Joshua 3:6. Take up the ark Namely, upon your shoulders; for so they were to carry it, Numbers 7:9. Before the people Not in the middle of them, as you used to do. And they took up the ark They did as they were commanded. And now we may suppose that prayer of Moses to be used, which he addressed to God when the ark set forward, Numbers 10:3. Rise up, Lord, and let thine enemies be scattered. read more
Joshua 3:7. This day will I begin to magnify thee That is, to honour thee in a peculiar manner, and gain thee authority; in the sight of all Israel As the person I have set in Moses’s stead, and by whom I will conduct them into the promised land. It has been observed by some, as a remarkable circumstance, that, from the time of Moses to that of Saul, God always signified to the people, by some miracle, whom he had appointed to govern them. read more
Joshua 3:8. The brink of Jordan Hebrew, to the extremity, so far as the river then spread itself, which was now more than ordinary, Joshua 3:15. Ye shall stand still in Jordan Within the waters of Jordan, in the first entrance into the river; where they stood for a season, till the river was divided, and then they went into the midst of it, and there abode till all the people were passed over. read more
Joshua 3:9-10. Come hither To the ark or tabernacle, the place of public assemblies. Hear the words of the Lord your God Who is now about to give a proof that he is both the Lord, the omnipotent Governor of heaven and earth, and all creatures, and your God, in covenant with you, having a tender care and affection for you. Ye shall know By experience and sensible evidence. The living God Not a dull, dead, senseless idol, such as the gods of the nations are; but a God of life, and... read more
Joshua 3:12-13. Twelve men For the work described, Joshua 4:2-3. The ark of the Lord That so it may appear this is the Lord’s doing, and that in pursuance of his covenant made with Israel. Of all the earth The Lord of all this globe of earth and water, who therefore can dispose of this river and the adjoining lands as he pleaseth. Cut off The waters which now are united shall be divided, and part shall flow down the channel toward the Dead sea, and the other part, that is near the... read more
Joshua 3:15. The feet of the priests were dipped in the brim of the water The stream stopped immediately, as if a sluice had been let down to dam it up; so that the waters above swelled, stood on a heap, and ran back, and yet, it seems, did not spread themselves over the adjacent lands. When they passed through the Red sea, the waters were a wall on either hand; here only on the right hand. Thus the God of nature, when he pleaseth, can change the course of nature, and alter any of its... read more
Joshua 3:16. Adam The city of Adam, being more obscure, is described by its nearness to a more known place, then eminent, but now unknown. The meaning is, that the waters were stopped in their course at that place, and so kept at a distance from the Israelites while they passed over. Against Jericho Here God carried them over, because this part was, 1st, The strongest, as having in its neighbourhood an eminent city, a potent king, and a stout and warlike people. 2d, The most pleasant and... read more
Joshua 3:17. Stood firm That is, in one and the same place and posture; their feet were neither moved by any waters flowing in upon them, nor sunk into any mire, which one might think was at the bottom of the river. And this may be opposed to their standing in the brink of the water when they came to it, as commanded, (Joshua 3:8,) which was but for a while, till the waters were divided and gone away; and then they were to go farther, even into the midst of Jordan, where they were to stand... read more
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
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Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Joshua 3:5
Joshua 3:5. And Joshua said He himself also, as well as the officers, by his direction, spake to the people the day before their passage; and as the matter was very important, he probably went himself from tribe to tribe, to give the orders here mentioned. Sanctify yourselves Not only wash your clothes, and shun all kinds of bodily impurities, (see Genesis 35:2; Exodus 19:10; Numbers 9:10,) but purify your minds and hearts, by repentance, and faith, and new obedience, without which the... read more