Josua 3:8

8 Und du gebiete den Priestern, die die Lade des Bunde tragen, und sprich: Wenn ihr kommt vorn ins Wasser des Jordans, so steht still. {~} {~}

Josua 3:8 Meaning and Commentary

Joshua 3:8

And thou shalt command the priests that bear the ark of the
Lord
Who were subject to Joshua, the chief governor of the nation, and general of the army, as well as the common people; and whose commands they were to obey, and especially when they appeared to be from the Lord:

saying, when ye come to the brink of the water of Jordan;
not of the bank of it, but of the water, which had now overflowed its bank; that is, the brink or extremity of it, which was nearest to them, and to which they first came; though it is a notion of some Jewish commentators ^F20, and which some Christian interpreters ^F21 have given into, and both of considerable note, that this was the further extremity, or the brink on the other side of the river; but, according to this notion, they must pass the river to the other side before the waters were divided, which is not credible; and must return again into the midst of the river, which is not probable; and besides, it is expressly said, that as soon as their feet dipped in the brim, or extremity of the water, the waters parted, which must be the first brim or extremity they came at, ( Joshua 3:15 ) ;

ye shall stand still in Jordan;
after the waters were parted; upon their coming to, and touching, the brink of them, they proceeded, and went into the middle of the river, where they were ordered to stop and stand still.

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FOOTNOTES:

F20 Kimchi, Abarbinel.
F21 Masius, Drusius.

Josua 3:8 In-Context

6 Und zu den Priestern sprach er: Tragt die Lade des Bundes und geht vor dem Volk her. Da trugen sie die Lade des Bundes und gingen vor dem Volk her.

7 Und der HERR sprach zu Josua: Heute will ich anfangen, dich groß zu machen vor dem ganzen Israel, daß sie wissen, wie ich mit Mose gewesen bin, also sei ich auch mit dir. {~}

8 Und du gebiete den Priestern, die die Lade des Bunde tragen, und sprich: Wenn ihr kommt vorn ins Wasser des Jordans, so steht still. {~} {~}

9 Und Josua sprach zu den Kindern Israel: Herzu! und Hört die Worte des HERRN, eures Gottes! {~}

10 Und sprach: Dabei sollt ihr merken, daß ein lebendiger Gott unter euch ist, und daß er vor euch austreiben wird die Kanaaniter, Hethiter, Heviter, Pheresiter, Girgasiter, Amoriter und Jebusiter. {~}