Joshua 3:11-17

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Joshua 3:15

And the feet of the priests - were dipped in the brim of the water - Thus we find that every thing occurred exactly in the way in which Joshua had foretold it. This must have greatly increased his credit among the people. For Jordan overfloweth all his banks , etc. - It has often been remarked that there was no need of a miracle in crossing Jordan, as it is but an inconsiderable stream, easily fordable, being but about twenty yards in breadth. But... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Joshua 3:16

Rose up upon a heap - That is, they continued to accumulate, filling up the whole of the channel toward the source, and the adjacent ground over which they were now spread, to a much greater depth, the power of God giving a contrary direction to the current. We need not suppose them to be gathered up like a mountain, instar montis , as the Vulgate expresses it, but that they continued to flow back in the course of the channel; and ere they could have reached the lake of... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Joshua 3:17

The priests - stood firm on dry ground - They stood in the mid channel, and shifted not their position till the camp, consisting of nearly 600,000 effective men, besides women, children, etc., had passed over. Is it not surprising that the Canaanites did not dispute this passage with the Israelites? It is likely they would, had they had any expectation that such a passage would have been attempted. They must have known that the Israelitish camp was on the other side of the... 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 3:7-17

The passage of Jordan. I. THE MINISTRY OF JOSHUA AND JESUS BEGAN AT JORDAN . As with Joshua at his crossing, so with Jesus at His baptism, God marked the moment of their coming to Jordan with a special favour. For as the waters of the Red Sea ( 1 Corinthians 10:2 ), so the waters of Jordan are the type of Christian baptism. In connection with the wandering in the wilderness, the stream of Jordan is the type of death, which admits us to the promised land. But in... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Joshua 3:11

The Lord of all the earth. As He was about to prove Himself to be by the mighty miracles He wrought to establish the Israelites in their land and thus fulfil His promise. The Israelites needed to be reminded of this to support them during the crossing of the Jordan. The translation of the LXX ; though rejected by the Masorites, who separate the words "covenant" and "Lord," is admissible here, "the covenant of the Lord of all the earth." If we follow the Masoretic punctuation, we must... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Joshua 3:11

The passage of the Jordan. The lessons of importance are not exhausted in those already suggested in this passage of the Jordan. A deed so great, so solemn, so vast in its results, has many sides, and many subordinate points of interest. I gather up in this second homily a few of those points of interest and instruction. And first observe— I. THE SIGN OF GOD 'S PRESENCE WITH ISRAEL IS TEMPORARY , BUT THE PRESENCE ITSELF IS PERMANENT . This lesson arises at... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Joshua 3:12

Take you twelve men. Joshua commands the election of twelve men previous to the passage of the Jordan, and in pursuance of the command he had already ( Joshua 4:2 ; cf. note on Joshua 4:2 ) received from God. The reason for which they were to be chosen was probably not communicated to the Israelites till after the passage had taken place. Masius thinks that it would make the narrative clearer, " si proximum is versiculum sequeretur ." But see note on Joshua 4:1 . read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

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

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