And the territory of the Canaanites: And, in characteristic Hebrew usage, fails to define the logical relation with what comes before. This statement is a consequence of the spreading of the Canaanite clans. Accordingly it is more natural in English and some other languages to say something similar to Good News Translation, “until the Canaanite borders reached…” or “as a result the Canaanite borders reached….” In some languages it may be more natural to begin a new sentence: “The Canaanite borders….”

Territory of the Canaanites refers to the border, boundary, or land occupied by the Canaanites. The Canaanite borders are described in terms of eight cities, or well-known (at the time) points of reference. It is impossible to draw a line connecting these points, since the locations of the last five are not known.

From Sidon, in the direction of Gerar: Sidon is in Phoenicia (modern Lebanon), and Gerar is southeast of Gaza. See the map on page 18. Consequently a line from Sidon in the direction of Gerar would not go as far as Gaza, but beyond it and to the east. In reference to population movements, as far as suggests that the Canaanite people spread out “until they reached Gaza” and “until they reached Lasha.”

In the direction of Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah, and Zeboiim, as far as Lasha is equally impossible to follow, since none of these places has a proven location. However, Westermann assumes verse 19 does not intend to define Canaan’s borders but rather to give its general area by naming a few important locations along its borders, and this may have been done by putting two separate sources together.

On the widespread assumption that Sodom and Gomorrah were located near the Dead Sea, Good News Translation says “from Sidon southward to Gerar near Gaza, and eastward to Sodom and Gomorrah, Admah, and Zeboiim near Lasha.” Others, like Revised Standard Version, avoid the use of compass directions. Translators may follow either model.

Quoted with permission from Reyburn, William D. and Fry, Euan McG. A Handbook on Genesis. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1997. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .