Joshua 3:15 NIV

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 3:15

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

Adam Clarke

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

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 3:14-17

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

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Joshua 3:15

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

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Joshua 3:15

Jordan overfloweth all his banks - Rather “is full up to all his banks,” i. e. “brim-full.” This remark strikingly illustrates the suddenness and completeness, not less than the greatness, of the marvel. The Jordan River flows at the bottom of a deep valley, which descends to the water’s edge on either side in two, occasionally in three, terraces. Within the lowest of these the stream, ordinarily less than 100 feet wide in this lower part of its course, is confined. The margin is overgrown with... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Joshua 3:15

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

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Joshua 3:1-17

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

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

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

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

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Joshua 3:15

The Pulpit Commentary - Joshua 3:7-17

The Pulpit Commentary - Joshua 3:14-17

The Pulpit Commentary - Joshua 3:15

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Joshua 3:15

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Joshua 3:15

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Joshua 3:1-17

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