Joshua 3:7-13

7 The LORD said to Yehoshua, This day will I begin to magnify you in the sight of all Yisra'el, that they may know that, as I was with Moshe, so I will be with you.

8 You shall command the Kohanim who bear the ark of the covenant, saying, When you are come to the brink of the waters of the Yarden, you shall stand still in the Yarden.

9 Yehoshua said to the children of Yisra'el, Come here, and hear the words of the LORD your God.

10 Yehoshua said, Hereby you shall know that the living God is among you, and that he will without fail drive out from before you the Kana`ani, and the Hittite, and the Hivvi, and the Perizzi, and the Girgashi, and the Amori, and the Yevusi.

11 Behold, the ark of the covenant of the Lord of all the eretz passes over before you into the Yarden.

12 Now therefore take twelve men out of the tribes of Yisra'el, for every tribe a man.

13 It shall come to pass, when the soles of the feet of the Kohanim who bear the ark of the LORD, the Lord of all the eretz, shall rest in the waters of the Yarden, that the waters of the Yarden shall be cut off, even the waters that come down from above; and they shall stand in one heap.

Joshua 3:7-13 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.