The Meaning of Joshua 11:2 Explained

Joshua 11:2

KJV: And to the kings that were on the north of the mountains, and of the plains south of Chinneroth, and in the valley, and in the borders of Dor on the west,

YLT: and unto the kings who are on the north in the hill-country, and in the plain south of Chinneroth, and in the low country, and in the elevations of Dor, on the west,

Darby: and to the kings that were northward in the mountains, and in the plain south of Chinneroth, and in the lowland, and on the upland of Dor on the west,

ASV: and to the kings that were on the north, in the hill-country, and in the Arabah south of Chinneroth, and in the lowland, and in the heights of Dor on the west,

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And to the kings  that [were] on the north  of the mountains,  and of the plains  south  of Chinneroth,  and in the valley,  and in the borders  of Dor  on the west, 

What does Joshua 11:2 Mean?

Context Summary

Joshua 11:1-15 - Joshua's Obedience To The Lord's Commands
The scene is removed to the waters of Merom, near the sources of the Jordan. Hazor was the capital of the region; Jabin, like Pharaoh, was an hereditary title, Judges 4:2. All the northern nations combined. Joshua's heart might well have failed, had it not been for the divine promise on the night before the battle, Joshua 11:6.
His attack under cover of night was like the falling of a thunderbolt. The effect was immediate. The huge host dissolved. The hocking of the horses disabled them, so that Israel was not tempted to trust in chariots and horses, Deuteronomy 17:16; Isaiah 31:1. God's will was literally carried out. But what a noble record is given of this simple-minded soldier! "He left nothing undone," Joshua 11:15. It is only as we literally obey that we can count on such success as his. See 2 Timothy 4:7. [source]

Chapter Summary: Joshua 11

1  Diverse kings overcome at the waters of Merom
10  Hazor is taken and burnt
16  All the country taken by Joshua
21  The Anakims cut off
23  The land rests from war

What do the individual words in Joshua 11:2 mean?

and to the kings who [were] from the north in the mountains and in the plain south of Chinnereth and in the lowland and in the heights of Dor on the west
וְֽאֶל־ הַמְּלָכִ֞ים אֲשֶׁ֣ר מִצְּפ֗וֹן בָּהָ֧ר וּבָעֲרָבָ֛ה נֶ֥גֶב כִּֽנֲר֖וֹת וּבַשְּׁפֵלָ֑ה וּבְנָפ֥וֹת דּ֖וֹר מִיָּֽם

וְֽאֶל־  and  to 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition
Root: אֶל  
Sense: to, toward, unto (of motion).
הַמְּלָכִ֞ים  the  kings 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine plural
Root: מֶלֶךְ 
Sense: king.
אֲשֶׁ֣ר  who  [were] 
Parse: Pronoun, relative
Root: אֲשֶׁר 
Sense: (relative part.).
מִצְּפ֗וֹן  from  the  north 
Parse: Preposition-m, Noun, feminine singular construct
Root: צָפֹון  
Sense: north (of direction), northward.
בָּהָ֧ר  in  the  mountains 
Parse: Preposition-b, Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: הַר  
Sense: hill, mountain, hill country, mount.
וּבָעֲרָבָ֛ה  and  in  the  plain 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b, Article, Noun, feminine singular
Root: עֲרָבָה  
Sense: desert plain, steppe, desert, wilderness.
נֶ֥גֶב  south 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct
Root: נֶגֶב  
Sense: south-country, Nekeb, south.
כִּֽנֲר֖וֹת  of  Chinnereth 
Parse: Proper Noun, feminine singular
Root: כִּנְרֹות 
Sense: the early name of the Sea of Galilee.
וּבַשְּׁפֵלָ֑ה  and  in  the  lowland 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b, Article, Noun, feminine singular
Root: שְׁפֵלָה  
Sense: lowland, valley.
וּבְנָפ֥וֹת  and  in  the  heights 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b, Noun, feminine plural construct
Root: נָפָה 
Sense: a lofty place, height.
דּ֖וֹר  of  Dor 
Parse: Proper Noun, feminine singular
Root: דֹּאר 
Sense: a coastal city in Manasseh, south of Carmel.
מִיָּֽם  on  the  west 
Parse: Preposition-m, Noun, masculine singular
Root: יָם  
Sense: sea.