_A.M. 2553. B.C. 1451._ The people decamp from Shittim, and are directed to follow the ark and sanctify themselves, Joshua 3:1. The priests are ordered to go first, Joshua 3:6. Joshua being encouraged and directed to God, tells the people what God is about to do, Joshua 3:7. Jordan is divided, and... [ Continue Reading ]
_Joshua rose early in the morning_ Not after the return of the spies, as may seem at first view, but after the three days mentioned Joshua 1:11, when orders were given to the army to make all necessary provision for invading the enemies' country. _They came to Jordan and lodged there_ That night, th... [ Continue Reading ]
_After three days_ The three days mentioned Joshua 1:11, either at the end of them, or upon the last of them. _The officers went through the host_ To give them more particular directions, as they had given a general notice before. _They commanded the people_ In Joshua's name, and by his authority. _... [ Continue Reading ]
_There shall be a space between you and it_ Thus it was made to appear that the ark needed not to be guarded by the men of war, but was itself a guard to them. With what a noble defiance of the enemy did it leave all its friends far behind, save the unarmed priests that carried it, as perfectly suff... [ Continue Reading ]
_And Joshua said_ He himself also, as well as the officers, by his direction, spake to the people the day before their passage; and as the matter was very important, he probably went himself from tribe to tribe, to give the orders here mentioned. _Sanctify yourselves_ Not only wash your clothes, and... [ Continue Reading ]
_Take up the ark_ Namely, upon your shoulders; for so they were to carry it, Numbers 7:9. _Before the people_ Not in the middle of them, as you used to do. _And they took up the ark_ They did as they were commanded. And now we may suppose that prayer of Moses to be used, which he addressed to God wh... [ Continue Reading ]
_This day will I begin to magnify thee_ That is, to honour thee in a peculiar manner, and gain thee authority; _in the sight of all Israel_ As the person I have set in Moses's stead, and by whom I will conduct them into the promised land. It has been observed by some, as a remarkable circumstance, t... [ Continue Reading ]
_The brink of Jordan_ Hebrew, _to the extremity_, so far as the river then spread itself, which was now more than ordinary, Joshua 3:15. _Ye shall stand still in Jordan_ Within the waters of Jordan, in the first entrance into the river; where they stood for a season, till the river was divided, and... [ Continue Reading ]
_Come hither_ To the ark or tabernacle, the place of public assemblies. _Hear the words of the Lord your God_ Who is now about to give a proof that he is both the Lord, the omnipotent Governor of heaven and earth, and all creatures, and your God, in covenant with you, having a tender care and affect... [ Continue Reading ]
_Twelve men_ For the work described, Joshua 4:2. _The ark of the Lord_ That so it may appear this is the Lord's doing, and that in pursuance of his covenant made with Israel. _Of all the earth_ The Lord of all this globe of earth and water, who therefore can dispose of this river and the adjoining l... [ Continue Reading ]
_The feet of the priests were dipped in the brim of the water_ The stream stopped immediately, as if a sluice had been let down to dam it up; so that the waters above swelled, stood on a heap, and ran back, and yet, it seems, did not spread themselves over the adjacent lands. When they passed throug... [ Continue Reading ]
_Adam_ The city of Adam, being more obscure, is described by its nearness to a more known place, then eminent, but now unknown. The meaning is, that the waters were stopped in their course at that place, and so kept at a distance from the Israelites while they passed over. _Against Jericho_ Here God... [ Continue Reading ]
_Stood firm_ That is, in one and the same place and posture; their feet were neither moved by any waters flowing in upon them, nor sunk into any mire, which one might think was at the bottom of the river. And this may be opposed to their standing in the brink of the water when they came to it, as co... [ Continue Reading ]