ヨシュア記 4:15-18 JC

The Pulpit Commentary - Joshua 4:15-17

Prophets and priests-the order of precedence. Here a layman commands a priest. It was not a case of royal supremacy exactly, nor did he govern them by virtue of his being the civil head of the community; but because, though layman (he was of the tribe of Ephraim), he was a prophet. "The Lord spake to Joshua," and therefore Joshua could command even the priests of God. We have here not a question of arehaeological interest merely. It is a live question of today. Rome goes in for having an... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Joshua 4:16

The testimony. The word עֵדוּת though derived from the same root as עֵד witness, would seem rather to have the sense of precept, from the idea of repetition contained in the root. Compare the well known Hebrew particle עוֹד again. It must refer to the two tables of the law which ( Hebrews 10:4 ) were placed in the ark (see Deuteronomy 10:5 , and comp. Exodus 25:16 , Exodus 25:21 , Exodus 25:40 , Numbers 17:10 , where this is said to be the testimony). Other things... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Joshua 4:18

When the priests ... were come up. There is a difference of reading here. The Masorites read as our version. The Hebrew text implies that the waters began to flow from the very moment that the priests' feet left the channel of the Jordan. Were lifted up. The original is more vivid, and marks the authentic sources from which this history is derived. Were plucked up, i.e; out of the soft adhesive mud in the channel of the river. The construction of the original is a constructio praegnans.... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Joshua 4:18

The passage of Jordan the symbol of death. The passage of Jordan as the necessary way of entrance into the land of promise has always been regarded as symbolic of the death of the Christian. The same causes which allowed the children of Israel to cross the stream without being buried in its waters, operate in the case of the believing soul, to enable him also to pass through the deep water floods without being overflowed by them. These causes may be described as threefold. I. THE ... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Joshua 4:15

The passage of the priests to the further bank had been already referred to, Joshua 4:11; but the writer, in observance of his general plan (compare introductory remarks to Joshua 3:0), re-introduces it here as the leading feature in the concluding section of his account, and (as before) with mention of God’s special direction about it. The statement that on the removal of the ark the waters of Jordan at once returned to their former level Joshua 4:18, heightens the impression which is... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Joshua 4:18

Joshua 4:18. The waters of Jordan returned They had stood on a heap while the ark was in the river, but came tumbling down when it was removed, which showed to a demonstration that it was to God’s presence with them, and to this only, that they owed this miraculous mercy. “Some have observed here, by way of allusion,” says Henry, “that when the ark, and the priests that bear it,” (the word and ordinance of God and his ministers,) “are removed from any place, the flood-gates are drawn up,... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Joshua 4:1-24

Crossing the Jordan River (3:1-5:1)Israel’s conquest of Jericho was more than just a military exercise. It had religious meaning. The Israelites were to cleanse themselves before God, because he was the one who would lead them against their enemies. His presence was symbolized in the ark of the covenant (GNB: covenant box), which the priests carried ahead of the procession in full view of the people (3:1-6).As God had worked through Moses, so he would work through Joshua. Just as the waters of... read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Joshua 4:15-18

THE CROSSING CONCLUDED"And Jehovah spake unto Joshua, saying, Command the priests that bear the ark of the testimony, that they come up out of the Jordan. And Joshua therefore commanded the priests, saying, Come ye up out of the Jordan. And it came to pass when the priests that bare the ark of the covenant of Jehovah were come up out of the midst of the Jordan, and the soles of the priests' feet were lifted up unto the dry ground, that the waters of the Jordan returned unto their place, and... read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Joshua 4:15-18

Ver. 15-18. And the Lord spake unto Joshua, &c.— Before the people advanced into the country, Joshua had commanded the priests, who bare the ark, to quit the channel of the river, and come to the western bank; and as soon as they had gained this side, and their feet were beyond the place to which the waters had formerly reached, we see that the waters gradually resumed their wonted course, and flowed, as before, over the two shores. Thus every thing in this memorable event was miraculous. read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Joshua 4:18

18. it came to pass, when the priests that bare the ark . . . were come out of the midst of Jordan . . . that the waters of Jordan returned unto their place—Their crossing, which was the final act, completed the evidence of the miracle; for then, and not till then, the suspended laws of nature were restored, the waters returned to their place, and the river flowed with as full a current as before. read more

The Pulpit Commentary - Joshua 4:15-17

The Pulpit Commentary - Joshua 4:16

The Pulpit Commentary - Joshua 4:18

The Pulpit Commentary - Joshua 4:18

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Joshua 4:15

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Joshua 4:18

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Joshua 4:1-24

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Joshua 4:15-18

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Joshua 4:15-18

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Joshua 4:18

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