Joshua 4:16

16 "Command the priests carrying the ark of the testimony {to come up} from the 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 On that day Yahweh exalted Joshua {in the sight} of all Israel, and they respected him as they respected Moses all the days of his life.

15 Then Yahweh said to Joshua, saying,

16 "Command the priests carrying the ark of the testimony {to come up} from the Jordan."

17 So Joshua commanded the priests, saying, "Come up from the Jordan."

18 And it happened that when the priests carrying the ark came up from the middle of the Jordan, and the soles of the priests' feet {touched dry land}, the waters of the Jordan returned to their place and flowed over all its banks as before.

Footnotes

• [a]. That is, the ark of the covenant
• [b]. Literally "and let them come up"