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John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Joshua 3:10

Verse 10 10.Hereby you shall know, etc He makes the power of the miracle extend further than to the entrance of the land, and deservedly; for merely to open up a passage into a hostile territory, from which there was afterwards no retreat, would have been nothing else than exposure to death. For either entangled among straits, and in an unknown region, they would easily have been destroyed, or they would have perished, worn out by hunger and the absolute want of all things. Joshua therefore... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Joshua 3:11

Verse 11 11.Behold the ark of the covenant, etc First he says that the ark of God will go before; and secondly, he explains for what purpose, namely, that Jordan may retire from its place, trembling, so to speak, at the presence of the Lord, as is said in the Psalms. (Psalms 114:0.) The narrative introduced concerning the twelve men is parenthetical, as it only briefly alludes to what it will afterwards deliver more fully and clearly. At present let us merely understand, that while the ark went... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Joshua 3:15

Verse 15 15.And as they that bare the ark, etc The valor of the priests in proceeding boldly beyond the bed into the water itself, was deserving of no mean praise, since they might have been afraid of being instantly drowned. For what could they expect on putting in their feet, but immediately to find a deep pool in which they would be engulfed? In not being afraid on reaching the stream, and in continuing to move firmly forward to the appointed place, they gave a specimen of rare alacrity,... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Joshua 3:1

EXPOSITION THE COMMAND . And Joshua rose up early in the morning, i.e; after the return of the spies, and most likely (see Joshua 1:10 , Joshua 1:11 ) on the morning on which the announcement was made to the children of Israel that they were to cross the Jordan. "This newes is brought but overnight, Joshua is on his way by morning, and prevents the sunne for haste. Delays, whether in the business of God or our owne, are hatefull and prejudiciall. Many a one loses the land... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Joshua 3:1-6

The command to cross Jordan. We have here a chapter replete with instruction, whether we take the words in their natural and literal or in their figurative and allegorical sense. The instruction is of a kind which it is difficult to gather up into one point of view, so various and many-sided is it. It will be best, therefore, to follow the events of the narrative seriatim, and endeavour to notice the various points which may be observed for instruction and exhortation, rather than to... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Joshua 3:2

The officers. LXX ; γραμματεις (see Joshua 1:10 ). This is evidently the history of the fulfilment of the command there given by Joshua. There he orders the officers to pass through the host; here the command is fulfilled. There is no reasonable doubt that the spies had returned before the order recorded in Joshua 1:10 had been given. Many commentators have raised objections to the order of the narrative in this and in the following chapter; and commentators like Houbigant, Masius... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Joshua 3:3

And they commanded the people, saying. These words are interesting as showing that all was orderly in the Israel-irish camp. Everything was carried on according to the strictest rules of military discipline. The removal of the ark was to be the signal for the advance of the whole host. The ark of the covenant. We may with advantage compare the religious use of the ark here and in Joshua 6:1-27 ; with its superstitious use in 1 Samuel 4:3 , 1 Samuel 4:4 . We do not read that when... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Joshua 3:3

At this decisive moment, when the people of Israel were about to enter on the great conflict which was to secure the possession of the land of promise, the command was given to gather themselves together around the ark of the covenant, as their banner. This indicates the great central truth of the history of Israel. The focus of its national life is the law of its God. It is for this it is to fight and overcome, and not merely that it may gain possession of a rich country and develop its... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Joshua 3:4

There shall be a space between you and it. Perhaps in order that they might keep it in view. This agrees best with the remainder of the verse, "that ye may know the way by which ye must go." Keil remarks that, had the Israelites pressed close on the heels of the priests who bore the ark, this would have defeated the very object with which the ark was carried before the people, namely, to point them out the way that they should go. But Cornelius Lapide among the earlier commentators and... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Joshua 3:5

Sanctify yourselves. The Hithpahel, which is used here, is frequently used of ceremonial purification, as in Exodus 19:22 ; 1 Chronicles 15:12 , 1 Chronicles 15:14 ; 2 Chronicles 5:11 ; and especially 2 Samuel 11:4 . It is also connected with purification, but ironically, in Isaiah 66:17 . Tomorrow. These words were uttered while all was in preparation. We learn from Isaiah 66:7 , though it is not expressly stated, that the actual crossing took place the next day. We ought,... read more

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