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 · CC0
Hebrew — tap a word ↓
way·hî kāl- hā·’ĕ·mō·rî mal·ḵê ’ă·šer bə·‘ê·ḇer yām·māh hay·yar·dên wə·ḵāl hak·kə·na·‘ă·nî ’ă·šer mal·ḵê ‘al- hay·yām ’êṯ ḵiš·mō·a‘ ’ă·šer- Yah·weh ’eṯ- hō·w·ḇîš mê hay·yar·dên mip·pə·nê ḇə·nê- yiś·rā·’êl ‘aḏ- ʿå̄·ḇə·rå̄·nū lə·ḇā·ḇām way·yim·mas rū·aḥ wə·lō- hā·yāh ḇām ‘ō·wḏ mip·pə·nê bə·nê- yiś·rā·’êl
Word by word37 · parsed
√ hâyâh — to exist, iConjunctive wawVerbQalConsecutive imperfectthird person masculine singular
The book's signature way·hî ("and it came to pass," hâyâh, H1961) — a consecutive imperfect that chains this scene to the Jordan crossing just told. Keil & Delitzsch read v. 1 as the narrator's reason for what follows: the kings' despair is precisely what makes circumcision safe at the threshold of enemy land.
√ kôl — properly, the wholeNounmasculine singular construct
√ ʼĔmôrîy — an Emorite, one of the Canaanitish tribesArticleNounpropermasculine singular
hā·’ĕ·mō·rî, the Amorite — used here, says Keil & Delitzsch, for "the tribes in possession of the mountains," the strongest of the Canaanite peoples; the Canaanites proper are "those who lived by the sea." Two names stand in for all the nations of the land.
√ melek — a kingNounmasculine plural construct
√ ʼăsher — who, which, what, thatPronounrelative
√ ʻêber — properly, a region acrossPreposition-bNounmasculine singular construct
√ yâm — a sea (as breaking in noisy surf) or large body of waterNounmasculine singularthird person feminine singular
√ Yardên — Jarden, the principal river of PalestineArticleNounproperfeminine singular
√ kôl — properly, the wholeConjunctive wawNounmasculine singular construct
√ Kᵉnaʻanîy — a Kenaanite or inhabitant of KenaanArticleNounpropermasculine singular
√ ʼăsher — who, which, what, thatPronounrelative
√ melek — a kingNounmasculine plural construct
√ ʻal — above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applicationsPreposition
√ yâm — a sea (as breaking in noisy surf) or large body of waterArticleNounmasculine singular
√ ʼêth — properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)Direct object marker
√ shâmaʻ — to hear intelligently (often with implication of attention, obedience, etcPreposition-kVerbQalInfinitive construct
√ ʼăsher — who, which, what, thatPronounrelative
√ Yᵉhôvâh — Jehovah, Jewish national name of GodNounpropermasculine singular
√ ʼêth — properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)Direct object marker
√ yâbêsh — to be ashamed, confused or disappointedVerbHifilPerfectthird person masculine singular
hō·w·ḇîš (Hiphil of yâbêsh, H3001), "had caused to dry up" — the same drying-power language used of the Red Sea. The kings do not fear Israel's army; they fear the report of what Yahweh did to the water.
√ mayim — waterNounmasculine plural construct
√ Yardên — Jarden, the principal river of PalestineArticleNounproperfeminine singular
√ pânîym — the face (as the part that turns)Preposition-mNouncommon plural construct
√ bên — a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or condition, etcNounmasculine plural construct
√ Yisrâʼêl — Jisrael, a symbolical name of JacobNounpropermasculine singular
√ ʻad — as far (or long, or much) as, whether of space (even unto) or time (during, while, until) or degree (equally with)Preposition
√ ʻâbar — to cross overVerbQalInfinitive constructthird person masculine plural
The verb the eye-witness controversy hangs on: ‘å·ḇə·rå·nū as written is first person plural, "until we crossed." John Gill: "the word 'we' shows that the writer of this history was one that passed over Jordan... who can be supposed but Joshua himself?" The Pulpit Commentary and Keil disagree on whether the form proves authorship — but both treat the Kethib "we" as the harder, original reading.
√ lêbâb — the heart (as the most interior organ)Nounmasculine singular constructthird person masculine plural
√ mâçaç — to liquefyConjunctive wawVerbNifalConsecutive imperfectthird person masculine singular
way·yim·mas (Niphal of mâçaç, H4549, to liquefy) — "was melted." A rare verb (20 verses) that ties this scene verbally to Rahab's earlier confession in Joshua 2:11. The terror she reported has now become fact in the kings.
√ rûwach — windNouncommon singular
√ lôʼ — not (the simple or absConjunctive wawAdverbNegative particle
√ hâyâh — to exist, iVerbQalPerfectthird person masculine singular
בָ֥םḇām
Prepositionthird person masculine plural
√ ʻôwd — properly, iteration or continuanceAdverb
√ pânîym — the face (as the part that turns)Preposition-mNouncommon plural construct
√ bên — a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or condition, etcNounmasculine plural construct
√ Yisrâʼêl — Jisrael, a symbolical name of JacobNounpropermasculine singular