The Hebrew of this verse is difficult to understand; after listing in succession the cities of Beth Shan, and Ibleam, Dor, Endor, Taanach, Megiddo, the verse ends with two words which mean “three (is) Naphath”; by a change of vowels the Hebrew text can be made to read “the third (is) Naphath” (Revised Standard Version). Good News Translation, following 12.33 (see also 11.2), takes the words to be a later note: “the third city named (that is, Dor) is the one on the coast” (similarly Hebrew Old Testament Text Project).

It is possible to combine and shorten along with their surrounding towns … and their surrounding towns. Moreover, since Issachar and Asher were mentioned by name at the end of the previous verse, they may be referred to with pronouns: “Within these two territories there were several cities together with their surrounding towns that belonged to Manasseh: Beth Shan, Ibleam, Dor (the one on the coast), Endor, Taanach, and Megiddo.” Or, in order to avoid the use of a colon, a second sentence may be introduced: “… Manasseh. These cities were….”

Quoted with permission from Bratcher, Robert G. and Newman, Barclay M. A Handbook on Joshua. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1983. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .