Joshua3
World English Bible · Public Domain
1Joshua got up early in the morning; and they moved from Shittim and came to the Jordan, he and all the children of Israel. They camped there before they crossed over.
2After three days, the officers went through the middle of the camp;
3and they commanded the people, saying, “When you see the ark of Yahweh your God’s covenant, and the Levitical priests bearing it, then leave your place and follow it.
4Yet there shall be a space between you and it of about two thousand cubits by measure—don’t come closer to it—that you may know the way by which you must go; for you have not passed this way before.”
5Joshua said to the people, “Sanctify yourselves; for tomorrow Yahweh will do wonders among you.”
6Joshua spoke to the priests, saying, “Take up the ark of the covenant, and cross over before the people.” They took up the ark of the covenant, and went before the people.
7Yahweh said to Joshua, “Today I will begin to magnify you in the sight of all Israel, that they may know that as I was with Moses, so I will be with you.
8You shall command the priests who bear the ark of the covenant, saying, ‘When you come to the brink of the waters of the Jordan, you shall stand still in the Jordan.’”
9Joshua said to the children of Israel, “Come here, and hear the words of Yahweh your God.”
10Joshua said, “By this you shall know that the living God is among you, and that he will without fail drive the Canaanite, the Hittite, the Hivite, the Perizzite, the Girgashite, the Amorite, and the Jebusite out from before you.
11Behold, the ark of the covenant of the Lord of all the earth passes over before you into the Jordan.
12Now therefore take twelve men out of the tribes of Israel, for every tribe a man.
13It shall be that when the soles of the feet of the priests who bear the ark of Yahweh, the Lord of all the earth, rest in the waters of the Jordan, that the waters of the Jordan will be cut off. The waters that come down from above shall stand in one heap.”
14When the people moved from their tents to pass over the Jordan, the priests who bore the ark of the covenant being before the people,
15and when those who bore the ark had come to the Jordan, and the feet of the priests who bore the ark had dipped in the edge of the water (for the Jordan overflows all its banks all the time of harvest),
16the waters which came down from above stood, and rose up in one heap a great way off, at Adam, the city that is beside Zarethan; and those that went down toward the sea of the Arabah, even the Salt Sea, were wholly cut off. Then the people passed over near Jericho.
17The priests who bore the ark of Yahweh’s covenant stood firm on dry ground in the middle of the Jordan; and all Israel crossed over on dry ground, until all the nation had passed completely over the Jordan.
Study Guide
Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Joshua 3.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: The Israelites come to Jordan. (1–6). The Lord encourages joshua—Joshua encourages the people. (7–13). The Israelites pass through Jordan on dry land. (14–17).
vv1-6
The Israelites came to Jordan in faith, having been told that they should pass it. In the way of duty, let us proceed as far as we can, and depend on the Lord. Joshua led them. Particular notice is taken of his early rising, as afterwards upon other occasions, which shows how little he sought his own ease. Those who would bring great things to pass, must rise early. Love not sleep, lest thou come to poverty. All in public stations should always attend to the duty of their place. The people were to follow the ark. Thus must we walk after the rule of the word, and the direction of the Spirit, in everything; so shall peace be upon us as upon the Israel of God; but we must follow our ministers only as they follow Christ. All their way through the wilderness was an untrodden path, but most so this through Jordan. While we are here, we must expect and prepare to pass ways that we have not passed before; but in the path of duty we may proceed with boldness and cheerfulness. Whether we are called to suffer poverty, pain, labour, persecution, reproach, or death, we are following the Author and Finisher of our faith; nor can we set our feet in any dangerous or difficult spot, through our whole journey, but faith will there see the prints of the Redeemer's feet, who trod that very path to glory above, and bids us follow him, that where he is, we may be also. They were to sanctify themselves. Would we experience the effects of God's love and power, we must put away sin, and be careful not to grieve the Holy Spirit of God.
vv7-13
The waters of Jordan shall be cut off. This must be done in such a way as never was done, but in the dividing of the Red sea. That miracle is here repeated; God has the same power to finish the salvation of his people, as to begin it; the WORD of the Lord was as truly with Joshua as with Moses. God's appearances for his people ought to encourage faith and hope. God's work is perfect, he will keep his people. Jordan's flood cannot keep out Israel, Canaan's force cannot turn them out again.
vv14-17
Jordan overflowed all its banks. This magnified the power of God, and his kindness to Israel. Although those who oppose the salvation of God's people have all advantages, yet God can and will conquer. This passage over Jordan, as an entrance to Canaan, after their long, weary wanderings in the wilderness, shadowed out the believer's passage through death to heaven, after he has finished his wanderings in this sinful world. Jesus, typified by the ark, hath gone before, and he crossed the river when it most flooded the country around. Let us treasure up experiences of His faithful and tender care, that they may help our faith and hope in the last conflict.
Key Words
יְהוֹשׁוּעַ: Jehoshua (i.e. Joshua), the Jewish leader
שָׁכַם: literally, to load up (on the back of man or beast), i.e. to start early in the morning
בֹּקֶר: properly, dawn (as the break of day); generally, morning
נָסַע: properly, to pull up, especially the tent-pins, i.e. start on ajourney
שִׁטִּים: Shittim, a place East of the Jordan
בּוֹא: to go or come (in a wide variety of applications)
יַרְדֵּן: Jarden, the principal river of Palestine
בֵּן: a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or condition, etc., (like father or brother), etc.)
יִשְׂרָאֵל: Jisrael, a symbolical name of Jacob; also (typically) of his posterity
לוּן: to stop (usually over night); by implication, to stay permanently; hence (in a bad sense) to be obstinate (especially in words, to complain)
Cross References
Joshua 3Direct historical fulfillment of God's promise to magnify Joshua in the sight of all Israel.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole, John Calvin, JFB
The standard law regarding carrying the Ark, contrasted with priests bearing it on this occasion.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
The model of ritual and spiritual sanctification before major manifestations of God's presence.
Supported by Matthew Poole, John Calvin, JFB
Poetic celebration of Jordan driven back, pairing this event with the Red Sea crossing.
Supported by John Calvin
God's promise to be with Joshua as He was with Moses is fulfilled here.
Supported by Matthew Poole, John Calvin
Red Sea predecessor; demonstrates that God finishes salvation with the same power He began it.
Supported by Matthew Henry, John Calvin
The same Hebrew term for waters standing 'upon an heap' is used of both crossings.
Supported by JFB
Confirms historical reality of Jordan overflowing its banks during the spring harvest season.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
The chronological link to the completion of the three days previously commanded.
Supported by Matthew Poole, John Calvin
Specifies the role of the priests, the sons of Levi, who bear the Ark.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Geographical location of Zarethan, helping define where the waters rose up far away.
Supported by JFB
Identifies Shittim as the final staging camp prior to Jordan.
Supported by JFB
The precedent for setting bounds around holy things to maintain reverence.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Matching list of the seven nations of Canaan to be driven out before Israel.
Supported by John Calvin