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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

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Joshua 4:19

On the tenth day of the first month. This statement, compared with Joshua 5:10 , will bear close analysis, and refutes the clumsy compiler theory. There was just time between the tenth and fourteenth day of the month for the events described in the meantime. And the scrupulous obedience to the law, the provisions of which, we are expressly told, had been of necessity neglected hitherto, is a fact closely in keeping with the character of Joshua, and the whole spirit of the narrative. ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Joshua 4:19-24

Memorials. The passage of the Jordan has been called a "priestly miracle," a natural event "turned into a miracle" by the historian for the sake of exalting the priestly office. We fail, however, to see that any such special prominence has been given to the priestly clement. It is the ark that is the medium of the miracle working power, the priests are but its servants and attendants. The ark, as the symbol and throne of the Divine presence, is the centre around which all the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Joshua 4:21

When . Hebrews אֲשֶר . The relative pronoun here is sometimes equivalent to "when," as in Deuteronomy 11:6 ; I Kings Deuteronomy 8:9 . Gesenius would translate "if that," and Keil would render by quod. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Joshua 4:23

For . The original here again is אֲשֶׁר , with the meaning because. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Joshua 4:24

The hand of the Lord, that it is mighty. "Thus the river, though dumb, was the best of heralds, proclaiming with a loud voice that heaven and earth are subject to the Lord God of Israel" (Calvin). That ye might fear. The construction here is unusual. Instead of the imperfect or infinitive with לְמַעַן we have the perfect. Therefore Ewald, Maurer, and Knobel (who says that the second member of the sentence ought to correspond with the first) have altered the pointing in order to bring... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Joshua 4:2

Take you twelve men - The order is given in the plural, because no doubt the tribes themselves were to choose their own representatives, the choice being approved by Joshua Joshua 4:4. These twelve would be left with Joshua on the hither bank of the river, waiting to receive his orders after the rest of the people had made their way across Joshua 3:17; Joshua 4:1. read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Joshua 4:8

Laid them down there - i. e. in Gilgal Joshua 4:20. Spoken of as the doers of this, because it was done by the twelve who acted for them. read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Joshua 4:9

Another set of stones is intended than that before mentioned. The one set was erected by the command of God at the spot where they passed the night Joshua 4:3; the other by Joshua on the spot where the priests’ feet rested while they bore up the ark during the passage of the people. This spot was near, or perhaps on, the eastern brink (compare Joshua 3:8). These stones would therefore mark the spot at which the people crossed, as the others marked the place in which they lodged the night after... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Joshua 4:13

The plains of Jericho, consisting of the higher terrace of the Jordan valley, are almost seven miles broad. The mountains of Judaea here recede somewhat from the river, and leave a level and fertile space, which, at the time of Joshua’s invasion, was principally occupied by a forest of palms. Hence, the name “city of palms,” Deuteronomy 34:3. read more

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