Joshua 3:11-17

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Joshua 3:7-13

We may observe here how God honours Joshua, and by this wondrous work he is about to do designs to make Israel know that he is their governor, and then how Joshua honours God and endeavours by it to make Israel know that he is their God. Thus those that honour God he will honour, and those whom he has advanced should do what they can in their places to exalt him. I. God speaks to Joshua to put honour upon him, Josh. 3:7, 8. 1. It was a great honour God id him that he spoke to him as he had... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Joshua 3:14-17

Here we have a short and plain account of the dividing of the river Jordan, and the passage of the children of Israel through it. The story is not garnished with the flowers of rhetoric (gold needs not to be painted), but it tell us, in short, matter of fact. I. That this river was now broader and deeper than usually it was at other times of the year, Josh. 3:15. The melting of the snow on the mountains of Lebanon, near which this river had its rise, was the occasion that at the time of... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Joshua 3:11

Behold, the ark of the covenant of the Lord of all the earth ,.... Some both Jewish and Christian interpreters, because there is a distinguishing accent on the word "covenant", read the words "the ark of the covenant, even the Lord of all the earth"; so in some copies of our English Bible, as if the ark was called the Lord of all the earth, because of his presence and dwelling there; but, as Kimchi observes, either the word "ark" is wanting, or the word "covenant", and may be supplied either... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Joshua 3:12

Now therefore take ye twelve men ,.... For what end and purpose is not mentioned. Abarbinel is of opinion, that they were chosen and appointed, that every man might pitch upon and take a place for his tribe to encamp in, when they came on the other side Jordan: whether this was Joshua's view or no is not certain; however, the use he made of these, thus provided by divine direction, is related Joshua 4:2 , and these were to be taken out of the tribes of Israel, out of every tribe a man ... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Joshua 3:13

And it shall come to pass, as soon as the soles of the feet of the priests that bear the ark of the Lord ,.... Which they were bid to take up and carry, Joshua 3:6 , the Lord of all the earth ; this shows that not the ark, but the Lord, is called "the Lord of all the earth"; see Gill on Joshua 3:11 , shall rest in the waters of Jordan ; the meaning is, as soon as their feet should touch them, or they should set their feet in them, when they came to the brink of them: that ... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Joshua 3:14

And it came to pass, when the people removed from their tents to pass over Jordan ,.... Which they had pitched very near it, upon their removal from Shittim, and in which they had lodged the night past: and the priests bearing the ark of the covenant before the people ; at the distance of two thousand cubits. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Joshua 3:15

And as they that bare the ark were come unto Jordan ,.... Not to the bank, which was overflowed, but to the extremity of the water overflowing: and the feet of the priests that bare the ark were dipped in the brim of the water ; which was doubtless the first they came to, and not the brim or extremity of it on the other side: for Jordan overfloweth all its banks all the time of harvest ; that is, of barley harvest, as appears from the time of year; for it was in the first month, the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Joshua 3:16

That the waters which came down from above ,.... Above where the priests' feet rested, and which came down from Mount Lebanon, and the fountains of Jordan northward: stood and rose up upon an heap ; they stopped their current, and as the water came down they rose up on high, and made one vast heap of waters: very far from the city of Adam, that is, beside Zaretan ; the Cetib, or textual reading, is, "in Adam the city"; we follow the marginal reading, "from Adam": both readings, as... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Joshua 3:17

And the priests that bare the ark of the Lord stood firm on dry ground in the midst of Jordan ,.... Which for its breadth Mr. Maundrell, the above mentioned traveller, says F3 Maundrell, Journey from Aleppo to Jerusalem, p. 83. might be about twenty yards over, and its depth exceeded his height; but Dr. Shaw F4 Travels, p. 346. , a later traveller still, says,"the river Jordan is by far the most considerable river, excepting the Nile, either of the coast of Syria, or of Barbary.... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Joshua 3:12

Take you twelve men - See the note on Joshua 4:2 . read more

Group of Brands