Joshua 5:1
in Joshua 5Now when all the Amorite kings west of the Jordan and all the Canaanite kings along the coast heard how the LORD had dried up the waters of the Jordan before the Israelites until they had crossed over, their hearts melted and their spirits failed for fear of the Israelites.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
And it came to pass, when all the kings of the Amorites, that were beyond the Jordan westward, and all the kings of the Canaanites, that were by the sea, heard how that Jehovah had dried up the waters of the Jordan from before the children of Israel, until we were passed over, that their heart melted, neither was there spirit in them any more, because of the children of Israel.
KJV
And it came to pass, when all the kings of the Amorites, which were on the side of Jordan westward, and all the kings of the Canaanites, which were by the sea, heard that the Lord had dried up the waters of Jordan from before the children of Israel, until we were passed over, that their heart melted, neither was there spirit in them any more, because of the children of Israel.
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This verse in Joshua 5
Commentary
8 notes on this verseA commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
The Amorites were the principal of those nations which occupied the hill country of Judaea (Gen 10:16 note); the Canaanites of those that dwelt on the coast and low lands. These words are therefore equivalent to “all the kings of the highlanders, and all the kings of the lowlanders:” i. e. the kings of all the tribes of the country. Until we were passed over - The use of the first person has been noted here, and in Jos 5:6 (compare Act 16:10), as suggesting the hand of one who himself shared in what he describes.
This site's exposition
Now when all the Amorite kings west of the Jordan
The kings hear what happened and lose heart before a sword is drawn. Rahab had reported this fear in chapter 2, so a Canaanite told the reader first. The Hebrew puts the crossing in the first person, and commentators take it as the writer placing himself among those who crossed.
The record, by era
The Reformation1 voice
Thus God spared their weakness, as if he had opened up the way by removing obstacles, because they had already proved themselves to be otherwise more sluggish and cowardly than was meet. The substance then is, that before the conflict commenced, the enemy were already routed by the terror which the fame of the miracle had inspired.
The Puritans and the Awakening3 voices
And it came to pass, when all the kings of the Amorites, which were on the side of Jordan westward,.... On the side the Israelites were now on; and this is observed, to distinguish them from the other kings of the Amorites beyond Jordan, on the eastern side, who were already conquered by the Israelites, Sihon and Og, who seem to be a colony that went over from the Amorites in Canaan, and possessed themselves of that part of the land of Moab.
How fair and clear she was made in the eyes of her friends, by the rolling away of the reproach of Egypt, we are told in the following verses. Here is the fright which the Canaanites were put into by their miraculously passing over Jordan,
The news of it was soon dispersed all the country over, not only as a prodigy in itself, but as an alarm to all the kings and kingdoms of Canaan. Now, as when Babylon was taken, One post runs to meet another, and one messenger to meet another, to carry the amazing tidings to every corner of their land, Jer. li.
The Nineteenth Century1 voice
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
proposed
But seeing it had been completely dried up, they were completely paralyzed by so incontestable a proof that God was on the side of the invaders. In fact, the conquest had already begun in the total prostration of spirit among the native chiefs. "Their heart melted," but unhappily not into faith and penitent submission.
1 more voice on this verse
The Nineteenth Century1 voice
The Amorites which were on the side of Jordan westward - It has already been remarked that the term Amorite is applied sometimes to signify all the nations or tribes of Canaan. It appears from this verse that there were people thus denominated that dwelt on both sides of the Jordan. Those on the east side had already been destroyed in the war which the Israelites had with Sihon and Og; with those on the west side Joshua had not yet waged war. It is possible however that the Amorites of whom we read in this verse, were the remains of those who dwelt on the east side of the Jordan, and who had taken refuge here on the defeat of Og and Sihon.
How the passage was read
What the Jewish commentators add
Who were on the western side of the Jordan. On the side to which Bnei Yisroel crossed, which is the western side, since they had been on the eastern side.
This section is reception history: how the passage was read and kept in the Jewish tradition. Where a reading parts from an essential of the Christian faith, the section says so at that point.
