Bible Strands
Joshua 5:1
Now 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.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The narrator reports the reaction of regional rulers immediately after the Israelites cross the Jordan River. No divine or human speaker addresses another party; the text marks a geopolitical moment following the river crossing.
The words — The Hebrew כִּשְׁמֹעַ (kish-mo-a) literally means "when hearing" or "upon hearing," denoting the trigger for the subsequent reaction. The phrase בְּעֵבֶר הַיַּרְדֵּן (be-ever ha-yarden) translates to "on the other side of the Jordan," locating the Amorite kings geographically relative to the Israelite advance.
The thread — This pattern of enemy terror at Israel's approach appears in Joshua 2:9 when Rahab reports that dread has fallen on the land's inhabitants. The geographic placement of the Amorites alongside other nations is later listed in Numbers 13:29.
Why it lands — The text states that regional kings experienced melted hearts and failed spirits upon learning of the dried Jordan. It requires the reader to note how reported fear functions as a narrative pivot before the immediate command to circumcise the people in Joshua 5:2.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
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.
Cross-references
- Joshua 2:9 and said to them, “I know that the LORD has given you this land and that the fear of you has fallen on us, so that all who dwell in the land are melting in fear of you.
- Numbers 13:29 The 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.”
- 1 Kings 10:5 the food at his table, the seating of his servants, the service and attire of his attendants, his cupbearers, and the burnt offerings he presented at the house of the LORD, it took her breath away.
- Genesis 10:15 And Canaan was the father of Sidon his firstborn, and of the Hittites,
- Genesis 12:6 Abram traveled through the land as far as the site of the Oak of Moreh at Shechem. And at that time the Canaanites were in the land.
- Genesis 15:18 On that day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying, “To your descendants I have given this land—from the river of Egypt to the great River Euphrates—
- Genesis 48:22 And 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.”
- Exodus 15:14 The nations will hear and tremble; anguish will grip the dwellers of Philistia.
- Exodus 23:28 I will send the hornet before you to drive the Hivites and Canaanites and Hittites out of your way.
- Joshua 12:9 the king of Jericho, one; the king of Ai, which is near Bethel, one;