Removed from their tents. The word used for "removed" in this chapter is the same as is used of Abraham's removing. It is appropriate to the nature of the removal, for it signifies originally to pull up stakes or tent-pins, and has reference, there. fore, to the removal of a people who dwelt in tents. read more
The division of the waters. The passage of Jordan, like that of the Red Sea, marks a momentous crisis in the career of the chosen people. The events are similar in their general character as Divine interpositions, but there are notable points of difference. In the first case there was haste, confusion, and alarm; the people fled precipitately, the noise of the Egyptian host behind them, the mountains shutting them in, the sea an object of terror before them; they cried unto the Lord, in... read more
Brim. The water's edge is meant here, as in Joshua 3:8 , where the same word is translated brink (see note on Joshua 3:17 , and on Joshua 4:19 ). Jordan overfloweth all his banks. Some commentators translate here, filleth all his banks ( ἐπληροῦτο , LXX ). But this rendering is contrary The literal rendering here is, "filleth out (or upon ) all its banks." In Joshua 4:18 we read that Jordan goeth over all its banks And that the Jordan is not merely full, but... read more
Stood and rose up upon a heap. Literally, "stood—they rose up, one heap." The narrative assumes a poetic form here (cf. Exodus 15:8 , Exodus 15:9 ; 5:27 ). Very far from the city Adam. The Masorites have corrected the text here. The original text has בְאָדָם for which the suggested Keri is מֵאָדָס . But the correction is needless. It is better to render, "they rose up, one heap, very far off, at the city Adam." The city Adam is nowhere else mentioned in Scripture, The LXX .... read more
Firm . The LXX . does not translate this. The Vulgate renders accincti. The original, literally translated, means to cause to stand upright. In the midst of Jordan. That is, they stood surrounded by water, but not in midstream, which would be expressed by בְּקֶרֶב as in Joshua 3:10 , where our version has "among" (see note on Joshua 4:9 ). So Drusius: "In medio Jordanis; i.e; intra Jordanem. Sic Tyrus legitur sita in corde maris; i.e; intra mare nam non procul abest a... read more
The contents of this and the next chapter, which record the miraculous passage of Israel over Jordan, are given in four sections:(1) Joshua 3:1-6, describing the preliminary directions;(2) Joshua 3:7-17, the commencement of the passage;(3) Joshua 4:1-14, the accomplishment of it;(4) Joshua 4:15-24, the conclusion of the passage and erection of a monument to commemorate it.A certain completeness and finish is given to each division of the narrative, and to effect this the writer more than once... read more
“The acacia groves” (Exodus 25:5 note) of Shittim on both sides of Jordan line the upper terraces of the valley (compare 2 Kings 6:4). They would be in this part at some six miles distance from the river itself. read more
These days (Joshua 1:11 note) were no doubt occupied in preparations of various kinds. The host consisted not of armed men only, but of women and children also; and many arrangements would be necessary before they actually advanced into a hostile country. read more
The ark, which was since the making of the covenant the special shrine and seat of God’s presence, went before to show the people that God, through its medium, was their leader. They were to follow at a distance that they might the better observe and mark how the miracle was accomplished. This they would do to the greatest advantage while coming down the heights, the ark going on before them into the ravine. read more
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The Pulpit Commentary - Joshua 3:13
The Lord, the Lord of all the earth. The original is, Jehovah, the Lord of all the earth . That the waters of Jordan shall be cut off. The construction here seems to have perplexed the LXX ; Vulgate, and English translators. The former have given the sense, but have changed the construction. The second have supposed יִכָּרֵתוּן to mean fail, and to refer to the waters below the place of crossing. The third have interpolated the word "from." The words "the waters descending... read more