12:3a

Verse 12:3 continues the description of King Sihon’s territory. It describes the territory that he ruled in the valley of the Jordan River, starting from its north end. It may be clearer to start a new sentence here.

as well as the Arabah: The Arabah is the valley of the Jordan River.

east of the Sea of Chinnereth: The Sea of Chinnereth is another name for the Sea of Galilee. In the Jordan River valley, the territory of King Sihon extended north beyond the Jabbok River to the Sea of Galilee.

east of: The phrase east of indicates that King Sihon’s territory was east of the Jordan River. It extended eastward from the Jordan River to the desert.

Here is another way to translate this phrase:

King Sihon’s territory included the east side of the Jordan River valley to the Sea of Galilee ⌊in the north⌋

12:3b

to the Sea of the Arabah: The Sea of the Arabah is another name for the Dead Sea.

the Salt Sea: The Salt Sea is another name for the Dead Sea. The Dead Sea is referred to by two different names in this verse. See how you translated this phrase in Joshua 3:16.

12:3c

through Beth-jeshimoth: Beth-jeshimoth is a town referred to in Numbers 33:49. It was the last place that the Israelites camped before crossing the Jordan River into Canaan. It is beside the Jordan River, at the northeast tip of the Dead Sea.

Here is another way to translate this phrase:

and his territory went ⌊south⌋ to the town of Beth-jeshimoth

Some English versions spell this name as two separate words:

Beth Jeshimoth (New International Version, NET Bible, Good News Translation)

12:3d

southward below the slopes of Pisgah: Mount Pisgah was the southern boundary of King Sihon’s territory. The exact location of Mount Pisgah is uncertain, but it is probably at the north end of the Dead Sea.

General Comment on 12:3

Here is another way to translate 12:3. This example includes some connecting words to make the meaning clear.

Sihon also controlled the Jordan Valley and regions to the east—from as far north as the Sea of Galilee to as far south as the Dead Sea, including the road to Beth-jeshimoth and southward to the slopes of Pisgah. (New Living Translation (2004))

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