15-00

The Promised Land

This title can also be translated as: “About how God gave the Promised Land to the Israelites” or “How did God give the Promised Land to the Israelites?”

Promised Land

This refers to the land of Canaan that God promised to give to Abraham and his descendants.

15-01

At last it was time for the Israelites to enter Canaan

This begins a new event. The Israelites were about to enter into the Promised Land. (See: [[https://git.door43.org/unfoldingWord/en_ta/src/branch/master/translate/writing-newevent/01.md]])

At last it was time for

At last means finally or after a long wait. To make it clear what time refers to, you could say: “after they had wandered in the desert for 40 years, God finally permitted…”

In that land was a city called Jericho. It had strong walls around it to protect it. Joshua sent two spies to that city. In that city lived a prostitute named Rahab.

This is background information about the city of Jericho which Israel would attack, and Rahab who would help them. (See: [[https://git.door43.org/unfoldingWord/en_ta/src/branch/master/translate/writing-background/01.md]])

two spies to that city

This could be translated as: “two men to that city to find out information about it.” Also see the notes for “spy out the land” in 14:04.

had strong walls around it to protect it

This could be translated as: “was completely surrounded by thick, strong walls made of stone to protect the city from enemies.”

to escape

It is also possible to add: “escape from people in Jericho who wanted to harm them.”

her family

Rahab asked for protection for her father, mother, brothers, and sisters. Use your word for family that includes these people.

15-02

God told Joshua, “Have the priests go first.”

This is direct quotation. It can also be stated as an indirect quotation: “God told Joshua to have the priests go first.” (See: [[https://git.door43.org/unfoldingWord/en_ta/src/branch/master/translate/figs-quotations/01.md]])

Have the priests go first

For some languages, it may be helpful to add: “Have the priests go before the rest of the people to cross the river.”

the water upstream stopped flowing

In some languages, it may be helpful to add: “and the water in front of them flowed away downstream.”

upstream

This word refers to the direction from which the Jordan River water flows. (See: [[https://git.door43.org/unfoldingWord/en_ta/src/branch/master/translate/translate-unknown/01.md]])

cross over

This means to pass from one side to another (See: [[https://git.door43.org/unfoldingWord/en_ta/src/branch/master/translate/figs-idiom/01.md]])

15-03

After the people crossed the Jordan River

The connecting word After introduces sequential action. The Israelites obeyed God by passing from one side of the Jordan to the other. Once that was completed, God gave another task for them to do. In some languages, it is better to say: “The people crossed the Jordan River and then…” (See: [[https://git.door43.org/unfoldingWord/en_ta/src/branch/master/translate/grammar-connect-time-sequential/01.md]])

even though it was very strong

The connecting words even though represent a factual condition. The city of Jericho was indeed very strong, so attacking of the city would seem to be an unwise choice. (See: [[https://git.door43.org/unfoldingWord/en_ta/src/branch/master/translate/grammar-connect-condition-fact/01.md]])

once a day for six days

That is, they went around the city one time every day for a total of six days.

So the priests and the soldiers did this

The connecting word So connects the result (the priests and soldiers marching), with the reason (God’s command). (See: [[https://git.door43.org/unfoldingWord/en_ta/src/branch/master/translate/grammar-connect-logic-result/01.md]])

15-04

Then the priests must blow their trumpets

The connecting word Then introduces sequential action. The priests were to blow their trumpets after the Israelites had finished marching around the city seven times. (See: [[https://git.door43.org/unfoldingWord/en_ta/src/branch/master/translate/grammar-connect-time-sequential/01.md]])

must blow their trumpets

This could be translated as: “must sound their trumpets” or “must play their trumpets.” These trumpets were made out of ram’s horns.

15-05

Then the walls around Jericho fell down!

This is a strong statement. It emphasizes how surprising it was that the strong walls fell down when the Israelites blew the trumpets. (See: [[https://git.door43.org/unfoldingWord/en_ta/src/branch/master/translate/figs-exclamations/01.md]])

Then the walls around Jericho fell down

The implication is that God caused the walls to fall. The walls were thick enough to drive chariots upon. People lived inside them. These were not flimsy walls. In order for them to fall, an act of God would have to happen. This could be stated in active form: “Then God caused the walls of Jericho to fall down!” (See: [[https://git.door43.org/unfoldingWord/en_ta/src/branch/master/translate/figs-activepassive/01.md]])

Then the walls

The connecting word Then introduces a sequential clause. The Israelites followed all of God’s commands, and then this event happened. (See: [[https://git.door43.org/unfoldingWord/en_ta/src/branch/master/translate/grammar-connect-time-sequential/01.md]])

who became part of the Israelites

This can be translated as: “who then joined the Israelite community” or “who then became members of the nation of Israel.”

