11:3a

to the Canaanites: The Canaanites were one of the groups of people who lived in the land of Canaan. It may be more natural to include some implicit information at the beginning of verse 3. For example, you could say:

⌊King Jabin also sent messengers⌋ to the kings of the Canaan people

in the east and west: The phrase in the east and west indicates the east and west sides of the Jordan River.

Here is another way to translate this phrase:

to the Canaanite people on the east and west sides of the Jordan River

11:3b

to the Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, and Jebusites: These are groups of people who lived in the land of Canaan along with the Canaanites. Yahweh told the Israelites to destroy all these nations with his help (see Deuteronomy 20:16–18). These groups of people were mentioned in Joshua 3:10. You should translate the names the same way you did there.

in the hill country: The phrase hill country indicates the mountainous region that is between the coastal plain and the Jordan River valley. This is the same phrase used in 9:1 and you should translate it the same way in both places.

11:3c

and to the Hivites at the foot of Hermon: The Hivites were a group of people who lived in the Mizpah Valley south of Mount Hermon. Hermon Mountain is a tall mountain in northeastern Israel. It is 43 kilometers southwest of Damascus and 2,814 meters high. It is the tallest mountain in Israel.

at the foot of Hermon: The Hivites lived near the foot of Hermon Mountain. Hermon Mountain is covered with snow most of the year. It was the dominant feature of the landscape above the Hivite people.

Here is another way to translate this phrase:

the Hivite kings in the region of Mizpah, near the foot of Mount Hermon (Contemporary English Version)

in the land of Mizpah: The term Mizpah refers to a valley at the foot of Hermon Mountain. There are several towns mentioned in the Bible that are named Mizpah, but they are in other places. The Mizpah mentioned here is only mentioned again in Joshua 11:8.

General Comment on verses 11:1–3

These verses contain a list of the names of towns and their kings to whom King Jabin of Hazor sent messengers. He asked them to help him fight the Israelites. In some languages it may be helpful to state this information at the beginning of 11:1. For example:

When King Jabin of Hazor heard ⌊the news of the Israelites’ victories⌋ , he sent messengers ⌊to the towns of Northern Canaan and their kings asking for their help to fight the Israelites⌋ . He sent to King Jobab of Madon…

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