On the north of the mountains - Rather, “northward in the mountains.” The reference is to the mountain district of Galilee, called Joshua 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 Deuteronomy 1:1), or depressed tract, which extends along the Jordan from the lake of Gennesaret southward.
Chinneroth - Identical with the later Gennesaret (see Numbers 34:10). The lake derived its name from a town on its banks (compare Joshua 19:35).
In the valley - The northern part of the same flat district mentioned in Joshua 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 Joshua 12:23; 1 Kings 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.