised (see v. 5). It more likely refers to the disgrace they experienced in Egyptian slavery. When this new generation reached the promised land and renewed their covenantal commitment to the Lord by submitting to the rite of circumcision, the Lord’s deliverance of his people from slavery, which had begun with the plagues and the crossing of the Red Sea, reached its climax. See T. Butler, Joshua, 59.
¹⁶sn The name Gilgal sounds like the Hebrew verb “roll away” (llg, galal).
¹⁷tn The Hebrew text adds, “on this same day.”
¹⁸tn Heb “the day after, when they ate.” The translation assumes this means the day after the Passover, though it is possible this refers to the day after they began eating the land’s produce.
¹⁹tn Heb “and the sons of Israel had no more manna.”
²⁰tn Heb “in.”
²¹tn Heb “he lifted up his eyes and looked. And look, a man was standing in front of him, and his sword was drawn in his hand.” The verb hnh, “look,” invites the reader to view the scene through Joshua’s eyes. By calling the stranger “a man,” the author reflects Joshua’s perspective. We shortly discover his true identity (vv. 14-15).
²²tn Heb “Are you for us or for our enemies?”
²³tc An alternative reading is wl, “(he said) to him.” This reading is supported by many Hebrew manuscripts, as well as the ancient Greek and Syriac versions. The traditional reading, al, “no, neither,” is probably the product of aural confusion (the two variant readings sound the same in Hebrew). It is problematic, for the commander of the LORD’s army would hardly declare himself neutral.
tn Heb “He said, “Neither.”
²⁴sn The Lord’s heavenly army, like an earthly army, has a commander who leads the troops. For the phrase abx rc, “army commander,” in the human sphere, see among many other references Gen 21:22, 32; 26:26; Judg 4:2, 7; 1 Sam 12:9.
²⁵sn The commander’s appearance seems to be for Joshua’s encouragement. Joshua could now lead Israel into battle knowing that the LORD’s invisible army would ensure victory.
²⁶tn Heb “Joshua fell on his face to the ground and bowed down.”
¹tn Heb “was shutting and shut up.” KB, 743, paraphrases, “blocking (any way of access) and blocked (against any who would leave).”
²tn Heb “there was no one going out and there was no one coming in.”
³tn Heb “I have given into your hand Jericho.” The Hebrew verb yttn, “I have given,” is probably a perfect of certitude, indicating the certainty of the action. The pronoun “you” is singular, being addressed to Joshua as the leader and representative of the nation.
⁴tn Heb “and go around the city, all (you) men of war, encircling the city one time.”The verb <tbsw, “and go around,” is plural, being addressed to the whole army.
⁵tn Heb “rams’ horns, trumpets.”
⁶tn Heb “and it will be at the sounding of the horn, the ram’s horn, when you hear the sound of the ram’s horn.” The text seems unduly wordy. The LXX omits “when you hear the sound of the ram’s horn.”
⁷tn Heb “all the people will shout with a loud shout.”
⁸tn Heb “fall in its place.”
⁹tn Heb “and the people will go up, each man straight ahead.”
¹⁰tn An alternative reading is “and they said.” In this case the subject is indefinite and the verb should be translated as passive, “(the army) was told.”
¹¹tn Heb “the people.”
¹²tn Heb “pass by.”
¹³tn Heb “when Joshua spoke to the people.”
¹⁴tn Heb “the people.”
¹⁵tn Or “the shout.”
¹⁶tn Heb “do not let a word come out of your mouths.”
¹⁷tn Or “the shout.”
¹⁸tn Or “the shout.”
¹⁹tn Heb “and he made the ark of the LORD go around the city, encircling one time.”
²⁰tn Heb “and they entered the camp and spent the night in the camp.”
²¹tn Heb “Joshua rose early in the morning and the priests picked up the ark of the LORD.”
²²tn Heb “On the seventh day they rose early, when the dawn ascended.”
²³tn Heb “and they went around the city according to this manner seven times, only on that day they went around the city seven times.”
²⁴tn Heb “the people.”
²⁵tn Or “the shout.”
²⁶tn Heb “for the LORD has given to you the city.” The verbal form is a perfect, probably indicating certitude.
²⁷tn Or “dedicated to the LORD.”
sn To make the city set apart for the LORD would involve annihilating all the people and animals and placing its riches in the LORD’s treasury (vv. 19, 21, 24).
²⁸tn Heb “messengers.”
²⁹tn Heb “Only you keep (away) from what is set apart (to the LORD) so that you might not, as you are setting (it) apart, take some of what is set apart (to the LORD) and make the camp of Israel set apart (to destruction by the LORD) and bring trouble on it.”
³⁰tn Heb “it is holy to the LORD.”
³¹tc The initial statement (“and the people shouted”) seems premature, since the verse goes on to explain that the battle cry followed the blowing of the horns. The statement has probably been accidentally duplicated from what follows. It is omitted in the LXX.
tn Heb “and the people shouted and they blew the rams’ horns.”
³²tn Heb “the people.”
³³tn Heb “the sound of the horn.”
³⁴tn Heb “they shouted with a loud shout.”
³⁵tn Heb “fell in its place.”
³⁶tn Heb “and the people went up into the city, each one straight ahead, and they captured the city.”
³⁷tn Heb “all which was in the city.”
³⁸tn Heb “the house of the woman, the prostitute.”
³⁹tn Heb “and bring out from there the woman and all who belong to her as you swore on oath to her.”
⁴⁰tn Or “placed them outside.”
⁴¹tn The Hebrew text adds “with fire.”
⁴²tn Heb “the treasury of the house of the LORD.”
⁴³tn Heb “kept alive.”
⁴⁴tn Heb the house of her father.”
⁴⁵tn Heb “in the midst of.”
⁴⁶tn Normally the hiphil of ubv has a causative sense, “make (someone) take an oath” (see Josh 2:17, 20), but here (see also Josh 23:7) no object is stated or implied. If Joshua is calling divine judgment down upon the who attempts to rebuild Jericho, then “make a solemn appeal (to God as judge)” or “pronounce a curse” would be an appropriate translation. However, the tone seems stronger. Joshua appears to be announcing the certain punishment of the violator. 1 Kgs 16:34, which records the fulfillment of Joshua’s prediction, supports this. Casting Joshua in a prophetic role, it refers to Joshua’s statement as the “word of the LORD” spoken through Joshua.
⁴⁷tn Heb “rises up and builds.”
⁴⁸tn The LXX omits “Jericho.” It is probably a scribal addition.
⁴⁹tn The phrase hwhy ynpl rwra, “cursed (i.e., condemned) before the LORD” also occurs in 1 Sam 26:19.
⁵⁰tn Heb “With his firstborn he will lay its foundations and with his youngest he will erect its gates.” The verb byxy is imperfect, not jussive, suggesting Joshua’s statement is a prediction, not an imprecation.
⁵¹tn Heb “and the report about him was in all the land.” The term Jra, “land,” may also be translated “earth.”
¹tn Heb “But the sons of Israel were unfaithful with unfaithfulness concerning what was set apart (to the LORD).”
²tn 1 Chr 2:6 lists a “Zimri” (but no Zabdi) as one of the five sons of Zerah.
³tn Heb “took from what was set apart (to the LORD).”
⁴tn Heb “the anger of the LORD burned against the sons of Israel.”
sn This incident illustrates well the principle of corporate solidarity and guilt. The sin of one man brought the LORD’s anger down upon the entire nation.
⁵tn Heb “and they returned to Joshua and said to him.”
⁶tn Heb “Don’t let all the people go up.”
⁷tn Heb “Let about 2000 men or about 3000 men go up to defeat Ai.”
⁸tn Heb “all the people for they are small.”
⁹tn The meaning and correct translation of the Hebrew word is uncertain. The translation “fissures” is based on usage of the plural form of the noun in Ps 60:4 (60:2 Engl. text), where it appears to refer to cracks in the earth caused by an earthquake. Perhaps deep ravines or gorges are in view, or the word is a proper noun (“all the way to Shebarim”).
¹⁰sn The precise geographical location of the Israelite defeat at this “steep slope” is uncertain.
¹¹tn Or “army’s.”
¹²tn Heb “and the heart of the people melted and became water.”
¹³sn Tearing one’s clothes was an outward expression of extreme sorrow (see Gen 37:34; 44:13).
¹⁴tn Or “elders.”
¹⁵tn Heb “and fell on his face to the ground before the ark of the LORD until evening, he and the elders of Israel.”
¹⁶sn Throwing dirt on one’s head was an outward expression of extreme sorrow (see Lam 2:10; Ezek 27:30).
¹⁷tn Heb “said.”
¹⁸tn Heb “turned (the) back.”
¹⁹tn Heb “and cut off our name.”
²⁰tn Heb “What will you do for your great name?”
²¹tn Heb “said.”
²²tn Heb “Why are you falling on your face?”
²³tn Heb “They have violated my covenant which I commanded them.”
²⁴tn Heb “what was set apart (to the LORD).”
²⁵tn Heb “and also they have stolen, and also they have lied, and also they have placed (them) among their items.”
²⁶tn Heb “they turn (the) back before their enemies because they are set apart (to destruction by the Lord).”
²⁷tn The second person pronoun is plural in Hebrew, indicating these words are addressed to the entire nation.
²⁸tn Heb “what is set apart (to destruction by the Lord) from your midst.”
²⁹tn Heb “what is set apart (to destruction by the Lord) (is) in your midst.”
³⁰tn Heb “remove what is set apart [i.e., to destruction by the LORD] from your midst.”
³¹tn Heb “by your tribes.”
³²tn Heb “takes forcefully, seizes.”
³³tn Heb “houses.”
³⁴tn Heb “by men.”
³⁵tn Heb “with what was set apart” [to the LORD].
³⁶tn Heb “burned with fire.”
³⁷tn Heb “by tribes.”
³⁸tn Heb “and he selected.” The LORD is the apparent subject. The LXX supports reading a passive (niphal) form here, as does the immediate context.
³⁹tn Heb “by men.”
⁴⁰tn Heb “give glory to.”
⁴¹tn Heb “like this and like this I did.”
⁴²sn Shinar is a reference to Babylon.
⁴³tn Heb “shekels.”
⁴⁴tn Heb “Look, (it was) hidden in his tent, and the silver was beneath it.”
⁴⁵tn Heb “poured out,” probably referring to the way the silver pieces poured out of their container.
⁴⁶tn Or “Trouble” (Heb “Achor”).
⁴⁷tn Or “trouble” (Heb “Achor”).
⁴⁸tn Or “trouble” (Heb “Achor”).
⁴⁹tc The words “They also stoned and burned the others” are omitted in the LXX and may be a scribal addition.
tn Heb “and they burned them with fire and they stoned them with stones.”
⁵⁰tc The phrase “to this day” is omitted in the LXX and may be a scribal addition.
tn Heb “to this day.”
¹tn Or perhaps “and don’t get discouraged!”
²tn Heb “Take with you all the people of war and arise, go up against Ai!”
³tn Heb “I have given into our hand.” The verbal form is probably a perfect of certitude, indicating the certainty of the action.
⁴tn “And Joshua and all the people of war arose to go up (against) Ai.”
⁵tn Or “commanded, ordered.”
⁶tn Heb “the people.”
⁷tn Heb “come out after.”
⁸tn Heb “from the ambush.”
⁹tn Heb “take possession of.”
¹⁰tn Heb “the city.”
¹¹tn Heb “I have commanded you.”
¹²tn Or “the place of ambush.”
¹³tn Heb “and they stayed between Bethel and Ai, west of Ai.”
¹⁴tn Heb “in the midst of the people.”
¹⁵tn Or “summoned, mustered.”
¹⁶tn Heb “the people.”
¹⁷tn Or “elders.”
¹⁸tn Heb “went up.”
¹⁹tn Heb “All the people of war who were with him went up and approached and came opposite the city.”
²⁰tn Heb “and the valley (was) between them and Ai.”
²¹tn Some Hebrew manuscripts read, “spent the night in.”
²²tn Heb “When the king of Ai saw, the men of Ai hurried and rose early and went out to meet Israel for battle, he and all his people at the meeting place before the Arabah.”
²³tn Or “know.”
²⁴tn Heb “that (there was) an ambush for him behind the city.”
²⁵tn Heb “All the people.”
²⁶tc Some textual witnesses read “the city.”
²⁷tn Or “were summoned”; or “were mustered.”
²⁸tc The LXX omits “or Bethel.”
²⁹tn Heb “who did not go out after Israel.”
³⁰tn Heb “it.”
³¹tn Heb “and ran.”
³²tn Heb “and they saw, and look.” hnh, “look,” draws attention to the scene and invites the audience to step into the shoes of the men of Ai.
³³tn Heb “and there was not in them hands to flee here or there.” <ydy, “hands,” is idiomatic for “strength.”
³⁴tn Heb “and that the smoke of the city ascended.”
³⁵tn Heb “and these went out from the city to meet them and they were for Israel in the middle, some on this side, and others on the other side.”
³⁶tn Heb “residents.”
³⁷tn Heb “in the field, in the desert in which they chased them.”
³⁸tc The LXX omits the words, “and all of them fell by the edge of the sword.” They may be a scribal addition.
tn Heb “and all of them fell by the edge of the sword until they were destroyed.”
³⁹tn Heb “fell.”
⁴⁰tn Heb “Joshua did not draw back his hand which held out the curved sword until he had annihilated all the residents of Ai.”
⁴¹tn Heb “according to the word of the LORD which he commanded Joshua.”
⁴²tn Heb “and made it a permanent mound, a desolation, to this day.”
⁴³tn Heb “until evening.”
⁴⁴sn For the legal background of this action, see Deut 21:22-23.
⁴⁵tn Heb “to this day.”
⁴⁶tn Heb “as it is written in the scroll of the law of Moses, an altar of whole (i.e., in their natural condition) stones on which no one had wielded iron.”
⁴⁷tn Or “peace offerings.”
⁴⁸tn Heb “and he wrote there on the stones a duplicate of the law of Moses which he wrote before the sons of Israel.”
⁴⁹tn Heb “All Israel.”
⁵⁰tn Heb “like the resident alien, like the citizen.” The language is idiomatic, meaning that both groups were treated the same, at least in this instance.
⁵¹tn Heb “as Moses, the LORD’s servant, commanded to bless the people, Israel, formerly.”
sn See Deut 11:29.
⁵²tn Or “afterwards.”
⁵³tn Heb “There was not a word from all which Moses commanded that Joshua did not read out loud.”
⁵⁴tn Heb “walked in their midst.”
¹tn Heb “When all the kings who were beyond the Jordan heard.”
²tn Or “foothills.” Heb “the Shephelah.”
