Joshua 11:8

Great Zidon. Called “great,” both here and in eh. 19:28, not as superior to another city of the same name, but to indicate its greatness from the standpoint of population and as the chief city of Phoenicia. In the time of David and Solomon, Tyre had replaced Sidon as the metropolis of Phoenicia. The route of the fleeing Canaanites can be traced in three different directions: some fled to the northwest, some to the south and southwest, others to the east. Evidently Joshua divided his army and sent them in pursuit in each of the three directions. Sidon, to which one body of the fugitives fled, was some 40 mi. (64 km.) away.

Misrephoth-maim. Literally, “a place of lime burnings at the water.” Some render it “house of gathering together of waters.” From the above it would seem that this may have been a place of hot springs rather than of salt pits or glass houses, as some have interpreted the name. It is thought to have been the same as Khirbet el-Mushei-refeh, about 11 mi. (18 km.) north of Acco, on the coast where there are warm springs. Other fugitives fled in this direction.

Valley of Mizpeh. A broad valley with surrounding walls. As Sidon was north as well as west, so this was north as well as east, under Mt. Hermon, from whence some of the fleeing fugitives had come (vs. 3, 17).

None remaining. The language here is not to be construed in its most literal import. Numbers of the Canaanites did undoubtedly escape the sword of the Israelites, and flee to Tyre, Sidon, and other cities. But the intent of the words is to intimate that they left none alive who fell into their hands — whomsoever they encountered or overtook they slew.