JOSHUA footnotes

See general note on abbreviations used in the Old Testament footnotes HERE.

3:7-17 The crossing of the Jordan is described in such a way as to bring out the theological parallelism with the crossing of the Red Sea (or, Sea of Reeds); both are seen as due to the direct intervention of God.

5:3 That is the hill of the foreskins
5:9 From Heb galal to roll

6:1 Here, as elsewhere, the history has been worked over in accordance with certain theological ideas.
6:17 Following the indications elsewhere in the Old Testament, it would appear that the ban, that is, the physical destruction of the enemy in obedience to the Deity, was practiced much less than a reading of Joshua might suggest. Despite the high religious principles that motivated it, it must be seen in the light of the imperfect stage of moral development reached at that time.

7:26 That is Trouble

8:14 Cn: Heb appointed time

10:2 Heb they
10:12-14 Joshua’s apostrophe to the sun occurs in a fragment quoted from an old collection of epic material, and the quotation goes on beyond verse 12. This would make a literal interpretation of this event undesirable. It appears from the narrative that a great storm occurred at the same time as the attack and powerfully helped toward the Israelite victory (verse 11). It is this sign of divine aid that is so graphically apostrophized in the following poetic fragment (verses 12-13).

12:4 Gk: Heb the boundary of Og
12:23 Gk: Heb Gilgal

13–21 This section consists of topographical indications: the possessions and boundaries of the tribes and other ethnic groups, and a list of the cities of refuge.
13:8 Cn: Heb With it
13:26 Gk Syr Vg: Heb Lidebir

14:15 That is The city of Arba

17:11 Heb obscure

18:15 Cn See 15.9. Heb westward
18:18 Gk: Heb to the shoulder over against the Arabah
18:28 Gk Syr Vg: Heb the Jebusite
18:28 Heb Gibeath
18:28 Gk: Heb Kiriath

19:29 Cn Compare Gk: Heb Mehebel

24:1 The full gathering of the tribes at Shechem for a renewal of the covenant sealed the conquest and the final apportioning of the land. It seems to indicate the conversion to the worship of Yahweh of those Hebrews who did not go down to Egypt.
24:32 Heb qesitah