³tn Heb “all the coast of the great sea.”
⁴tn Heb “in front of.”
⁵tn Heb “they gathered together to fight against Joshua and Israel (with) one mouth.”
⁶tn Heb “and they went and ???.” The root and meaning of the verb form wryfxy are uncertain. The form is most likely a corruption of wdyfxy, from the root dwx, “take provisions,” which also occurs in v. 12.
⁷tn Heb “all the bread of their provisions.”
⁸tn Or “moldy.”
⁹tn Heb “in our midst.”
¹⁰tn Heb “we are your servants.”
¹¹tn Or “servants.”
¹²tn Heb “name.”
¹³tn Heb “the report about him, all that he did in Egypt.”
¹⁴tn Heb “your servants.”
¹⁵tn Heb “in the day we went out to come to you.”
¹⁶tn Or “moldy.”
¹⁷tn Heb “took.” This probably means they tasted some of the food to make sure it was stale.
¹⁸tn Heb “but they did not ask the mouth of the LORD.” This refers to seeking the Lord’s will and guidance through an oracle.
¹⁹tn Or “assembly.”
²⁰tn Heb “Joshua made peace with them and made a treaty with them to let them live, and the leaders of the community swore an oath to them.”
²¹tn Heb “At the end of three days, after they made the treaty with them, they heard that they were neighbors to them and in their midst they were living.”
²²tn Heb “by the LORD God of Israel.”
²³tn Or “grumbled against.”
²⁴tn Heb “to them by….”
²⁵tn Or “touch.”
²⁶tn Heb “This is what we will do to them, keeping them alive so there will not be upon us anger concerning the oath which we swore to them.”
²⁷tc The LXX omits the words “and the leaders said to them.”
tn Heb “and the leaders said to them.”
²⁸tn The waw consecutive construction in the Hebrew text suggests that the narrative resumes at this point. The LXX reads here, “and they will be,” understanding what follows to be a continuation of the leaders’ words.
²⁹tn Heb “as the leaders said to them.”
³⁰tn Verses 22-27 appear to elaborate on v. 21b.
³¹tn Heb “them.”
³²tn Or “deceive.”
³³tn Heb “live in our midst?”
³⁴tn Heb “Now you are cursed and a servant will not be cut off from you, woodcutters and water carriers for the house of my God.”
³⁵tn Heb “your servants.”
³⁶tn Or “we were very afraid.”
³⁷tn Heb “so now, look, we are in your hand.”
³⁸tn Heb “according to what is good and according to what is upright in your eyes to do us, do.”
³⁹tn Heb “And he did to them so and he rescued them from the hand of the sons of Israel and they did not kill them.”
⁴⁰tn Heb “and Joshua made them in that day woodcutters and water carriers for the community, and for the altar of the LORD to this day at the place which he chooses.”
¹tn Heb “as he had done to Jericho and to its king, so he did to Ai and to its king.”
²tn Heb “and how.”
³tn This statement is subordinated to v. 1 in the Hebrew text, which reads literally, “When Adoni-Zedek…, they feared greatly.” The subject of the plural verb at the beginning of v. 2 is probably the residents of Jerusalem.
⁴tn Heb “Come up to me and help me.”
⁵tn Heb “and they camped against Gibeon and fought against it.”
⁶tn Heb “do not let your hand drop from us.”
⁷tn Heb “your servants!”
⁸tn Heb “have gathered against us.”
⁹tn Heb “And Joshua went up from Gilgal, he and all the people of war with him, and all the brave warriors.”
¹⁰tn Heb “I have given them into your hand.” The verbal form is a perfect of certitude, emphasizing the certainty of the action.
¹¹tn Heb “and not a man (or, one) of them will stand before you.”
¹²tn Heb “Joshua came upon them suddenly, all the night he went up from Gilgal.”
¹³tn Or “caused to panic.”
¹⁴tn Heb “he.” This probably refers to Israel (mentioned at the end of the first sentence of the verse), but the Lord is a possible subject as well.
¹⁵tn Heb “struck them down with a great striking down.”
¹⁶tn Or “ascent.”
¹⁷tn Heb “on the descent of.”
¹⁸tn Heb “Then Joshua spoke to the LORD in the day the LORD placed the Amorites before the sons of Israel and he said in the eyes of Israel.” It is uncertain if the phrase “before the sons of Israel” goes with the verb “placed” or with “spoke.”
¹⁹tn Heb “Is it not written down in the Scroll of the Upright One.”
sn The Scroll of the Upright One was apparently an ancient Israeite collection of songs and prayers (see also 2 Sam 1:18).
²⁰tn Heb “and did not hurry to set (for) about a full day.”
²¹tn Heb “listened to the voice of.”
²²tn Heb “these five kings.”
²³tn Heb “and appoint by it men to guard them.”
²⁴tn Heb “But (as for) you, don’t stand still, chase after your enemies and attack them from the rear.”
²⁵tn Or “enter into.”
²⁶tn Heb “has given them into your hand.” The verbal form is a perfect of certitude, emphasizing the certainty of the action.
²⁷tn Heb “When Joshua and the sons of Israel finished defeating them with a very great defeat until they were destroyed (now the survivors escaped to the fortified cities).” In the Hebrew text the initial temporal clause (“when Joshua…finished”) is subordinated to v. 21 (“the whole army returned”).
²⁸tn Heb “all the people returned to the camp, to Joshua (at) Makkedah (in) peace.”
²⁹tc The lamed prefixed to vya, “man,” is probably dittographic (note the immediately preceding larcy, which ends in lamed).
tn Heb “no man sharpened (or perhaps, “pointed”) his tongue against the sons of Israel.”
³⁰tn Heb “these five kings.”
³¹tn Heb “they did so.”
³²tn Heb “these five kings.”
³³tn Heb “Joshua.”
³⁴tn Or “draw near.”
³⁵tn Or “drew near.”
³⁶tn Or perhaps “and don’t get discouraged!”
³⁷tn Heb “struck them down and killed them.”
³⁸sn For the legal background of this action, see Deut 21:22-23.
³⁹tn Heb “to this very day.” The words “They remain” are added for clarification.
⁴⁰tn Heb “Libnah.”
⁴¹tn Heb “he”; the implied subject may be Israel, or Joshua (as the commanding general of the army).
⁴²tn Heb “he”; the implied subject may be Israel, or Joshua (as the commanding general of the army).
⁴³tn Heb “He”; the implied subject may be Israel, or Joshua (as the commanding general of the army).
⁴⁴tn Heb “he”; the implied subject may be Israel, or Joshua (as the commanding general of the army).
⁴⁵tn Heb “encamped against it.”
⁴⁶tn Heb “he”; the implied subject may be Israel, or Joshua (as the commanding general of the army).
⁴⁷tn Heb “people.”
⁴⁸tn Heb “they encamped against it.”
⁴⁹tn Heb “he”; the implied subject may be Israel, or Joshua (as the commanding general of the army).
⁵⁰tn Heb “he”; the implied subject may be Israel, or Joshua (as the commanding general of the army).
⁵¹tn Heb “he”; the implied subject may be Israel, or Joshua (as the commanding general of the army).
⁵²tn Heb “he”; the implied subject may be Israel, or Joshua (as the commanding general of the army).
⁵³tn Heb “he”; the implied subject may be Israel, or Joshua (as the commanding general of the army).
⁵⁴tn Heb “He”; the implied subject may be Israel, or Joshua (as the commanding general of the army).
⁵⁵tn Heb “he”; the implied subject may be Israel, or Joshua (as the commanding general of the army).
⁵⁶tn Heb “He”; the implied subject may be Israel, or Joshua (as the commanding general of the army).
⁵⁷tn Heb “he”; the implied subject may be Israel, or Joshua (as the commanding general of the army).
⁵⁸tn Heb “as he did to Hebron, so he did to Debir and its king, and as he did to Libnah and its king.”
⁵⁹tn Or “foothills”; Heb “the Shephelah.”
⁶⁰tn Heb “and Joshua struck them down, from Kadesh Barnea even to Gaza, and all the land of Goshen, even to Gibeon.”
⁶¹tn Heb “at one time.”
¹tn Heb “he sent to.”
²tn Heb “and to the kings who (are) from the north in.”
³sn That is, Galilee.
⁴tn The verb is supplied (see v. 4).
⁵tn Or “land.”
⁶tn Heb “They and all their camps with them came out, a people as numerous as the sand which is on the edge of the sea in multitude, and (with) horses and chariots very numerous.”
⁷tn Heb “and came and camped together.”
⁸tn Heb “burn with fire”; the words “with fire” are redundant in English and have not been included in the translation.
⁹tn Heb “Joshua and all the people of war with him cam upon them at the Waters of Merom suddenly and fell upon them.”
¹⁰tn The literal meaning in Hebrew is perhaps “lime-kilns by the water.” See KB 641.
¹¹tn Heb “burned with fire”; the words “with fire” are redundant in English and have not been included in the translation.
¹²tn Or “formerly.”
¹³tn Heb “and they struck down all life which was in it with the edge of the sword, annihilating.”
¹⁴tn Heb “burned with fire”; the words “with fire” are redundant in English and have not been included in the translation.
¹⁵tn Heb “and he struck them down with the edge of the sword, he annihilated them.”
¹⁶tn Heb “standing on their mounds.”
¹⁷tn Heb “but all the people they struck down with the edge of the sword until they destroyed them.”
¹⁸tn Heb “As the LORD commanded Moses his servant, so Moses commanded Joshua, and Joshua acted accordingly; he did not turn aside a thing from all which the LORD commanded Moses.”
¹⁹tn Heb “Joshua took all this land.”
²⁰tn Or “foothills”; Heb “the Shephelah.”
²¹tn Heb “and struck them down and killed them.”
²²tn Heb “made war with.”
²³tn Heb “for many days.”
²⁴tn The LXX omits this parenthetical note, which may be a scribal addition.
²⁵tn Heb “the whole they took in battle.”
²⁶tn Heb “for from the LORD it was to harden their heart(s) to meet for the battle with Israel, in order to annihilate them, so that they would receive no mercy, in order annihilate them, as the LORD commanded Moses.”
²⁷tn Heb “went and cut off the Anakites from the hill country.”
²⁸tn Heb “and from all the hill country of Israel.”
²⁹tn Heb “took.”
³⁰tn Heb “according to all which the LORD said to Moses.” The translation assumes this refers to the promise of the land (see 1:3). Another possibility is that it refers to the Lord’s instructions, in which case one might translate, “just as the LORD had instructed Moses.”
³¹tn Heb “and Joshua gave it for an inheritance to Israel according to their allotted portions by their tribes.”
¹tn Heb “and took possession of their land.”
²tn Heb “beyond the Jordan, toward the rising of the sun.”
³tn Or perhaps, “reigned.”
⁴tn The Hebrew text has here, “and the middle of the valley,” but the reading “the city in the middle of valley” can be reconstructed on the basis of 13:9, 16.
⁵tn The words “his kingdom included” are added for clarification.
⁶sn The Sea of Kinnereth is the Hebrew name for the Sea of Galilee.
⁷sn The Salt Sea is another name for the Dead Sea.
⁸tn Heb “from the remnant of the Rephaites.”
sn The Rephaites were apparently an extremely tall ethnic group. See Deut 2:10-11, 20; 3:11.
⁹tn Or perhaps “who reigned.”
¹⁰tn Heb “gave it for a possession.”
¹¹tn Heb “Joshua gave it to the tribes of Israel as a possession according to their allotted portions.”
¹²tn Or “the foothills”; Heb “the Shephelah.”
¹³tn The words “the land of” are added for clarification.
¹tn Heb “was old, coming into the days” (i.e., advancing in years).
²tn Heb “are old, coming into the days” (i.e., advancing in years).
³tn Heb “the Shihor.” The word “river” is added for clarification.
⁴tn Heb “in front of.”
⁵tn Heb “it is reckoned to the Canaanites.”
⁶tn Heb “the five lords of the Philistines, the Gazaite, the Ashdodite, the Ashkelonite, the Gathite, and the Ekronite, and the Avvites.”
⁷tn Or “from Teman.” The phrase is especially problematic if taken with what follows, as the traditional verse division suggests. For discussion see Butler, Joshua, 146.
⁸tn Heb “all the land of the Canaanites.”
⁹tn This reading assumes a slight emendation of the Hebrew vowel pointing. The Hebrew text reads, “and a cave,” or “and Mearah” (if one understands a proper noun).
¹⁰tn Heb “which belongs to the Sidonians.”
¹¹tn Heb “and the land of the Gebalites.”
¹²tn Or “the entrance to Hamath.”
¹³tn The literal Hebrew meaning is perhaps “lime-kilns by the water.” See KB 641.
¹⁴tn Heb “only you, assign it by lots to Israel as an inheritance as I commanded you.”
¹⁵tn Heb “now apportion this land as an inheritance.”
¹⁶tn The Hebrew text has “with him,” which is problematic. A reference to the other half of Manasseh seems necessary.
¹⁷tn Heb “received their inheritance, which Moses had assigned to them beyond the Jordan.”
¹⁸tn The words “their territory started” are added for clarification.
¹⁹tn The words “their territory also included” are added for clarification.
²⁰tn Heb “from the remnan t of the Rephaites.”
sn The Rephaites were apparently an extremely tall ethnic group. See Deut 2:10-11, 20; 3:11.
²¹tn Or “dispossessed them.”
²²tn Or “dispossess.”
²³tn Heb “he.”
²⁴tn Heb “did not assign an inheritance.”
²⁵tn That is, “their source of food and life.”
²⁶tn Or “offerings made by fire.”
²⁷tn Or “promised” (Heb “spoke”).
sn For the background of this observation, see Deut 18:1-2.
²⁸tn Heb “assigned to the sons of Reuben.”
²⁹tn Heb “their territory was from.”
³⁰tn The words “it encompassed” are added for clarification.
³¹tn Heb “princes of Sihon, inhabitants of the land.”
³²tn Or “diviner.”
³³tn Heb “Balaam son of Beor, the omen-reader, the Israelites killed with the sword, along with their slain ones.”
³⁴tn Heb “This is the inheritance of the sons of Reuben by their clans, the cities and their towns.”
³⁵tn Heb “assigned to the tribe of Gad, to the sons of Gad.”
³⁶tn Heb “and half of the land of the sons of Ammon.”
³⁷tn Heb “in front of.”
³⁸tn The words “Their territory ran” are not in the Hebrew text, but have been supplied for clarification.
³⁹tn Or “it included in the valley, Beth Haram…”
⁴⁰sn The Sea of Kinnereth is the Hebrew name for the Sea of Galilee.
⁴¹tn Heb “This is the inheritance of the sons of Gad by their clans, the cities and their towns.”
