The Canaanites and everyone else in the country is literally “the Canaanites and all the inhabitants of the land” (Revised Standard Version). But in such a context Hebrew will often use “all” in the sense of “all the others” or “everyone else,” not excluding the group joined to “all” by the conjunction “and.” In many languages, such as English, a literal rendering of the Hebrew will convey a wrong sense.

Kill every one of us translates the Hebrew “cut off our name from the earth” (Revised Standard Version). It may be that the intent of the verb is to focus more upon the removal of the Israelites from the land than upon the slaughter of them. Accordingly one may render “drive us from the land”; the verb surround may then be translated either “come and attack us” or merely “come.”

This use of “name” leads to the final question in Joshua’s lament, “What will you do for your great name?” (see Revised Standard Version). Here the Lord’s name stands for his reputation, his honor; the defeat of his people would bring shame on him, for pagan Canaanites and all the others in the land would conclude that the God of the Hebrews was weak and had less power than their own gods. A god’s good reputation depended on the success of his people.

To protect your honor may need to be stated in a less abstract manner: “to keep people from saying evil things about you” or “to keep people from saying that you are not a great God.” The meaning may even be expressed “to keep people from saying that you could not protect your people.”

Quoted with permission from Bratcher, Robert G. and Newman, Barclay M. A Handbook on Joshua. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1983. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .