Israel Crosses the Jordan
3:1 Bright and early the next morning Joshua and the Israelites left Shittim and came to the Jordan. They camped there before crossing the river. 3:2 After three days the leaders went through the camp 3:3 and commanded the people: “When you see the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God being carried by the Levitical priests, you must leave here and walk behind it. 3:4 But stay about three thousand feet behind it. Keep your distance so you can see which way you should go, for you have not traveled this way before.”
This chapter and the next describe the crossing of the Jordan. Thus, the desert was put behind them and the last barrier to the promised land overcome. Ch. 3 gives the events in order; ch. 4 returns to and elaborates on several points, especially the memorial of stones at Gilgal.
‘There are four speeches preparing the people for the crossing: one by the officers to the people (2-4), one by Joshua to the people and to the priests (5-6), one by the LORD to Joshua (7-8), and one by Joshua to the whole nation (9-13). Each speech reveals a bit more about the marvel to happen, reaching a climax in Joshua’s final address.’ (NBC)
“The ark of the covenant” – The ark was a gold-plated chest, 4 by 2 by 2 ft. It symbolised the throne of God and was sometimes carried into battle, Nu. 10:35; 1 Sa. 4-6. ‘Housing the Ten Commandments, Israel’s constitution (Dt. 10:1-4; 31:26), the ark stood for his ethical rule and Israel’s covenantal relationship with him. It also symbolizes the gospel for, in addition to housing the law by which all will be judged (see Rom. 2:12-16), its lid, the mercy seat, sprinkled with atoning blood, prefigures the cleansing blood of Christ (Heb. 9).’ (NBC)
‘See Ex. 25:10-22; Deut. 10:5. The ark plays a prominent role in chs. 3; 4; 6; and 8. It signifies not only the presence of the Lord (Num. 10:33-36), but specifically His covenant, which means His commitment to His promises as well as the consequent obligations of Israel.’ (New Geneva)
“A distance of about a thousand yards” – The purpose of the separation may be to ensure that the ark will be visible to the maximum number of people.
3:5 Joshua told the people, “Ritually consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the LORD will perform miraculous deeds among you.” 3:6 Joshua told the priests, “Pick up the ark of the covenant and pass on ahead of the people.” So they picked up the ark of the covenant and went ahead of the people.
“Consecrate yourselves” – ‘If the experience of Israel at Mt. Sinai was the pattern (Ex. 19:9–15), “sanctify yourselves” meant that everybody bathed and changed their clothes and that the married couples devoted themselves wholly to the Lord (1 Cor. 7:1–6).’ (Wiersbe)
‘Something which belonged to God in the Old Testament was holy simply because it was his, and by consecrating themselves the people were marking themselves off as belonging to God. It is not necessarily the case that God will not work through an “unclean vessel”, since he seems to delight in working with people (such as David) who have made massive mistakes, but it is certainly true that in the Old Testament as a whole God summons his people to consecration at points where he is about to act significantly among them [cf. Num 11:18]. This principle is then embedded more clearly in the call of Israel’s Torah, which insists that Israel is to be holy because Yahweh is holy [e.g. Lev 19:1f], a theme which the New Testament also applies to the life of the church. Rather than particular moments of consecration, the New Testament expects consecration to mark the entire life of the church. However, we should not make too sharp a distinction between the Testaments here, because the Torah also expects lifelong holiness from Israel. In addition, as here, there may well be times when some special moment of consecration is expected from God’s people as they engage in his mission.’ (Firth, BST)
‘See what preparation we must make to receive the discoveries of God’s glory and the communications of his grace: we must sanctify ourselves.’ (MHC)
‘Although Yahweh may not now cut a path through rivers for his people every month or so, the principle remains. Do you prepare yourself for the practice of the public worship of God? If we are not impressed with the grandeur of the living God in public worship, is it because we have not prepared ourselves to see him as such? Could it be that we even fail to detect the Lord’s marvelous working in the routine affairs of our lives simply because we have not prepared ourselves to see or even expect that?’ (Davis)
3:7 The LORD told Joshua, “This very day I will begin to honor you before all Israel so they will know that I am with you just as I was with Moses. 3:8 Instruct the priests carrying the ark of the covenant, ‘When you reach the bank of the Jordan River, wade into the water.’ ”
“So that they may know” – ‘God’s acts are often said to have the purpose of bringing about knowledge (Ex. 8:10; Deut. 4:35; 2 Kin. 19:19; Isa. 45:6). Such knowledge is never merely intellectual. It is, however, attainable through hearing the news of God’s acts, as well as by seeing them (2:9, 10; 4:24). Here the object of knowledge is the presence of God with Joshua (1:5 note; cf. Ex. 14:31), which the people will experience through the faithfulness of God to His promises.’ (New Geneva)
‘Joshua prefigures Christ who leads his church out of the wilderness of this world to cross the river of death in their pilgrimage to the heavenly city.’ (NBC)
3:9 Joshua told the Israelites, “Come here and listen to the words of the LORD your God!” 3:10 Joshua continued, “This is how you will know the living God is among you and that he will truly drive out before you the Canaanites, Hittites, Hivites, Perizzites, Girgashites, Amorites, and Jebusites. 3:11 Look! The ark of the covenant of the Ruler of the whole earth is ready to enter the Jordan ahead of you. 3:12 Now select for yourselves twelve men from the tribes of Israel, one per tribe. 3:13 When the feet of the priests carrying the ark of the LORD, the Ruler of the whole earth, touch the water of the Jordan, the water coming downstream toward you will stop flowing and pile up.”
Seven nations are mentioned – the number probably symbolising completeness:
‘The OT contains nearly 24 lists like this one, including five in Joshua (Josh 3:10; 9:1; 11:3; 12:8; 24:11). The names and order vary, but in most instances, seven names are given, perhaps indicating a symbolic completeness. However, 12 people groups occur when the lists are compared—likely a deliberate, symbolic correspondence to the 12 tribes of Israel.’ (Faithlife Study Bible)
3:14 So when the people left their tents to cross the Jordan, the priests carrying the ark of the covenant went ahead of them. 3:15 When the ones carrying the ark reached the Jordan and the feet of the priests carrying the ark touched the surface of the water—(the Jordan is at flood stage all during harvest time)—3:16 the water coming downstream toward them stopped flowing. It piled up far upstream at Adam (the city near Zarethan); there was no water at all flowing to the sea of the Arabah (the Salt Sea). The people crossed the river opposite Jericho. 3:17 The priests carrying the ark of the covenant of the LORD stood firmly on dry ground in the middle of the Jordan. All Israel crossed over on dry ground until the entire nation was on the other side.
The Jordan is at flood stage all during harvest time – The crossing took place in April, at the time of the first harvest. The river was swollen, mainly as a result of snowmelt from Mount Hermon. This circumstances magnifies God’s power in bringing his people across the river (for at most other times of the year it was readily fordable). Moreover, there is a parallel between Moses and Joshua, in that the crossing of the Red Sea took place at the same time of year.
Firth (BST) remarks that:
‘The note about the flood emphasizes the power of Yahweh in ensuring Israel crossed on dry land when they could not have done so themselves. In addition, along with the flax on Rahab’s roof, it sets the narrative in spring, preparing for the celebration of Passover in chapter 5.’
The people crossed over opposite Jericho – facing a problem as daunting as the crossing of the Jordan river. Jericho’s threatening walls could be seen in the distance, seemingly impregnable.