Preparing to Cross the Jordan
Study note
The Israelites moved from their camp at Shittim to the banks of the Jordan River. They waited there for three days while the officers gave instructions. The people were told to follow the Ark of the Covenant, which was the gold-covered chest that held the stone tablets of the Ten Commandments. It represented God's presence among his people. They were to keep about a thousand yards between themselves and the Ark, showing respect for God's holiness. Joshua told the people to prepare themselves spiritually because God was about to do something wonderful.
1 Early the next morning, Joshua and all the Israelites packed up from Shittim and traveled to the Jordan River. They made camp there before crossing. 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.
2 Three days later, the officers moved through the camp with instructions. And it came to pass after three days, that the officers went through the host;
3 They told everyone. "Watch for the Levite priests. They will carry the Ark of the Lord your God's Covenant. When you see them, pack up and follow." 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.
4 "But keep a distance of about a thousand yards between you and the Ark. Do not crowd up close to it. That way you will be able to see where to go, since you have never traveled this route before." 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.
5 Joshua told the people. "Get yourselves ready. Set yourselves apart. Tomorrow the Lord will do amazing things among you." And Joshua said unto the people, Sanctify yourselves: for to morrow the LORD will do wonders among you.
6 Then Joshua told the priests, "Lift up the Ark of the Covenant and walk out ahead of the people." So the priests picked up the Ark and led the way. 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.
God Promises to Honor Joshua
Study note
God told Joshua that he would begin to show all Israel that Joshua was their true leader, just as Moses had been. God's plan was to stop the Jordan River, which was flooding at this time of year because of the spring harvest rains and snowmelt from Mount Hermon. Joshua announced to the people that the living God would prove his power by driving out the nations of Canaan. He listed seven groups of people who occupied the land. Joshua chose twelve men, one from each tribe, for a special task that would come in the next chapter.
7 The Lord said to Joshua, "Starting today, I am going to make you a great leader in the eyes of all Israel. Everyone will know that I am with you the same way I was with Moses." 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.
8 "Tell the priests who carry the Ark of the Covenant to walk to the edge of the Jordan River. Then they should stop and stand right in the water." 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.
9 Joshua called the people of Israel together. He said, "Come close and listen to what the Lord your God has to say." And Joshua said unto the children of Israel, Come hither, and hear the words of the LORD your God.
10 He went on to say, "Here is how you will know for sure that the living God is right here among you. He will drive out the Canaanites, Hittites, Hivites, Perizzites, Girgashites, Amorites, and Jebusites from the land ahead of you." 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.
11 "Watch closely! The Ark of the Covenant goes ahead of you. It belongs to the Lord of the whole earth. It will enter the Jordan River first." Behold, the ark of the covenant of the Lord of all the earth passeth over before you into Jordan.
12 "Now pick twelve men from the tribes of Israel, one per tribe." Now therefore take you twelve men out of the tribes of Israel, out of every tribe a man.
13 "The moment the feet of the priests carrying the Ark of the Lord -- the Lord of the whole earth -- step into the Jordan's water, the river will stop flowing. The water coming from upstream will stack up in a single wall." 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.
The Waters of the Jordan Stop
Study note
The moment the priests' feet touched the edge of the flooding Jordan River, the water stopped flowing. The water piled up far upstream near a city called Adam, near the town of Zarethan. The water flowing downstream toward the Dead Sea was completely cut off. This miracle reminded the people of how God had parted the Red Sea for their parents' generation when they left Egypt. The priests stood in the middle of the dry riverbed holding the Ark while the entire nation walked across on dry ground.
14 So the people packed up camp to cross the Jordan, with the priests carrying the Ark of the Covenant walking out in front. 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;
15 The priests came to the Jordan River. Their feet touched the edge of the water. The Jordan was flooding over its banks, as it always did during harvest time. 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,)
16 the water flowing downstream stopped completely. It piled up in a tall wall far away, near the town of Adam close to Zarethan. The water heading toward the Dead Sea was completely cut off. The people crossed over near Jericho. 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.
17 The priests carrying the Ark of the Lord's Covenant stood firm on dry ground in the middle of the Jordan. Every Israelite walked across on dry ground. They kept going until the whole nation had made it to the other side. 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.