Joshua led the Israelites from Shittim to the Jordan River, where they prepared to cross. The Lord commanded that the priests bearing the Ark of the Covenant should lead the way, with the people following at a distance. As the priests' feet touched the water, the Jordan River miraculously parted, allowing all Israel to pass over on dry ground.
¶ And Joshua rose early in the morning; and they removed from Shittim, and came to Jordan, he and all the children of Israel, and lodged there before they passed over.
And they commanded the people, saying, When ye see the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God, and the priests the Levites bearing it, then ye shall remove from your place, and go after it.
Yet there shall be a space between you and it, about two thousand cubits by measure: come not near unto it, that ye may know the way by which ye must go: for ye have not passed this way heretofore.
And Joshua spake unto the priests, saying, Take up the ark of the covenant, and pass over before the people. And they took up the ark of the covenant, and went before the people.
¶ And the LORD said unto Joshua, This day will I begin to magnify thee in the sight of all Israel, that they may know that, as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee.
And thou shalt command the priests that bear the ark of the covenant, saying, When ye are come to the brink of the water of Jordan, ye shall stand still in Jordan.
And Joshua said, Hereby ye shall know that the living God is among you, and that he will without fail drive out from before you the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Hivites, and the Perizzites, and the Girgashites, and the Amorites, and the Jebusites.
And it shall come to pass, as soon as the soles of the feet of the priests that bear the ark of the LORD, the Lord of all the earth, shall rest in the waters of Jordan, that the waters of Jordan shall be cut off from the waters that come down from above; and they shall stand upon an heap.
¶ And it came to pass, when the people removed from their tents, to pass over Jordan, and the priests bearing the ark of the covenant before the people;
And as they that bare the ark were come unto Jordan, and the feet of the priests that bare the ark were dipped in the brim of the water, (for Jordan overfloweth all his banks all the time of harvest,)
That the waters which came down from above stood and rose up upon an heap very far from the city Adam, that is beside Zaretan: and those that came down toward the sea of the plain, even the salt sea, failed, and were cut off: and the people passed over right against Jericho.
And the priests that bare the ark of the covenant of the LORD stood firm on dry ground in the midst of Jordan, and all the Israelites passed over on dry ground, until all the people were passed clean over Jordan.
Study Notes for Joshua 3
Verse 1
Shittim, located in the plains of Moab, was the final encampment of Israel before entering the Promised Land. The immediate lodging by the Jordan signifies the end of the long wilderness journey.
Verse 2
The three days of waiting served both a practical purpose (gathering intelligence or positioning) and a theological one, often preceding a major divine work (cf. Ex. 19:11).
Verse 3
Following the Ark signifies that God, represented by the Ark and the Covenant, is leading the way. The Ark served as the visible guide, replacing the pillar of cloud and fire used during the wilderness wandering.
Verse 4
The mandated distance of two thousand cubits (approximately 1,000 yards) emphasized the holiness of the Ark and ensured that the entire host of Israel could see it clearly as their point of direction.
Verse 5
To 'sanctify yourselves' meant ritual purification (washing clothes, abstaining from relations) in preparation for a direct, powerful encounter with the presence of God (cf. Ex. 19:10). The coming 'wonders' would establish Joshua’s authority.
Verse 7
This verse is crucial for the transition of power. God publicly affirms Joshua as Moses’s legitimate successor, ensuring that Israel would obey him just as they obeyed Moses.
Verse 10
The title 'the living God' contrasts Yahweh, the active, intervening deity of Israel, with the dead, ineffective idols of the surrounding nations. The seven nations listed signify the totality of the conquest promised by God.
Verse 11
Calling God the 'Lord of all the earth' emphasizes His universal sovereignty. This prepares the reader for a miracle that is not merely local, but a demonstration of power over creation itself.
Verse 13
The miracle is tied directly to the obedient action of the priests and the presence of the Ark. The stopping of the waters demonstrates God’s ability to control natural forces to fulfill His covenant promises.
Verse 15
The timing of the crossing, during the spring harvest, means the Jordan was at its flood stage, making a crossing humanly impossible. This detail elevates the miracle and underscores God's power.
Verse 16
The waters stopped far upstream, possibly near the city of Adam (about 18 miles north), indicating a massive, geographically widespread intervention and confirming the divine orchestration of the event.
Verse 17
The image of the priests standing 'firm on dry ground' recalls the precedent of the Red Sea crossing (Ex. 14). This event serves as a new 'Exodus' moment, confirming Israel’s identity as God’s redeemed people entering their inheritance.
Use ←→ arrow keys to navigate
Settings
Reading Style
Typeface
Font Size px
The Calling of Disciples
19And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.
Options
Choose a Book
Study Note
Bible Version
Recent History
Get the App
Add TrulyRandomVerse to your home screen for instant access
TRV