Joshua 3:16

3:16 the water coming downstream toward them stopped flowing. ¹  It piled up far upstream ²  at Adam (the city near Zarethan); there was no water at all flowing to the sea of the Arabah (the Salt Sea). ³  The people crossed the river opposite Jericho. ⁴ 

Joshua 8:20

8:20 When the men of Ai turned around, they saw ⁵  the smoke from the city ascending into the sky and were so shocked they were unable to flee in any direction. ⁶  In the meantime the men who were retreating to the desert turned against their pursuers.

¹ tn Heb “the waters descending from above stood still.”

² tn Heb “they stood in one pile very far away.”

³ tn Heb “the [waters] descending toward the sea of the Arabah (the Salt Sea) were completely cut off.”

⁴ map For the location of Jericho see Map5-B2; Map6-E1; Map7-E1; Map8-E3; Map10-A2; Map11-A1.

⁵ 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.

⁶ tn Heb “and there was not in them hands to flee here or there.” The Hebrew term יָדַיִם (yadayim, “hands”) is idiomatic for “strength.”