Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Joshua 11:2
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,
2. that were on the north ] Or, that were “northwards in the mountains,” i.e. “the mountains of Naphtali” (Jos 20:7), the mountainous region of Galilee.
the plains south of Cinneroth ] Literally, “in the Arabah, south of Chinneroth,” i.e. the “Ghr” of the Jordan, the northern portion of the depressed tract which extends along the Jordan from the Lake of Gennesareth southwards.
Cinneroth ] or Chinnereth, or Chinneroth, was the name of a fortified town in Naphtali (Jos 19:35), situated on the shore of the Sea of Galilee, and giving its earliest name to that lake (Num 34:11).
and in the valley ] “In the wild feeldis,” Wyclif; i.e. “the lowlands,” the level plain bordering the sea between Akko and Sidon.
in the borders of Dor ] Rather, the highlands of Dor. Dor was an ancient royal city of the Canaanites (Jos 12:23), situated on the coast of the Mediterranean, 14 miles south of the promontory of Carmel, and 7 north of Csarea. The district, of which it was the capital, was afterwards within the allotted territory of Asher, but was assigned to Manasseh (Jos 17:11), but the Israelites could never obtain possession of this strong city (Jos 17:12; Jdg 1:27), though they made the inhabitants pay tribute in the days of Solomon (1Ki 4:11). What is here rendered “ the borders of Dor,” is rendered “ the coast of Dor ” Jos 12:23, and the “ region of Dor ” 1Ki 4:11. The original word Napheth, thus variously translated, means an “elevated tract,” and hence a coast as being raised above the water. Dor stood on a rocky promontory, behind which lies a beautiful and fertile plain, extending southward to Sharon, and northward to Carmel. This plain is the “coast” or “region” of Dor. Dor was one of the Phnician seats of commerce, deriving its importance from (i) its well-sheltered haven, (ii) the abundance amidst its rocks of the murex, a shell-fish yielding the famous purple dye. It was still a flourishing town in the Roman age, and afterwards became the seat of a bishop, who was, in the days of the Crusades, a suffragan in the province of Csarea. The modern Tantra or Dandora is a corruption of the ancient name. It is now represented by a little fishing village, consisting of some thirty houses, while the site of the old city lies to the north of it, covered for a space of half a mile with massive ruins.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
On the north of the mountains – Rather, northward in the mountains. The reference is to the mountain district of Galilee, called Jos 20:7 mount Naphtali.
On the plains south of Chinneroth – literally, in the Arabah south of Chinneroth. The words describe the northern portion of the Arabah (see Deu 1:1), or depressed tract, which extends along the Jordan from the lake of Gennesaret southward.
Chinneroth – Identical with the later Gennesaret (see Num 34:10). The lake derived its name from a town on its banks (compare Jos 19:35).
In the valley – The northern part of the same flat district mentioned in Jos 9:1. This valley is the level plain adjacent to the sea and extending from Carmel southward.
Borders of Dor – Render highlands of Dor. Dor was a royal city, and gave its name to the district around it (compare Jos 12:23; 1Ki 4:11). Its importance was derived from its having an excellent and well-sheltered haven, and from the abundance among its rocks of the shellfish which furnished the famous Tyrian purple. The site of Dor is identified by travelers as the modern Tantura or Dandora – a name which is itself only a corruption of the ancient Dor. It lies near the foot of Carmel some six miles north of Caesarea.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 2. On the north of the mountains] Or the mountain, probably Hermon, or some mountain not far from the lake of Gennesareth.
And of the plains] That is, the valleys of the above mountains, which had the sea of Chinneroth or Gennesareth on the south.
Chinneroth] This city is supposed by St. Jerome and several others since his time, to be the same as was afterwards called Tiberias. From this city or village the sea of Chinneroth or Gennesareth probably had its name.
And in the borders of Dor] Calmet supposes this to mean the champaign country of the higher and lower Galilee, on to the Mediterranean Sea, and to the village or city of Dor, which was the farthermost city of Phoenicia. Dor was in the lot of the half tribe of Manasseh, and was situated on the Mediterranean Sea, three leagues from Caesarea, and seven from Ptolemais.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
On the north of the mountains, Heb. on the north (which may be the general designation of all the particular places following, that they were in the northern parts of Canaan, as those mentioned Jos 10, were in the southern parts) in the mountain; either in or near the famous mountain of Lebanon, called the mountain by way of eminency; or in the mountainous country. South of Chinneroth, Heb. in the plain lying southward from Chinneroth, or the lake of Gennesaret. See Deu 3:17; Luk 5:1.
