יהושע, פרק י״א, פסוק י״ז

Joshua's military campaign was defined by clear geographic boundaries, establishing the vast scope of the territory targeted for conquest from the far south to the extreme north. The southern edge of this campaign was anchored by a distinct mountain that rose and led toward Seir, an area situated just south of the Dead Sea [מצודת דוד, שטיינזלץ]. The exact nature of this mountain sparks different explanations. Some suggest it earned its descriptive name because its paths were physically slick and slippery to navigate [רש״י, שטיינזלץ]. Others propose that it was a barren, bald peak completely devoid of trees and vegetation [רד״ק, שטיינזלץ]. A third view suggests the mountain was physically split, dividing into two separate directions [מצודת דוד, רד״ק].

From this southern landmark, the boundary stretched far to the north, ending at a plain located in the Lebanon Valley at the foot of Mount Hermon. The primary approach among commentators is that this location served as the northernmost marker of the conquest [שטיינזלץ].

Together, this entire route formed the eastern border of the targeted land. In reality, however, Joshua did not live long enough to conquer this entire stretch of territory all the way to its northern edge [רש״י]. Yet, within the borders he did manage to reach during his lifetime, he successfully captured all the local kings and put them to death [שטיינזלץ].