Joshua 22:21-22

22:21 The Reubenites, Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh answered the leaders 1  of the Israelite clans: 22:22 “El, God, the Lord! 2  El, God, the Lord! He knows the truth! 3  Israel must also know! If we have rebelled or disobeyed the Lord, 4  don’t spare us 5  today!

1 tn Heb “answered and spoke to the heads of.”

2 sn Israel’s God is here identified with three names: (1) אֵל (’el), “El” (or “God”); (2) אֱלֹהִים (’elohim), “Elohim” (or “God”), and (3) יְהוָה (yÿhvah), “Yahweh” (or “the Lord”). The name אֵל (’el, “El”) is often compounded with titles, for example, El Elyon, “God Most High.”

3 tn Heb “he knows.”

4 tn Heb “if in rebellion or if in unfaithfulness against the Lord.”

5 tn 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.