13:4a

to the south: The Avvim lived in the south of the Philistine territory. This prepositional phrase describes the Avvim people and is a continuation of verse 3e. You should translate it as a single phrase.

Here is another way to translate this phrase:

The region of the Avvim people in the south ⌊has also not been conquered⌋

13:4b

all the land of the Canaanites: The phrase the land of the Canaanites introduces a second group of towns. These are places in the north that are named in verses 4-6.

For example:

In the north, the following area has not yet been conquered: all the land of the Canaanites, including Mearah (which belongs to the Sidonians) stretching northward to Aphek on the border of the Amorites. (New Living Translation (2004))

The term “Canaanite” is used here as a term for the inhabitants of Canaan. This is different from how it is used in verse 13:3b, where it refers to a specific group of Canaan people.

13:4c

from Mearah: There is a textual issue in this verse.

(1) The Hebrew text says Mearah. We do not know where the town of Mearah was.

(Berean Standard Bible, Revised Standard Version, English Standard Version, New Jerusalem Bible, New American Bible, Revised Edition, Tanakh: The Holy Scriptures, God’s Word, New Living Translation (2004), Good News Translation, King James Version)

(2) Some scholars suggest that we should divide the word Mearah and modify the vowels so that it becomes two Hebrew words “from Arah.” The town of Arah is also unknown.

(New International Version, NET Bible, Contemporary English Version)

It is recommended that you follow option (1) along with the Hebrew text.

of the Sidonians: The clause of the Sidonians indicates that town of Mearah was ruled by the people of Sidon. Sidon was on the Mediterranean coast in the north.

13:4d

to Aphek: The term Aphek indicates a town that was probably southeast of Byblos in Lebanon.

as far as the border of the Amorites: The phrase as far as the border of the Amorites indicates that “Aphek” was on the northern border of the land that was ruled by the Amorite people. The next people further north from there were the Amorite people.

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