CHAPTER 3. THE MOMENTOUS CROSSING OF THE JORDAN. Joshua removed from Shittim to the River Jordan, where they stayed a short while, after which the people were directed to move once they saw the Ark being borne by the priests, and the distance that they should keep from it because it was holy. They... [ Continue Reading ]
‘ And so it was that after three days, the officers went through the midst of the camp and commanded the people, saying, “When you see the Ark of the covenant of Yahweh your God, and the priests the Levites bearing it, then you shall remove from your place, and go after it.” ' They stayed encamped... [ Continue Reading ]
“ Yet there shall be a space between you and it, about two thousand cubits by measure, come not near it, that you may know the way by which you must go, for you have not crossed over this way up to now.” This suggests that the Ark was uncovered, which was why it was being borne by the priests (see... [ Continue Reading ]
‘ And Joshua said to the people, “Sanctify yourselves, for tomorrow YHWH will do wonders among you.” ' The uniqueness of the occasion is again stressed here. They were about to see the wonders of YHWH. They must therefore be ‘sanctified' in preparation for it. This would include washing their cloth... [ Continue Reading ]
‘ And Joshua spoke to the priests, saying, “Take up the Ark of the covenant and cross over before the people,” and they took up the Ark of the covenant, and went before the people.” The stress here is on the fact that they moved forwards as the people of the covenant, in obedience. When they go int... [ Continue Reading ]
‘ And YHWH said to Joshua, “This day 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.” ' God now revealed to Joshua His purpose, that the people might realise that the God Who had revealed His power on Egypt was equally with... [ Continue Reading ]
‘ And you shall command the priests that bear the Ark of the covenant, saying, “When you come to the brink of the waters of Jordan, you shall stand still in Jordan.” ' The priests were to be commanded to go forward with the Ark of the Covenant and when they came to the brink of the waters they were... [ Continue Reading ]
‘ And Joshua said to the children of Israel, “Come here, and hear the words of YHWH your God.” ' Possibly ‘here' meant before the Tabernacle, as he spoke in God's name. He wanted them to be aware that his words were from YHWH Himself. He was YHWH's mouthpiece.... [ Continue Reading ]
‘ And Joshua said, “By this you will know that the living God is among you, and 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.” ' His emphasis was that they might be aware a... [ Continue Reading ]
“ Behold, the Ark of the covenant of the Lord of all the earth, passes over before you into Jordan.” Joshua now added to ‘the Ark of the covenant' the phrase ‘the Lord of all the earth'. He was probably remembering the words of Abraham ‘the Judge of all the earth' (Genesis 18:25) and Melchizedek's w... [ Continue Reading ]
“ Now therefore you, take twelve men out of the tribes of Israel, for every tribe a man.” Joshua 4:2 where the reason for choosing the men out is explained. This continues verse 11 as one sentence. Joshua is not said at this stage to have explained why the men were to be chosen out but we do not nee... [ Continue Reading ]
“ And it shall be that, when the soles of the feet of the priests who bear the ark of YHWH, the Lord of all the earth, shall rest in the waters of Jordan, that the waters of Jordan shall be cut off, even the waters that come down from above. And they shall stand in one heap.” As Joshua 3:8 told us... [ Continue Reading ]
Joshua 3:14 a ‘And so it was that when the people removed from their tents to pass over Jordan, the priests bearing the Ark of the covenant being before the people, and when those who bore the ark were come to Jordan, and the feet of the priests who bore the Ark were dipped in the brink of the wate... [ Continue Reading ]
‘ And the priests who bore the Ark of the covenant of YHWH stood firm on dry ground in the midst of Jordan, and all Israel passed over on dry ground, until all the nation were passed clean over Jordan.' The priests then marched with the Ark into the middle of the Jordan and stood there on dry groun... [ Continue Reading ]