5:1 When all the Amorite kings on the west side of the Jordan and all the Canaanite kings along the seacoast heard how the Lord had dried up the water of the Jordan before the Israelites while they 1 crossed, they lost their courage and could not even breathe for fear of the Israelites. 2
1 tc Another textual tradition has, “while we crossed.”
2 tn Heb “their heart[s] melted and there was no longer in them breathe because of the sons of Israel.”
3 tn Heb “and they saw, and look.” The Hebrew term הִנֵּה (hinneh, “look”) draws attention to the scene and invites the audience to view the events from the perspective of the men of Ai.
4 tn Heb “and there was not in them hands to flee here or there.” The Hebrew term יָדַיִם (yadayim, “hands”) is idiomatic for “strength.”
5 tn Heb “to their tents.”
6 tn Heb “blessed.”