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.
The kings of the Amorites ... and ... Canaanites ... by the sea. Under the former designation were included the people who inhabited the mountainous region in the center and the south, a gigantic race (Deuteronomy 4:47; Deuteronomy 31:4; Joshua 9:10; Amos 2:9), including the Hittites and Hivites; and under the latter, those who were on the seacoast of Palestine as far south as Dor, and inland over the plain of Esdraelon, and inhabiting some places also in the Jordan valley, as Beth-shean, Zoar, and Sodom. The Amorites were the highlanders, or mountaineers; and the Canaanites were the lowlanders [Septuagint, di' basileis tees Foinikees, the kings of Phoenicia (cf. Exo. 15:35 , Septuagint)], the name "Canaanites" being sometimes used synonymously with 'Phoenicians' (Kenrick's 'Phoenicia,' pp. 42, 52).
On the side of Jordan westward, х yaamaah (H3220)] - seaward; i:e., westward. The author uses the word, from his point of view, to denote the western side, adding 'west' to prevent mistakes.
Their heart melted. They had probably reckoned on the swollen river interposing for a time a sure barrier of defense; but seeing it had been completely dried up, they were utterly paralyzed by so incontestible 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.