Joshua 3:1-10

1 Yehoshua rose up early in the morning; and they removed from Shittim, and came to the Yarden, he and all the children of Yisra'el; and they lodged there before they passed over.

2 It happened after three days, that the officers went through the midst of the camp;

3 and they commanded the people, saying, When you see the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God, and the Kohanim the Levites bearing it, then you shall remove from your place, and go after it.

4 Yet there shall be a space between you and it, about two thousand cubits by measure: don't come near to it, that you may know the way by which you must go; for you have not passed this way heretofore.

5 Yehoshua said to the people, Sanctify yourselves; for tomorrow the LORD will do wonders among you.

6 Yehoshua spoke to the Kohanim, saying, Take up the ark of the covenant, and pass over before the people. They took up the ark of the covenant, and went before the people.

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.

Joshua 3:1-10 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.