Dor; a place upon the coast of the midland sea.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
2. the kings that were on the northof the mountainsthe Anti-libanus district.
the plains south ofChinneroththe northern part of the Arabah, or valley of theJordan.
the valleythe low andlevel country, including the plain of Sharon.
borders of Dor on thewestthe highlands of Dor, reaching to the town of Dor on theMediterranean coast, below mount Carmel.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
And to the kings that [were] on the north of the mountains,…. Of Libanus and Antilibanus, with others near them; so Josephus t says, the kings about Lebanon being Canaanites, fought against them, i.e. the Israelites; for Lebanon lay to the north of the land:
and of the plains south of Cinneroth; or Gennesaret, of the land and lake of which we read in the New Testament, Mt 14:34; and seems to have respect chiefly to the famous plain of Jezreel, or Esdraelon, of which [See comments on Ho 1:5];
and in the valley; which may more especially design the valley of Jezreel, as it is called in the above place, and distinguish it from other plains; it was two miles broad, and ten long:
and in the borders of Dor, on the west; which fell to the lot of the tribe of Manasseh, Jos 17:11; which Pliny u calls Dorum, and mentions it along with the promontory of Carmel; so Josephus says w, in Phoenicia, near Mount Carmel, is a city called Dora, four days’ journey distant from Judea; that is, that part of the land of Israel particularly so called; some copies read Idumea. According to Jerom x, it was nine miles from Caesarea of Palestine, as you go to Tyre; and in his time a desert. It was a haven in the Mediterranean sea, and lies three leagues from the castle of the “pilgrims” near Mount Carmel; and, as a traveller says, is now so decayed, that there is nothing more extant than a large and high tower, which the inhabitants still call Dorteite y.
t Antiqu. l. 5. c. 1. sect. 18. u Nat. Hist. l. 5. c 19. w Contr. Apion. l. 2. c. 9. x De loc. Heb. fol. 92. I. y Rauwolff’s Travels, par. 3. c. 1. p. 211. Ed. Ray.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(2) Chinnerothi.e., Ginizer, the Gennesaret of the New Testament.
Dor is identified as Tantra.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
2. Kings that were on the north of the mountains Heb, on the north in the mountain. Mount Hermon and its northern extension, called Anti-Libanus, are perhaps here meant. Chinneroth was a small enclosed district north of Tiberias, and by the side of the lake to which it subsequently gave the name Genesareth. See at Num 34:11; notes on Mat 4:13.
The valley The plain by the Mediterranean, the shephelah. See the note on Jos 10:40.
Borders of Dor The word for borders is used in the Hebrew only in connexion with Dor, and it designates the plain of Sharon at the foot of Carmel. Dor, now Tantura, was probably the southern limit of Phenicia. Of its site there is no doubt. “Its situation, with its little harbour enclosed within the wild rocks rising over the shell-strewn beach, and covered by the fragments of the later city of Tantura, is still a striking feature on the desolate shore.” Stanley.
Ver. 2. And in the borders of Dor on the west The Vulgate, and other versions, render it, and in the country of Dor. Naphoth signifies the environs of a place, a quarter, a canton, or district: Dor was situate near the Mediterranean, in the lot of the half tribe of Manasseh. Eusebius and St. Jerome place it between Tyre and Cesarea, about nine miles from the latter. Josephus, contr. Ap. lib. 2. speaks of a city of Dora, situate near mount Carmel. See Bochart, l. i. c. 41.
A goodly number truly if numbers could avail. And here we find cavalry also joined with them. Josephus, if I mistake not, makes the army of Canaan to consist at this time of 300, 000 foot, and 10, 000 horse, and chariots very many. But what saith God concerning such? Deu 32:30 . And is it not so now in our spiritual warfare? If our eyes were opened to discern spiritual things, we should behold around the servants of Jesus, when their enemies are most numerous and powerful, what the prophet ‘ s servant saw, when at the prophet’s prayer the Lord opened his eyes! 2Ki 6:15 .
Jos 11:2 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,
Ver. 2. South of Cinneroth. ] Afterwards called the lake of Gennesareth, Luk 5:1 and the Sea of Galilee or Tiberias. Joh 6:1
of the mountains = in the hill country.
of the plains = in the low country.
Chinneroth. Compare Num 34:11. Deu 3:17. After-ward called Lake of Gennesareth, Sea of Galilee, and Sea of Tiberius (Mat 4:14-18, Mat 4:23).
borders = uplands. Used only in connection with Dor. Hebrew. naphah. Compare Jos 12:23 “coast”, and 2Ki 4:11 “region”.
west = sea, or coast.
Num 34:11, Chinnereth, Luk 5:1, Gennesaret
on the north: Jos 11:21, Jos 10:6, Jos 10:40, Luk 1:39
Chinneroth: Jerome and others suppose this city to be same as was afterwards called Tiberias, now Tabaria, situated on the western shore of the lake of the same name. Jos 12:3
Dor: Jos 12:23, Jos 17:11, Jdg 1:27, 1Ki 4:11
Reciprocal: Jos 13:27 – Chinnereth Jos 19:35 – Chinnereth 1Ki 15:20 – Cinneroth
Jos 11:2. On the north of the mountains Rather, according to the Hebrew, On the north in the mountain. That is, either mount Lebanon, called the mountain by way of eminence, or in the mountainous country. This seems to be the general designation of all the particular places following: they were in the northern parts of Canaan, as those mentioned chap. 10 were in the southern parts. And of the plain, &c. Hebrew, in the plain, southward from Chinneroth, on the lake of Gennesareth. Dor A place upon the coast of the midland sea.
11:2 And to the kings that [were] on the north of the mountains, and of the plains south of {b} Chinneroth, and in the valley, and in the borders of Dor on the west,
(b) Which the evangelists call the lake of Gennesaret, or Tiberias.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Fuente: Geneva Bible Notes