### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **Dôwr**, represented by `{{H1756}}`, is the name for a specific location, **Dor, a place in Palestine**. Its base definition is a **dwelling**. It appears 7 times across 6 unique verses, consistently referring to this key coastal city and its surrounding region in the biblical narrative.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
In the biblical account, `{{H1756}}` is primarily featured in the context of Israel's conquest and settlement of Canaan. It is identified as a royal city with its own king, who was defeated during Joshua's campaigns [[Joshua 12:23]]. The territory was located in a strategic coastal area, described as "the borders of Dor on the west" [[Joshua 11:2]]. Though allotted to the tribe of Manasseh, the Israelites failed to drive out its Canaanite inhabitants [[Judges 1:27]], and it is listed among the towns possessed by Manasseh ([[Joshua 17:11]]; [[1 Chronicles 7:29]]). Later, during the height of the Israelite kingdom, the "region of Dor" was an administrative district under King Solomon [[1 Kings 4:11]].
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words help clarify the context surrounding Dor:
* `{{H3427}}` **yâshab**: This word, meaning **to dwell** or **inhabit(-ant)**, is used to identify the people living in Dor. The texts refer to the "**inhabitants** of Dor" whom Manasseh was supposed to dispossess but failed to ([[Joshua 17:11]]; [[Judges 1:27]]).
* `{{H4428}}` **melek**: Meaning **a king**, this term establishes Dor's political status prior to the Israelite conquest. The "king of Dor" is listed among the Canaanite rulers defeated by Joshua [[Joshua 12:23]].
* `{{H1471}}` **gôwy**: This word for **nation** or **Gentile** is used in the same list of defeated kings, highlighting the conflict between Israel and the other **nations** of the land [[Joshua 12:23]]. The Canaanites who continued to dwell in Dor represent one of these foreign nations [[Judges 1:27]].
### Theological Significance
The historical significance of `{{H1756}}` is tied to its role in the narrative of Israel's formation as a nation.
* **A Canaanite Stronghold:** As a city with its own **king**, Dor was a significant political entity among the Canaanites, and its defeat was a key victory for Joshua [[Joshua 12:23]].
* **A Symbol of Incomplete Conquest:** The fact that Manasseh could not drive out the Canaanite **inhabitants** of Dor illustrates a major theme in the book of Judges, where Israel's incomplete obedience leads to coexistence with other peoples [[Judges 1:27]].
* **Integration into Israel:** The inclusion of Dor as an administrative region under Solomon shows its eventual incorporation into the Israelite kingdom, marking a shift from a conquered foreign city to a part of the nation's governmental structure [[1 Kings 4:11]].
### Summary
In summary, `{{H1756}}` is a geographical term rather than a theological one, yet it carries significant weight in the Old Testament's historical account. It represents a specific place, Dor, whose story reflects the larger narrative of Israel. From its status as an independent Canaanite city-state to its difficult and partial conquest by the tribe of Manasseh, and finally its absorption into Solomon's kingdom, Dor serves as a benchmark for the changing political and demographic landscape of the promised land.
TRV