Texts and citation data: Sefaria; each excerpt follows its version’s licence. 2 further sources are cited on this chapter that carry no English text this site may quote or only restate the verse.
The words behind it
37 Hebrew wordsEvery Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Hebrew | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| וַיְהִ֣י | vayhi | and it was | H1961 → | 3559 times |
| כִשְׁמֹ֣עַ | khishmoa' | when heard | H8085 → | 1159 times |
| כָּל־ | kol- | all | H3605 → | 5413 times |
| מַלְכֵ֣י | malkhei | [the] kings of | H4428 → | 2525 times |
| הָאֱמֹרִ֡י | haemori | the Amorite[s] | H567 → | 87 times |
| אֲשֶׁר֩ | ʾasher | who | H834 → | 5497 times |
| בְּעֵ֨בֶר | beever | [were] on [the] other side of | H5676 → | 90 times |
| הַיַּרְדֵּ֜ן | haiyarden | the Jordan | H3383 → | 182 times |
| יָ֗מָּה | yamah | west -ward | H3220 → | 396 times |
| וְכָל־ | vekhol | and all | H3605 → | 5413 times |
| מַלְכֵ֤י | malkhei | [the] kings of | H4428 → | 2525 times |
| הַֽכְּנַעֲנִי֙ | hakenaani | the Canaanite[s] | H3669 → | 73 times |
| אֲשֶׁ֣ר | ʾasher | who | H834 → | 5497 times |
| עַל־ | ʾal- | [were] at | H5921 → | 5755 times |
| הַיָּ֔ם | haiyam | the sea | H3220 → | 396 times |
| אֵ֠ת | ʾet | <obj.> | H853 → | 10935 times |
| אֲשֶׁר־ | ʾasher- | [they heard] this: | H834 → | 5497 times |
| הוֹבִ֨ישׁ | hovish | he had dried up | H3001 → | 59 times |
| יְהוָ֜ה | yahweh | Yahweh | H3068 → | 6520 times |
| אֶת־ | ʾet- | <obj.> | H853 → | 10935 times |
| מֵ֧י | mei | [the] waters of | H4325 → | 581 times |
| הַיַּרְדֵּ֛ן | haiyarden | the Jordan | H3383 → | 182 times |
| מִפְּנֵ֥י | mipenei | from before | H6440 → | 2123 times |
| בְנֵֽי־ | venei- | [the] people of | H1121 → | 4930 times |
| יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל | yisrael | Israel | H3478 → | 2507 times |
| עַד־ | ʾad- | until | H5704 → | 1261 times |
| עָבְרָ֑ם | averam | passing over they | H5674 → | 556 times |
| וַיִּמַּ֣ס | vaiyimas | and it melted | H4549 → | 21 times |
| לְבָבָ֗ם | levavam | heart their | H3824 → | 252 times |
| וְלֹא־ | velo'- | and not | H3808 → | 5168 times |
| הָ֨יָה | hayah | it was | H1961 → | 3559 times |
| בָ֥ם | vam | in <the> them | ||
| עוֹד֙ | ʾod | still | H5750 → | 490 times |
| ר֔וּחַ | ruach | spirit | H7307 → | |
| מִפְּנֵ֖י | mipenei | <from> because of | H6440 → | 2123 times |
| בְּנֵֽי־ | benei- | [the] people of | H1121 → | 4930 times |
| יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ ס | yisrael | Israel | H3478 → | 2507 times |
וַיְהִ֣יand it was
vayhiH1961 →3559 times
כִשְׁמֹ֣עַwhen heard
khishmoa'H8085 →1159 times
כָּל־all
kol-H3605 →5413 times
מַלְכֵ֣י[the] kings of
malkheiH4428 →2525 times
הָאֱמֹרִ֡יthe Amorite[s]
haemoriH567 →87 times
אֲשֶׁר֩who
ʾasherH834 →5497 times
בְּעֵ֨בֶר[were] on [the] other side of
beeverH5676 →90 times
הַיַּרְדֵּ֜ןthe Jordan
haiyardenH3383 →182 times
יָ֗מָּהwest -ward
yamahH3220 →396 times
וְכָל־and all
vekholH3605 →5413 times
מַלְכֵ֤י[the] kings of
malkheiH4428 →2525 times
הַֽכְּנַעֲנִי֙the Canaanite[s]
hakenaaniH3669 →73 times
אֲשֶׁ֣רwho
ʾasherH834 →5497 times
עַל־[were] at
ʾal-H5921 →5755 times
הַיָּ֔םthe sea
haiyamH3220 →396 times
אֵ֠ת<obj.>
ʾetH853 →10935 times
אֲשֶׁר־[they heard] this:
ʾasher-H834 →5497 times
הוֹבִ֨ישׁhe had dried up
hovishH3001 →59 times
יְהוָ֜הYahweh
yahwehH3068 →6520 times
