Joshua 3:3-13

3 and they commanded the people, saying, "When you see the 1ark of the covenant of the LORD your God with the Levitical priests carrying it, then you shall set out from your place and go after it.
4 "However, there shall be between you and it a distance of about 2,000 cubits by measure. Do not come near it, that you may know the way by which you shall go, for you have not passed this way before *."
5 Then Joshua said to the people, "2Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the LORD will do wonders among you."
6 And Joshua spoke to the priests, saying, "Take up the ark of the covenant and cross over ahead of the people." So they took up the ark of the covenant and went ahead of the people.
7 Now the LORD said to Joshua, "This day I will begin to 3exalt you in the sight of all Israel, that they may know that just as I have been with Moses, I will be with you.
8 "You shall, moreover, command the priests who are carrying the ark of the covenant, saying, 'When you come to the edge of the waters of the Jordan, you shall stand still in the Jordan.' "
9 Then Joshua said to the sons of Israel, "Come here, and hear the words of the LORD your God."
10 Joshua said, "By this you shall know that 4the living God is among you, and that He will assuredly 5dispossess from before you the Canaanite, the Hittite, the Hivite, the Perizzite, the Girgashite, the Amorite, and the Jebusite.
11 "Behold, the ark of the covenant of 6the Lord of all the earth is crossing over ahead of you into the Jordan.
12 "Now then, 7take for yourselves twelve * men from the tribes of Israel, one man for each * tribe.
13 "It shall come about when the soles of the feet of the priests who carry the ark of the LORD, the Lord of all the earth, rest in the waters of the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan will be cut off, and the waters which are flowing down from above * will 8stand in one heap."

Joshua 3:3-13 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 8

  • 1. Deuteronomy 31:9
  • 2. Exodus 19:10, 11; Joshua 7:13
  • 3. Joshua 4:14
  • 4. Deuteronomy 5:26; 1 Thessalonians 1:9
  • 5. Exodus 33:2; Deuteronomy 7:1
  • 6. Job 41:11; Psalms 24:1; Zechariah 6:5
  • 7. Joshua 4:2
  • 8. Exodus 15:8

Footnotes 3

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