Genesis 35:5

35:5 and they started on their journey. ¹  The surrounding cities were afraid of God, ²  and they did not pursue the sons of Jacob.

Joshua 2:9

2:9 She said to the men, “I know the Lord is handing this land over to you. ³  We are absolutely terrified of you, ⁴  and all who live in the land are cringing before ⁵  you. ⁶ 

[35:5]  ¹ tn Heb “and they journeyed.”

[35:5]  ² tn Heb “and the fear of God was upon the cities which were round about them.” The expression “fear of God” apparently refers (1) to a fear of God (objective genitive; God is the object of their fear). (2) But it could mean “fear from God,” that is, fear which God placed in them (cf. NRSV “a terror from God”). Another option (3) is that the divine name is used as a superlative here, referring to “tremendous fear” (cf. NEB “were panic-stricken”; NASB “a great terror”).

[2:9]  ³ tn Heb “has given the land to you.” Rahab’s statement uses the Hebrew perfect, suggesting certitude.

[2:9]  ⁴ tn Heb “terror of you has fallen upon us.”

[2:9]  ⁵ tn Or “melting away because of.”

[2:9]  ⁶ tn Both of these statements are actually subordinated to “I know” in the Hebrew text, which reads, “I know that the Lord…and that terror of you…and that all the inhabitants….”