יהושע, פרק ה׳, פסוק א׳

The news of the Jordan River crossing reverberates deeply among the inhabitants of the land. The kings of the Canaanites and the Amorites are already deeply afraid of the approaching military campaign. However, in the face of the supernatural miracles accompanying the Israelites, these local rulers completely lose their remaining self-confidence [ביאור שטיינזלץ].

The narrative specifically highlights the kings living on the western side of the Jordan River. Up until this moment, the Israelites had been stationed on the eastern side, where they had already completed their earlier conquests. Now that the nation has physically crossed over into the western territory, the threat to these kings becomes an immediate reality [רש״י, ביאור שטיינזלץ].

The psychological impact on these rulers is devastating. Their reaction is conveyed through an intentional exaggeration, suggesting that they are left without any spirit. This captures the sheer intensity of their panic, illustrating that their fear and terror are so overwhelming it feels as if their very life force has drained away completely [מצודת דוד].