Joshua 10:21

10:21 Then the whole army safely returned to Joshua at the camp in Makkedah. No one dared threaten the Israelites.

Job 5:16

5:16 Thus the poor have hope,

and iniquity shuts its mouth.


tn Heb “all the people returned to the camp, to Joshua [at] Makkedah [in] peace.”

tc Heb “No man.” The lamed (ל) prefixed to אִישׁ (’ish, “man”) is probably dittographic (note the immediately preceding יִשְׂרָאֵל [israel] which ends in lamed, ל); cf. the LXX.

tn Heb “no man sharpened [or perhaps, “pointed”] his tongue against the sons of Israel.” Cf. NEB “not a man of the Israelites suffered so much as a scratch on his tongue,” which understands “sharpened” as “scratched” (referring to a minor wound). Most modern translations understand the Hebrew expression “sharpened his tongue” figuratively for opposition or threats against the Israelites.

tn Other translations render this “injustice” (NIV, NRSV, CEV) or “unrighteousness” (NASB).

tn The verse summarizes the result of God’s intervention in human affairs, according to Eliphaz’ idea that even-handed justice prevails. Ps 107:42 parallels v. 16b.