³ sn This symbolic act would indicate the transfer of leadership to Joshua.

² tn The Hebrew word is “place,” meaning that the events were to be impressed on Joshua.

¹ tn 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.”

¹ tn Normally the Hiphil of שָׁבַע (shavaʿ) 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 one 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.

⁴ sn The effort of Joshua is to protect Moses’ prerogative as leader by stopping these men in the camp from prophesying. Joshua did not understand the significance in the Lord’s plan to let others share the burden of leadership.

¹ tn The line in Hebrew reads literally: And Joshua did as Moses had said to him, to fight with Amalek. The infinitive construct is epexegetical, explaining what Joshua did that was in compliance with Moses’ words.

² sn Except for Joshua (v. 11) none of these individuals is otherwise mentioned and therefore they cannot be further identified.

³ tn Heb “all the days of Joshua and all the days of the old men who outlived him, who had seen.”

¹ tn Heb “Joshua gave it to the tribes of Israel as a possession according to their allotted portions.”

³ tn Heb “and Joshua gave it for an inheritance to Israel according to their allotted portions by their tribes.”

¹ tn Heb “He”; the implied subject may be Israel, or Joshua (as the commanding general of the army).

¹ tn Heb “he”; the implied subject may be Israel, or Joshua (as the commanding general of the army).

¹ tn Heb “he”; the implied subject may be Israel, or Joshua (as the commanding general of the army).

¹ tn Heb “There was not a word from all which Moses commanded that Joshua did not read aloud.”

¹ tn Heb “Joshua rose early in the morning and the priests picked up the ark of the Lord.”

³ tn 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).

¹ tn Heb “And Joshua arose early in the morning and he and the Israelites left Shittim and came to the Jordan.”

¹ sn These three cities, later designated by Joshua, were Kedesh of Galilee, Shechem, and Hebron (Josh 20:7-9).

⁵ sn Warned through Joshua son of Nun. For the background to this statement, see Josh 6:26, where Joshua pronounces a curse on the one who dares to rebuild Jericho. Here that curse is viewed as a prophecy spoken by God through Joshua.

¹ tn Heb “these men.” The cleansing of Joshua and his elevation to enhanced leadership as a priest signify the coming of the messianic age.