translation_id: net-engnet

book_id: JOS

label: NET textual note

text: Another textual tradition has, “while we crossed.”


label: NET translator note

text: Heb “their heart[s] melted and there was no longer in them breathe because of the sons of Israel.”


text: Heb “return, circumcise the sons of Israel a second time.” The Hebrew term שׁוּב ( shuv , “return”) is used here in an adverbial sense to indicate the repetition of an action.


text: Or “Gibeath Haaraloth.” This name means “Hill of the Foreskins.” Many modern translations simply give the Hebrew name, although an explanatory note giving the meaning of the name is often included. sn The name given to the place, Hill of the Foreskins was an obvious reminder of this important event.


text: 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.”


text: Or “indeed.”


text: Heb “people.”


text: Heb “all the people.”


text: 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.”


text: Some Hebrew mss , as well as the Syriac version, support this reading. Most ancient witnesses read “us.”


text: Heb “flowing with.” sn The word picture a land rich in milk and honey depicts the land as containing many grazing areas (which would produce milk ) and flowering plants (which would support the bees that produced honey ).


text: Heb “their sons he raised up in their place.”


text: Heb “nation.”


text: Heb “rolled away.”


text: For location see Map5-B2 ; Map6-E1 ; Map7-E1 ; Map8-E3 ; Map10-A2 ; Map11-A1 .


text: The Hebrew text adds, “on this same day.” This is somewhat redundant in English and has not been translated.


text: Heb “the day after, when they ate.” The present translation assumes this means the day after the Passover, though it is possible it refers to the day after they began eating the land’s produce.


text: Heb “and the sons of Israel had no more manna.”


text: Heb “in.”


text: 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 הִנֵּה ( hinneh , “look”) invites the reader to view the scene through Joshua’s eyes. By calling the stranger “a man,” the author reflects Joshua’s perspective. The text shortly reveals his true identity (vv. 14-15 ).


text: Heb “Are you for us or for our enemies?”


text: Heb “He said, “Neither.” An alternative reading is לוֹ ( lo , “[He said] to him”; cf. NEB). This reading is supported by many Hebrew mss , as well as the LXX and Syriac versions. The traditional reading of the MT ( לֹא , lo ’, “no, neither”) is probably the product of aural confusion (the two variant readings sound the same in Hebrew). Although followed by a number of modern translations (cf. NIV, NRSV), this reading is problematic, for the commander of the Lord ’s army would hardly have declared himself neutral.


text: Heb “Joshua fell on his face to the ground and bowed down.”