אֶת־<obj.>
ʾet-H853 →10935 times
מֵ֧י[the] waters of
meiH4325 →581 times
הַיַּרְדֵּ֛ןthe Jordan
haiyardenH3383 →182 times
מִפְּנֵ֥יfrom before
mipeneiH6440 →2123 times
בְנֵֽי־[the] people of
venei-H1121 →4930 times
יִשְׂרָאֵ֖לIsrael
yisraelH3478 →2507 times
עַד־until
ʾad-H5704 →1261 times
עָבְרָ֑םpassing over they
averamH5674 →556 times
וַיִּמַּ֣סand it melted
vaiyimasH4549 →21 times
לְבָבָ֗םheart their
levavamH3824 →252 times
וְלֹא־and not
velo'-H3808 →5168 times
הָ֨יָהit was
hayahH1961 →3559 times
בָ֥םin <the> them
vam
עוֹד֙still
ʾodH5750 →490 times
ר֔וּחַspirit
ruachH7307 →
מִפְּנֵ֖י<from> because of
mipeneiH6440 →2123 times
בְּנֵֽי־[the] people of
benei-H1121 →4930 times
יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ סIsrael
yisraelH3478 →2507 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Ezra 9:1After these things had been accomplished, the leaders approached me and said, “The people of Israel, including the priests and Levites, have not kept themselves separate from the surrounding peoples whose abominations are like…
it leads to
- Leviticus 18:24–30
Do not defile yourselves by any of these practices, for by all these things the nations I am driving out before you have defiled themselves.
- Nehemiah 9:2
Those of Israelite descent separated themselves from all the foreigners, and they stood and confessed their sins and the iniquities of their fathers.
- Ezra 10:10–11
Then Ezra the priest stood up and said to them, “You have been unfaithful by marrying foreign women, adding to the guilt of Israel.
- Leviticus 18:24–30
Through
Genesis 48:22And to you, as one who is above your brothers, I give the ridge of land that I took from the Amorites with my sword and bow.”
it leads to
- John 4:5
So He came to a town of Samaria called Sychar, near the plot of ground that Jacob had given to his son Joseph.
- Joshua 24:32
And the bones of Joseph, which the Israelites had brought up out of Egypt, were buried at Shechem in the plot of land that Jacob had purchased from the sons of Hamor, Shechem’s father,…
- John 4:5
Through
Numbers 13:29The Amalekites live in the land of the Negev; the Hittites, Jebusites, and Amorites live in the hill country; and the Canaanites live by the sea and along the Jordan.”
it leads to
- Numbers 14:43
For there the Amalekites and Canaanites will face you, and you will fall by the sword. Because you have turned away from the LORD, He will not be with you.”
- Judges 6:3
Whenever the Israelites would plant their crops, the Midianites, Amalekites, and other people of the east would come up and invade them,
- Numbers 14:43
Through
1 Kings 10:5the food at his table, the seating of his servants, the service and attire of his attendants and cupbearers, and the burnt offerings he presented at the house of the LORD, it took her…
it leads to
- 1 Chronicles 26:16
The lots for the West Gate and the Shallecheth Gate on the ascending highway fell to Shuppim and Hosah. There were guards stationed at every watch.
- 1 Chronicles 26:16
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies11
About Joshua

This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Calvin, Commentaries; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763); Keil and Delitzsch, Biblical Commentary on the Old Testament: Joshua, Judges, Ruth and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.