15-06

a peace treaty

This is an agreement between two groups of people that they will not harm each other but will live in peace and help each other. This could be translated as: “peace agreement.”

But one of the Canaanite people groups, called the Gibeonites

Some languages may introduce this as: “But one day a Canaanite people group by the name of the Gibeonites…”

But one of the Canaanite people groups

The connecting word But contrasts God’s command that the Israelites not make any treaties with the people of Canaan with the reason Joshua made an agreement with Gibeonites. (See: [[https://git.door43.org/unfoldingWord/en_ta/src/branch/master/translate/grammar-connect-logic-contrast/01.md]])

lied to Joshua and said

This could be translated as: “They lied to Joshua by saying” or “They falsely said to Joshua” or “They falsely told Joshua.”

Instead

The connecting word Instead contrasts what Joshua should have done (ask God what they should do), with what he did do (out of ignorance make the treaty God had forbidden). (See: [[https://git.door43.org/unfoldingWord/en_ta/src/branch/master/translate/grammar-connect-logic-contrast/01.md]])

15-07

found out

This verbal phrase means discovered. (See: [[https://git.door43.org/unfoldingWord/en_ta/src/branch/master/translate/figs-idiom/01.md]])

But they kept the peace treaty

The connecting word But contrasts the Gibeonites’ deception of the Israelites with the Israelites keeping their promise to the Gibeonites. (See: [[https://git.door43.org/unfoldingWord/en_ta/src/branch/master/translate/grammar-connect-logic-contrast/01.md]])

Then, some time later

This begins a new event. This event happened after the treaty was made but is indirectly a result of it. (See: [[https://git.door43.org/unfoldingWord/en_ta/src/branch/master/translate/writing-newevent/01.md]])

so they combined their armies

The connecting word so connects the result (the Amorites attacking Gibeon), with the reason (Gibeon’s treaty with Israel). (See: [[https://git.door43.org/unfoldingWord/en_ta/src/branch/master/translate/grammar-connect-logic-result/01.md]])

sent a message to Joshua asking for help

This could be translated as: “sent some of their people to tell Joshua that they needed the Israelites to help defend them against their enemies.”

15-08

to reach the Gibeonites

This could mean to get to the Gibeonites or to arrive at where the Gibeonites lived. The Gibeonites lived in Canaan, but Canaan is big enough that it took all night for the Israelite army to travel from their camp to where the Gibeonites were.

they surprised the Amorite armies

The Amorites did not know that the Israelites were coming to attack them.

15-09

God fought for Israel

God fought on the side of Israel against Israel’s enemies.

caused the Amorites to be confused

This could be translated as: “made the Amorites panic” or “caused the Amorites to be unable to fight together well.”

large hailstones

This could be translated as: “very large balls of ice to come down from the sky.” (See: [[https://git.door43.org/unfoldingWord/en_ta/src/branch/master/translate/translate-unknown/01.md]])

15-11

After God defeated those armies

The connecting word After introduces sequential action. God defeated one large army made up of many smaller armies. Then another large army, also made up of many smaller armies, came against Israel. (See: [[https://git.door43.org/unfoldingWord/en_ta/src/branch/master/translate/grammar-connect-time-sequential/01.md]])

attacked and destroyed them

This could be translated as: “fought against them and defeated them.”

15-12

God gave each tribe of Israel its own section of the Promised Land

This could be translated as: “God appointed each tribe its own plot of land” or “God decided which part of the Promised Land each tribe of Israel would live on.”

Then God gave Israel peace

The connecting word Then introduces a sequential clause. The fighting of the battles and the dividing of the Promised Land were completed, and then God gave Israel peace along its borders. OR Fighting the battles and dividing the Promised Land were completed. Then God gave Israel peace along its borders. (See: [[https://git.door43.org/unfoldingWord/en_ta/src/branch/master/translate/grammar-connect-time-sequential/01.md]])

gave Israel peace along all its borders

This could be translated as: “God allowed the Israelites to experience peace with the other people groups that surrounded them” or “God allowed the Israelites to experience peace with the other countries around Israel.”

15-13

When Joshua was an old man

This begins a new event. The story transitions from Joshua’s leadership of Israel to what is to happen to them next. It may be clearer to say: “Many years later, when Joshua was an old man.” Joshua was over 100 years old at this time. (See: [[https://git.door43.org/unfoldingWord/en_ta/src/branch/master/translate/writing-newevent/01.md]])

to be faithful to God

In other words, they would be loyal to God. They would worship and serve only God; they would not worship or serve any other gods.

obey his laws

This means that the people would obey the laws that God had already given them as part of the covenant.

A Bible story from

These references may be slightly different in some Bible translations.