Joshua 4:16

16 Charge the priests that bear the ark of the covenant of the testimony of the Lord, to go up out of Jordan.

Joshua 4:16 Meaning and Commentary

Joshua 4:16

Command the priests that bear the ark of the testimony
In all places before, in this history, the ark is called the ark of the covenant, here the ark of the testimony, which signifies the same thing, the law; which was both the covenant between God and the people, and a testimony of his will unto them; the Septuagint version has both words:

that they come up out of Jordan;
where they stayed until all the people passed over, for the encouragement of them, and until they received this order.

Joshua 4:16 In-Context

14 In that day the Lord magnified Joshua before all the people of Israel; and they feared him, as Moses, as long as he lived.

15 And the Lord spoke to Joshua, saying,

16 Charge the priests that bear the ark of the covenant of the testimony of the Lord, to go up out of Jordan.

17 And Joshua charged the priests, saying, Go up out of Jordan.

18 And it came to pass when the priests who bore the ark of the covenant of the Lord were gone up out of Jordan, and set their feet upon the land, the water of Jordan returned impetuously to its place, and went as before over all its banks.