Joshua 3:12-17

12 Now therefore 1take twelve men from the tribes of Israel, 2from each tribe a man.
13 And 3when the soles of the feet of the priests bearing the ark of the LORD, 4the Lord of all the earth, shall rest in the waters of the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan shall be cut off from flowing, and the waters coming down from above shall 5stand in one heap."
14 So when the people set out from their tents to pass over the Jordan with the priests bearing 6the ark of the covenant before the people,
15 and as soon as those bearing the ark had come as far as the Jordan, and 7the feet of the priests bearing the ark were dipped in the brink of the water (now 8the Jordan overflows all its banks 9throughout the time of harvest),
16 the waters coming down from above stood and rose up in a heap very far away, at Adam, the city that is beside 10Zarethan, and those flowing down toward the Sea of 11the Arabah, 12the Salt Sea, were completely cut off. And the people passed over opposite Jericho.
17 Now the priests bearing the ark of the covenant of the LORD stood firmly on dry ground in the midst of the Jordan, 13and all Israel was passing over on dry ground until all the nation finished passing over the Jordan.

Joshua 3:12-17 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO JOSHUA 3

Joshua removed from Shittim to Jordan, where he stayed three days, Jos 3:1,2; the people are directed to move when they saw the ark bore by the priests, and what distance they should keep from it, Jos 3:3,4; are bid to sanctify themselves against the morrow, when wonders would be wrought, Jos 3:5; and the priests are ordered to take up the ark, Jos 3:6; Joshua is encouraged by the Lord, and instructed to command the priests when they come to Jordan to stand still in it, Jos 3:7,8; and he declares to all the people, as a token that God would drive the Canaanites from before them, that as soon as the feet of the priests bearing the ark should rest in the waters of Jordan, they should be parted, and make way for them to pass through, Jos 3:9-13; which accordingly came to pass, so that all the Israelites passed over on dry ground, Jos 3:14-17.

Cross References 13

  • 1. Joshua 4:2, 4
  • 2. [Numbers 13:2]
  • 3. ver. 15, 16
  • 4. [See ver. 11 above]
  • 5. Psalms 114:3; [Exodus 15:8; Psalms 78:13]
  • 6. Acts 7:44, 45
  • 7. ver. 13
  • 8. 1 Chronicles 12:15; Jeremiah 12:5; Jeremiah 49:19; Jeremiah 50:44
  • 9. [Joshua 4:18; Joshua 5:10, 12]
  • 10. 1 Kings 4:12; 1 Kings 7:46
  • 11. See Deuteronomy 1:1
  • 12. Genesis 14:3; Numbers 34:3
  • 13. Joshua 4:22; [Exodus 14:29]
The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.