The Amalekites dwell in the land of the south: and the Hittites, and the Jebusites, and the Amorites, dwell in the mountains: and the Canaanites dwell by the sea, and by the coast of Jordan.
The Amalekites live in the southern part of the land. The Hittites, Jebusites, and Amorites live in the mountain regions. The Canaanites live along the seacoast and by the Jordan River.
The spies are reporting back to Moses about the different enemy tribes living throughout the Promised Land and where each group has settled.
📚 Historical Context
This verse comes from the report of the twelve spies who had been sent by Moses to scout out the Promised Land of Canaan. After forty days of reconnaissance, they returned with detailed intelligence about the land's inhabitants and their strategic positions. This geographical assessment would have been crucial military intelligence, as it showed that the Israelites would face organized resistance from multiple established tribes who controlled key territories including coastlands, mountain strongholds, and river access points.
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