⁴²tn Heb “assigned to the half-tribe of Manasseh, and it belonged to the half-tribe of Manasseh.”
⁴³tn The words “their territory started at” are not in the Hebrew text, but have been added for clarification.
⁴⁴tn The name means “the tent villages of Jair.”
⁴⁵tn Heb “These are (the lands) which Moses gave as an inheritance.”
⁴⁶tn Heb “beyond the Jordan, east of Jericho.”
⁴⁷tn Heb “Moses did not assign an inheritance.”
⁴⁸tn That is, “their source of food and life.”
⁴⁹tn Or “as he promised”; Heb “as he spoke to.”
sn For the background of this observation, see Deut 18:1-2.
¹tn Heb “These are (the lands) which the sons of Israel received as an inheritance in the land of Canaan, which Eleazar the priest, Joshua son of Nun, and the heads of the fathers of the tribes assigned as an inheritance to the sons of Israel.”
²tn Heb “By lot was their inheritance, as the LORD had commanded by Moses, to the nine tribes and the half-tribe.”
³tn Or “assigned an inheritance.”
⁴tn Or “no inheritance.”
⁵tn The Hebrew text adds, “in their midst.”
⁶tn Heb “and they did not assign a portion to the Levites in the land, except cities (in which) to live and their pastures for their cattle and property.”
⁷tn Heb “Just as the LORD had commanded Moses, so the sons of Israel did, and they divided up the land.”
⁸tn Heb “You know the word which the LORD spoke to Moses, the man of God, because of me and because of you in Kadesh Barnea.”
sn See Num 14:30.
⁹tn Heb “and I brought back to him a word just as (was) in my heart.”
¹⁰tn Heb “brothers.”
¹¹tn Heb “went up with.”
¹²tn Heb “made the heart(s) of the people melt.”
¹³tn The idiomatic statement reads Literally, “I filled up after the LORD my God.”
¹⁴tn Heb “swore an oath.”
¹⁵tn Heb “on which your foot has walked.”
¹⁶tn Heb “will belong to you for an inheritance, and to your sons forever.”
¹⁷tn The Hebrew idiomatic expression reads Literally, “like my strength then, like my strength now, for battle and for going out and coming in.”
¹⁸tn Heb “are there and large, fortified cities.”
¹⁹tn Or “will dispossess.”
²⁰tn Heb “Joshua blessed him and gave Hebron to Caleb son of Jephunneh as an inheritance.”
²¹tn Heb “Therefore Hebron belongs to Caleb son of Jephunneh for an inheritance to this day.”
²²tn Heb “And he was the great man among the Anakites.”
¹tn Heb “The lot was to the tribe of the sons of Judah by their clans to the border of Edom, the wilderness of Zin toward the south, southward.”
²tn Heb “Their southern border was from the end of the Salt Sea, from the tongue that faces to the south.”
sn The Salt Sea is known today as the Dead Sea.
³tn Heb “went out.”
⁴tn The translation follows the LXX at this point. The Hebrew text reads, “This will be your southern border.”
⁵tn Heb “end.”
⁶tn The word “River” is not in the Hebrew text, but has been supplied for clarity.
⁷tn Heb “the border on the northern side was from the tongue of the sea, from the end of the Jordan.”
⁸tn Or “ascent.”
⁹tn Heb “the Great Sea.”
¹⁰tn Heb “this was the border of the sons of Judah round about, by their clans.”
¹¹tn Heb “To Caleb son of Jephunneh he gave a portion in the midst of the sons of Judah according to the mouth (i.e., command) of the LORD to Joshua, Kiriath Arba (the father of Anak), it is Hebron.”
¹²tn Or “dispossessed.”
¹³tn Heb “he went up against the inhabitants of Debir.”
¹⁴tn “Caleb’s brother” may refer to Othniel or to Kenaz (in which case Othniel is Caleb’s nephew).
¹⁵tn Heb “he.”
¹⁶tn Heb. “she.”
¹⁷tn Heb “him.” For discussion see the note at Judg 1:14.
¹⁸tn See the note at Judg 1:15.
¹⁹tn Heb “This is the inheritance of the tribe of the sons of Judah by their clans.”
²⁰tn Heb “and the cities were at the end of the tribe of the sons of Judah, at the border of Edom, to the south.”
²¹sn The total number of names in the list is 36, not 29. Perhaps some of the names are alternatives (though the text appears to clearly delineate such alternative names here and elsewhere, see vv. 8, 9, 10, 13, 25b), or, more likely, scribes added to a list originally numbering 29 and failed to harmonize the concluding summary statement with the list.
²²tn The words “these cities were” have been supplied for English stylistic reasons.
²³tn Or “the foothills”; Heb “the Shephelah.”
²⁴tn Heb “daughters.”
²⁵tn Heb “the Great Sea.”
²⁶tn The words “These cities were” have been supplied for English stylistic reasons.
²⁷tc Some textual witnesses read “Rumah” for “Dumah.”
²⁸tn The words “These cities were” have been supplied for English stylistic reasons.
²⁹sn See the note at Judg 1:21.
¹tn Heb “The lot went out to the sons of Joseph from the Jordan (at) Jericho to the waters of Jericho to the east, the desert going up from Jericho into the hill country of Bethel.”
²tn Heb “it.”
³tn The place name “Luz” has the directive ending, indicating that the border went from Bethel to Luz. Elsewhere Luz and Bethel appear to be names for the same site (Judg 1:23), but here they appear to be distinct.
⁴tn Or “received their inheritance.”
⁵tn Heb “The territory of the sons of Ephraim was for their clans.”
⁶tn Heb “This is the inheritance of the tribe of the sons of Ephraim.”
⁷tn Heb “and the cities set apart for the sons of Ephraim in the midst of the inheritance of the sons of Manasseh, all the cities and their towns.”
⁸tn Heb “they.”
¹tn Heb “and the lot belonged to the tribe of Manasseh, for he was the firstborn of Joseph.”
²tn Heb “to Makir, the firstborn of Manasseh, the father of Gilead, for he was a man of war.”
³tn Heb “Gilead and Bashan belonged to him.”
sn See Josh 13:31.
⁴tn Heb “and it belonged to the sons of Manasseh who remained.”
⁵tn Heb “The LORD commanded Moses to assign to us an inheritance in the midst of our brothers.” Since Zelophehad had no sons, “brothers” must refer to their uncles, as the next sentence makes clear.
⁶tn The subject is probably Joshua.
⁷tn Heb “and he assigned to them in accordance with the mouth (i.e., command) of the LORD an inheritance in the midst of the brothers of their father.”
⁸tn Heb “and the allotted portions of Manasseh fell out ten.”
⁹tn Heb “was.”
¹⁰tn Heb “in front of”; perhaps “east of.”
¹¹tn Heb “these cities belonged to Ephraim in the midst of the cities of Manasseh.”
¹²tn Heb “his.”
¹³tn Heb “they.”
¹⁴tn Heb “Beth Shean and its surrounding towns, Ibleam and its surrounding towns, the residents of Dor and its surrounding towns, the residents of En Dor and its surrounding towns, the residents of Taanach and its surrounding towns, the residents of Megiddo and its surrounding towns, three of Nepheth.”
¹⁵tn Or “were determined.”
¹⁶sn See Judg 1:27-28.
¹⁷tn Heb “Why have you given me as an inheritance one lot and one portion, though I am a great people until (the time) which, until now the LORD has blessed me?” The construction hk-du-rva du, “until (the time) which, until now,” is extremely awkward. An emendation of the first du to lu yields a more likely reading, “for until now.” See KB, 787.
¹⁸tn Heb “If you are a great people.”
¹⁹tn The text has simply “the hill country,” which must here include the hill country of Ephraim and the forest regions mentioned in v. 15.
²⁰tn Heb “and there are iron chariots among all the Canaanites who live in the land of the valley, to those who are in Beth Shean and its daughters and to those who are in the Valley of Jezreel.”
sn For a discussion of these chariots with iron-rimmed wheels, see the note at Judg 1:27.
²¹tn Heb “house.”
²²tn The Hebrew text has simply “the hill country,” which must here include the hill country of Ephraim and the forest regions mentioned in v. 15.
²³tn Heb “and its limits will be yours.”
¹tn Heb “the tent of assembly.”
sn See Exod 33:7-11.
²tn Heb “and the land was subdued before them.”
³tn Heb “there were left among the sons of Israel who had not divided up their inheritance seven tribes.”
⁴tn Heb “How long are you putting off entering and possessing.”
⁵tn Or “fathers.”
⁶tn Heb “I will send them so they may arise and walk about in the land and describe it in writing according to their inheritance and come to me.”
⁷tn Heb “portions.”
⁸tn Heb “stand.”
⁹tn Heb “the house.”
¹⁰tn Or “the priesthood of the LORD.”
¹¹tn Or “inheritance.”
¹²tn Heb “went and passed through.”
¹³tn Heb “and the lot came up for the tribe of the sons of Benjamin.”
¹⁴tn Heb “and the territory of their allotment went out between the sons of Judah and the sons of Joseph.”
¹⁵tn Heb “sons.”
¹⁶tn Or “side.”
¹⁷tn Or “ascent.”
¹⁸tn Heb “to the tongue of the Salt Sea to the north, to the end of the Jordan to the south.”
¹⁹tn Heb “This was the inheritance of the sons of Benjamin by its borders round about, by their clans.”
²⁰tn Heb “the sons.”
²¹tn “City” is added for clarification.
²²sn The structure of this list presents problems. In v. 28 no conjunction appears before Haeleph or Kiriath in the Hebrew text. This suggests they should be compounded with the preceding names, yielding Zelah Haeleph and Gibeah Kiriath, respectively. This results in a list of only 12 cities, while the summary statement (v. 29) gives the number 14. One should note, however, that the city lists in chap. 15 do not consistently use the conjunction before the name of each city. See also 19:7, where no conjunction appears before “Rimmon,” but the summary assumes that Ain and Rimmon are distinct.
²³tn Heb “This is the inheritance of the sons of Benjamin.”
¹tn Heb “and the second lot came out for Simeon, for the tribe of the sons of Simeon by their clans.”
²tn Heb “and they had in their inheritance.”
³tn The Hebrew text has “and Sheba” listed after “Beersheba. The LXX suggests “Shema.” The Hebrew text appears to be corrupt, since the form duplicates the latter part of the preceding name. If Sheba (or Shema) is retained, the list numbers 14, one more than the number given in the concluding summary (v. 6).
⁴tn Heb “this was the inheritance of the tribe of the sons of Simeon.”
⁵tn Heb “from the portion of the sons of Judah was the inheritance of the sons of Simeon for the portion of the sons of Judah was too large for them, and the sons of Simeon received an inheritance in the midst of their inheritance.”
⁶tn Heb “and the third lot came up for the sons of Zebulun.”
⁷tn Or “inheritance.”
⁸tn Heb “in front of”; perhaps “east of.”
⁹tn Heb “eastward toward the rising of the sun.”
¹⁰tn Heb “Kattah, Nahalal, Shimron, Idalah, and Bethlehem, 12 cities and their towns.” The words “their territory included” and “in all they had” are added for clarification.
¹¹tn Heb “this is the inheritance of the sons of Zebulun.”
¹²tn Heb “the fourth lot came out for the sons of Issachar.”
¹³tn Or “their inheritance.”
¹⁴tn Heb “this was the inheritance of the tribe of the sons of Issachar.”
¹⁵tn Heb “and the fifth lot came out for the tribe of the sons of Asher.”
¹⁶tn Heb “left.”
¹⁷tc Some textual witnesses read “Abdon.”
¹⁸tn The words “in all they had” are added for clarification.
¹⁹tn Heb “this was the inheritance of the tribe of the sons of Asher.”
²⁰tn Heb “the sixth lot came out for the sons of Naphtali, for the sons of Naphtali.”
²¹tn Heb “and their border was from Heleph, from the oak of Zaanannim, and Adami Nekeb, and Jabneel to Lakkum.”
²²tn The word “River” is not in the Hebrew text, but has been supplied for clarity.
²³tn The Hebrew text has “Judah, the Jordan.” The LXX omits “Judah.” Perhaps there was a town named Judah, distinct from the tribe of Judah, located near the northern end of the Jordan.
²⁴tn The words “in all they had” are added for clarification.
²⁵tn Heb “this was the inheritance of the tribe of the sons of Naphtali.”
²⁶tn Heb “the sixth lot came out for the sons of Dan.”
²⁷tn Heb “the territory of the sons of Dan went out from them.”
²⁸tn Heb “Leshem.”
²⁹tn Heb “according to the name of their father.”
³⁰tn Heb “this was the inheritance of the tribe of the sons of Dan.”
³¹tn Heb “an inheritance in their midst.”
³²tn Heb “the leaders of the fathers of the tribes.”
³³tn Heb “at the entrance of the tent of assembly.”
sn See Exod 33:7-11.
¹tn Heb “Say to the sons of Israel, ‘Set aside for yourselves.’”
²tn Or “refuge.”
³tn Heb “so that the one who kills, taking life accidentally without knowledge, may flee there.”
⁴tn Heb “he,” referring to the one who accidentally kills another (v. 2).
⁵tn Heb “and speak into the ears of the elders of that city his words.”
⁶tn Heb “and they should gather him into the city to themselves, give to him a place, and he will live with them.”
⁷tn Heb “for without knowledge he killed his neighbor, and he was not hating him prior to that.”
⁸tn Or “live.”
⁹tn Heb “until he stands before the assembly for judgment.”
¹⁰tn Heb “until the death of the high priest who is in those days.”
¹¹tn Heb “may return and enter his city and his house, the city from which he escaped.”
¹²tn Heb “set apart.”
¹³tn Or “set aside.”
¹⁴tn The Hebrew text has simply “the cities.” The words “for asylum” are added for clarification.
¹⁵tn Heb “and not die by the hand of.”
¹⁶tn Heb “until he stands before the assembly.” The words “at least” are added for clarification.
¹tn Heb “came out for.”
²tn Heb “and it belonged to the sons of Aaron, from the Kohathite clans, from the sons of Levi.”
³tn The words “they assigned” are added for clarification.
⁴tn The words “they assigned” are added for clarification.
⁵tn The words “they assigned” are added for clarification.
⁶tn This name is problematic, for it appears in the preceding list of Danite cities. The LXX has Iebatha; 1 Chr 6:55 (6:70 English text) reads Bileam.
⁷tn The words “they assigned” and “the following cities” are added for clarification.
⁸tn The words “they assigned” and “the following cities” are added for clarification.
⁹tn Verses 36-37 are accidentally omitted from many textual witnesses.
¹⁰tn Heb “in the midst of the possession of the sons of Israel.”
¹¹tn Heb “these cities were city (by) city, and its grazing areas (were) around it; so (it was) for all these cities.”
¹²tn Heb “which he had sworn to give to their fathers.”
¹³tn Or “possessed.”
¹⁴tn Heb “gave them rest all around.”
¹⁵tn Heb “according to all he swore to their fathers.”
¹⁶tn Heb “not a man stood from before them from all their enemies.”
¹⁷tn Heb “not a word from all the good word which the LORD spoke to the house of Israel fell; the whole came to pass.”
¹tn Heb “You have kept all which Moses, the LORD’s servant, commanded you, and you have listened to my voice, to all which I commanded you.”
²tn Heb “these many days.”
³tn Heb “you have kept the charge of the command of the LORD your God.”
⁴tn Heb “has given rest to your brothers.”
⁵tn Heb “tents.”
⁶tn Heb “the land of your possession.”
⁷tn Heb “But be very careful to do the commandment and the law which Moses, the LORD’s servant, commanded you, to love…”
⁸tn Heb “walk in all his paths.”
⁹tn Or “keep.”
¹⁰tn Heb “hug him.”
¹¹tn Or “soul.”
¹²tn Heb “blessed.”
¹³tn Heb “and they went to their tents.”
¹⁴tn Heb “brothers.”
¹⁵tn Heb “to their tents.”
¹⁶tn Heb “blessed.”
¹⁷tn Heb “return to your tents with.”
¹⁸tn Heb “very many cattle.”
¹⁹tn Heb “very much clothing.”
²⁰tn Heb “returned and went from the sons of Israel, from Shiloh which is in the land of Canaan, to go to the land of Gilead, to the land of their possession.”
²¹tn Heb “and they went to Geliloth of the Jordan which is in the land of Canaan, and the sons of Reuben, the sons of Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh built there an altar near the Jordan, an altar great with respect to appearance.”
²²tn Heb “the sons of Israel heard, saying.”
²³tn Heb “toward the front of.”
²⁴tn Heb “to go up against them for battle.”
²⁵tn Heb “ten leaders with him, one leader, one leader for a paternal house, for all the tribes of Israel, and each a head of the house of their father, they belong to the clans of Israel.”
²⁶tn Heb “What is this unfaithfulness with which you have been unfaithful against the God of Israel, turning today from after the LORD, when you built for yourselves an altar, rebelling today against the LORD?”
²⁷tn Heb “Was the sin of Peor too insignificant for us, from which we have not made purification to this day? And there was a plague in the assembly of the LORD.
²⁸tn Heb “you are turning back.”
²⁹tn Or “he will be angry with.”
³⁰tn Heb “the land of your possession.”
³¹sn The western tribes here imagine a possible motive for the action of the eastern tribes. T. Butler (Joshua, 247) explains the significance of the land’s “impurity”: “East Jordan is impure because it is not Yahweh’s possession. Rather it is simply ‘your possession.’ That means it is land where Yahweh does not live, land which his presence has not sanctified and purified.”
³²tn Heb “the land of the possession of the LORD.”
³³tn Heb “where the dwelling place of the LORD resides.”
sn The phrase where the LORD himself lives refers to the tabernacle.
³⁴tn Heb “and take for yourselves in our midst.”
³⁵tn Heb “and us to you rebel.” The accusative sign with suffix (wntaw) is problematic with the verb “rebel” (drm). Many Hebrew manuscripts correctly read the negative particle la^ for the preposition la#, “to.”
³⁶tn Heb “Is it not (true that) Achan son of Zerah was unfaithful with unfaithfulness concerning what was set apart (to the LORD) and against all the assembly of Israel there was anger?”
³⁷tn The second half of the verse reads literally, “and he (was) one man, he did not die for his sin.” There are at least two possible ways to explain this statement. One might interpret the statement to mean that Achan was not the only person who died for his sin. In this case one could translate, “and he was not the only one to die because of his sin.” Another option, the one reflected in the translation, is to take the words dja vya awhw, “and he (was) one man,” as a concessive clause and join it with what precedes. The remaining words (wnwub uwg al) must then be taken as a rhetorical question (Lit. “Did he not die for his sin?”). Taking the last sentence as interrogative is consistent with the first part of the verse, a rhetorical question introduced with the interrogative particle. The translation above has converted these questions into affirmative statements to bring out more clearly the points they are emphasizing. For further discussion, see Butler, Joshua, 240.
³⁸tn Heb “answered and spoke to the heads of.”
³⁹sn Israel’s God is here identified with three names: la, “El (or “God”) <yhla, “Elohim (or “God”), and hwhy, “Yahweh” (or “the LORD”). The name la is often compounded with titles, for example, El Elyon, “God Most High.”
⁴⁰tn Heb “he knows.”
⁴¹tn Heb “if in rebellion or if in unfaithfulness against the LORD.”
⁴²tn Heb “do not save us.” The verb form is singular, being addressed to either collective Israel or the Lord himself. The LXX translates in the third person.
⁴³tn Heb “by building.” The prepositional phrase may be subordinated to what precedes, “if in unfaithfulness…by building.”
⁴⁴tn Heb “or if to offer up.”
⁴⁵tn Heb “or if to make.”
⁴⁶tn Or “peace offerings.”
⁴⁷tn Heb “the LORD, he will seek.” Perhaps this is a self-imprecation in an oath, “may the LORD….”
⁴⁸tn Heb “Surely, from worry concerning a matter we have done this, saying.”
⁴⁹tn Heb “What is there to you and to the LORD God of Israel?” The rhetorical question is sarcastic in tone and anticipates a response, “Absolutely none!”
⁵⁰tn Heb “You have no portion in the LORD.”
⁵¹tn Heb “fearing.”
⁵²tn Heb “but it is a witness between us and you.”
⁵³tn Heb “to do the service of the LORD before him.”
⁵⁴tn Or “peace offerings.”
⁵⁵tn Heb “You have no portion in the LORD.”
⁵⁶tn The words “such a thing” are added for clarification.
⁵⁷tn Heb “fathers.”
⁵⁸tn Heb “but it is a witness between us and you.”
⁵⁹tn Or “peace offerings.”
⁶⁰tn Heb “heard the words which the sons of Reuben, and the sons of Gad, and the sons of Manasseh, spoke, it was good in their eyes.”
⁶¹tn Heb “sons.”
⁶²tn Heb “because you were not unfaithful with this unfaithfulness against the LORD.”
⁶³tn On the use of za in a logical sense, see WO, 667.
⁶⁴tn Heb “the hand (i.e., power) of the LORD.”
⁶⁵tn Heb “and Phinehas…returned from the sons of Reuben and from the sons of Gad, from the land of Gilead to the land of Canaan, to the sons of Israel. And they brought back to them a word.”
⁶⁶tn Heb “and the word was good in the eyes of the sons of Israel and the sons of Israel blessed God.”
⁶⁷tn Heb “and they did not speak about going up against them for battle to destroy the land in which the sons of Reuben and the sons of Gad were living.”
⁶⁸tn Heb “a witness between us.”
¹tn Heb “many days.”
²tn Heb “the LORD had given rest to Israel from their enemies all around.”
³tn Heb “was old, coming into the days” (i.e., advancing in years).
⁴tn Heb “am old, coming into the days” (i.e., advancing in years).
⁵tn Heb “for the LORD your God, he (is) the one who fights for you.”
