Joshua 4:14-19

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Joshua 4:10-19

The inspired historian seems to be so well pleased with his subject here that he is loth to quit it, and is therefore very particular in his narrative, especially in observing how closely Joshua pursued the orders God gave him, and that he did nothing without divine direction, finishing all that the Lord had commanded him (Josh. 4:10), which is also said to be what Moses commanded. We read not of any particular commands that Moses gave to Joshua about this matter: the thing was altogether new... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Joshua 4:14

On that day the Lord magnified Joshua in the sight of Israel ,.... Made him great and honourable in their esteem, by doing what he foretold would be done, dividing the waters of Jordan, drying up the river to make a passage for them through it, as on dry land: and they feared him, as they feared Moses, all the days of his life ; had a reverend esteem of him, and affection for him, and yielded obedience to him all his days; see Exodus 14:31 . read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Joshua 4:15

And the Lord spake unto Joshua ,.... When all the people had passed over jordan: saying ; as follows. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Joshua 4:16

Command the priests that bear the ark of the testimony ,.... In all places before, in this history, the ark is called the ark of the covenant, here the ark of the testimony, which signifies the same thing, the law; which was both the covenant between God and the people, and a testimony of his will unto them; the Septuagint version has both words: that they come up out of Jordan ; where they stayed until all the people passed over, for the encouragement of them, and until they received... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Joshua 4:17

Joshua therefore commanded the priests ,.... In obedience to the Lord, and sent them an order: saying ; as follows: come ye up out of Jordan ; from the midst of the river to the bank of it, which was properly an ascent. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Joshua 4:18

And it came to pass, when the priests that bare the ark of the covenant of the Lord were come up out of the midst of Jordan ,.... According to the command of Joshua in the name of the Lord: and the soles of the priests' feet were lift up upon the dry land ; and set upon it, on the bank of Jordan, and shores of the land of Canaan: that the waters of Jordan returned unto their place ; those that came from above, and had stood on an heap, gradually came down into the channel, and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Joshua 4:19

And the people came up out of Jordan ,.... The channel of it, to the shore: on the tenth day of the first month ; the month Nisan or Abib, which from the time of Israel's coming out of Egypt was appointed the first month of the year, Exodus 12:2 ; on the fifteenth of which month they came out of Egypt, having kept the passover on the fourteenth at even; so that their coming out of Egypt, to their entrance into Canaan, was just forty years, wanting five days. This tenth day was the... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Joshua 4:14

The Lord magnified Joshua - See the note on Joshua 3:7 . read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Joshua 4:18

The waters of Jordan returned unto their place - It is particularly remarked by the sacred historian, that as soon as the soles of the priests' feet touched the water, the stream of the Jordan was cut off, Joshua 3:15 , and the course of the river continued to be inverted all the time they continued in its channel; and that as soon as the soles of their feet had touched the dry land, on their return from the bed of the river, the waters immediately resumed their natural... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Joshua 4:19

On the tenth day of the first month - As the Israelites left Egypt on the fifteenth day of the first month, A.M. 2513, (see Exodus 14:1-31), and they entered into Canaan the tenth of the first month, A.M. 2553, it is evident that forty years, wanting five days, had elapsed from the time of their exodus from Egypt to their entrance into the promised inheritance. Encamped in Gilgal - That is, in the place that was afterwards called Gilgal, see Joshua 5:9 ; for here the... read more

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