⁶tn Heb “I have assigned by lots to you these remaining nations as an inheritance for your tribes.”
⁷tn Heb “from the Jordan and all the nations which I cut off and the great sea (at) the place where the sun sets.” The relationship of the second half of the verse, which mentions nations already conquered, to the first half, which speaks of “remaining nations,” is difficult to understand.
⁸tn The Hebrew text adds, “from before you.”
⁹tn Or “take possession of.”
¹⁰tn Heb “said to.”
¹¹tn Heb “Be strong so you can be careful to do.”
¹²tn Heb “with.”
¹³tn Heb “and in the name of their gods you must not invoke and you must not make solemn declarations.” The words “and you must not make solemn declarations” are omitted in the LXX and may be a scribal addition to elucidate the immediately preceding command. The hiphil of ubv without an object occurs only here and in Josh 6:26.
¹⁴tn Or “serve.”
¹⁵tn Heb “hug.”
¹⁶tn Heb “done.”
¹⁷tn Heb “not a man has stood before you.”
¹⁸tn Or “chases a thousand.”
¹⁹tn Heb “for the LORD your God, he [is] the one who fights for you.”
²⁰tn Heb “as he said to you.”
²¹tn Heb “Watch carefully yourselves so as to love the LORD your God.”
²²tn Heb “and hug.”
²³tn Heb “the remnant of the these nations, these nations that are with you.”
²⁴tn Heb “and go into them, and they into you.”
²⁵tn Heb “be a trap and a snare to you.”
²⁶tn Heb “in.”
²⁷tn Heb “thorns in your eyes.”
²⁸tn Or “perish.”
²⁹tn Heb “go the way of all the earth.”
³⁰tn Heb “one word from all these words which the LORD your God spoke to you has not fallen, the whole has come to pass for you, one word from it has not fallen.”
³¹tn Heb “and it will be as every good word which the LORD your God spoke to you has come to pass.”
³²tn Heb “so the LORD will bring every injurious (or, “evil”) word (or, “thing”) upon you.”
³³tn Heb “when you violate the covenant of the LORD your God which he commanded you.”
³⁴tn Heb “and you walk and serve other gods and bow down to them.”
¹tn Heb “your fathers.”
²sn The river refers to the Euphrates River.
³tn Or “served.”
⁴tn Or “through.”
⁵tn Heb “I gave to Esau Mount Seir to possess it.”
⁶tn Heb “by that which I did in its midst.”
⁷tn Heb “they.”
⁸tn Or “put darkness between you and the Egyptians.”
⁹tn Heb “and he brought over them the sea and covered them.”
¹⁰tn Heb “your eyes saw.”
¹¹tn Heb “many days.”
¹²tn Or “took possession of.”
¹³tn Heb “arose and fought.”
¹⁴tn Heb “sent and called.”
¹⁵tn Or “to curse.”
¹⁶tn The infinitive absolute follows the finite verb in the Hebrew text and indicates continuation or repetition of the action. Balaam pronounced several oracles of blessing over Israel (see Num 23-24).
¹⁷tn Heb “blessing.” Balaam’s “blessings” were actually prophecies of how God would prosper Israel.
¹⁸tn Heb “hand.”
¹⁹tn Or perhaps, “citizens.”
²⁰tn Traditionally, “hornets,” but the precise meaning of the Hebrew word is uncertain.
²¹tn The LXX has “12,” apparently understanding this as a reference to Amorite kings west of the Jordan (see 5:1, rather than the trans-Jordanian Amorite kings Sihon and Og (see 2:10; 9:10).
²²tn Heb “and it drove them out from before you, the two kings of the Amorites, not by your sword and not by your bow.”
²³tn Or perhaps, “for.”
²⁴tn The words “the produce of” are added for clarification.
²⁵sn Joshua quotes the Lord in vv. 2b-13 (note that the Lord speaks in the first person in these verses); in vv. 14-15 Joshua exhorts the people (note the third person references to the Lord).
²⁶tn Heb “fear.”
²⁷tn Or “and serve.”
²⁸tn Heb “your fathers.”
²⁹tn Or “served.”
³⁰sn The river refers to the Euphrates River.
³¹tn Or “and serve.”
³²tn Heb “if it is bad in your eyes.”
³³tn Or “to serve.”
³⁴tn Or “will serve.”
³⁵tn Heb “your fathers.”
³⁶tn Or “served.”
³⁷sn The river refers to the Euphrates River.
³⁸tn Heb “house.”
³⁹tn Or “will serve.”
⁴⁰tn Heb “to.”
⁴¹tn Or “can serve.”
⁴²tn Heb “for the LORD our God, he is the one who brought up us and our fathers from the land of Egypt, from the house of slaves.”
⁴³tn Or “great signs.”
⁴⁴tn Heb “and he guarded us in all the way in which we walked and among all the peoples through whose midst we passed.”
⁴⁵tn Or “will serve.”
⁴⁶tn Heb “said to.”
⁴⁷tn Heb “you are not able to serve.”
⁴⁸sn For an excellent discussion of Joshua’s logical argument, see T. Butler, Joshua, 274-75.
⁴⁹tn In the Hebrew text both the divine name (<yhla) and the adjective (<yvdq, “holy”) are plural. Normally the divine name, when referring to the one true God, takes singular modifiers, but this is a rare exception where the adjective agrees grammatically with the honorific plural noun. See GKC, p. 399, para. 124 i, and WO, p. 122.
⁵⁰tn Heb “lift up” or “take away.”
sn This assertion obviously needs qualification, for the OT elsewhere affirms that God does forgive. Joshua is referring to the persistent national rebellion against the Mosaic covenant that eventually cause God to decree unconditionally the nation’s exile.
⁵¹tn Or “when.”
⁵²tn Or “and serve.”
⁵³tn The words “against you” are added for clarification.
⁵⁴tn Heb “bring you to an end.”
⁵⁵tn Heb “after he did good for you.”
⁵⁶tn The translation assumes that yk is emphatic. Another option is to take it as explanatory, “No, for we will….”
⁵⁷tn Or “will serve.”
⁵⁸tn Heb “You are witnesses against yourselves that you have chosen for yourselves the LORD to serve him.”
⁵⁹sn Like witnesses in a court of law, Israel’s solemn vow to worship the Lord will testify against them in the divine court if the nation ever violates its commitment.
⁶⁰tn The words “Joshua said” are added for clarification.
⁶¹tn Heb “bend your heart toward.”The term bbl, “heart,” probably here refers to the people’s volition or will.
⁶²tn Or “will serve.”
⁶³tn Heb “and listen to his voice.”
⁶⁴tn Heb “cut a covenant.”
⁶⁵tn Heb “a statute and a judgment.”
⁶⁶tn Heb “all the words of the LORD which he spoke with us.”
⁶⁷tn Or “lest,” “so that you might not.”
⁶⁸tn Heb “And Joshua sent the people away, each to his inheritance.”
⁶⁹tn Heb “after these things.”
⁷⁰tn Heb “in the territory of his inheritance.”
⁷¹tn Or “served.”
⁷²tn Heb “all the days of Joshua and all the days of the elders who outlived him.”
⁷³tn Heb “who knew all the work of the LORD which he had done for Israel.”
⁷⁴tn Hebrew hfycq (kesitah) is a unit of measure of unknown value/weight. The word occurs only here and in Gen 33:19 and Job 42:11.
⁷⁵tn Heb “in Gibeah of Phinehas, his son, which had been given to him in the hill country of Ephraim.”