http://www.biblestudyworkshop.com 1 Commentary by Ron Thomas Questions by John C. Sewell Crossing the Jordan Joshua 3:1 17
http://www.biblestudyworkshop.com 2 Text: Joshua 3:1-17, Crossing the Jordan 1. And Joshua rose early in the morning; and they removed from Shittim, and came to Jordan, he and all the children of Israel, and lodged there before they passed over. 2. And it came to pass after three days, that the officers went through the host; 3. And they commanded the people, saying, When ye see the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God, and the priests the Levites bearing it, then ye shall remove from your place, and go after it. 4. Yet there shall be a space between you and it, about two thousand cubits by measure: come not near unto it, that ye may know the way by which ye must go: for ye have not passed this way heretofore. 5. And Joshua said unto the people, Sanctify yourselves: for to morrow the LORD will do wonders among you. 6. And Joshua spake unto the priests, saying, Take up the ark of the covenant, and pass over before the people. And they took up the ark of the covenant, and went before the people. 7. And the LORD said unto Joshua, This day will I begin to magnify thee in the sight of all Israel, that they may know that, as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee. 8. And thou shalt command the priests that bear the ark of the covenant, saying, When ye are come to the brink of the water of Jordan, ye shall stand still in Jordan. 9. And Joshua said unto the children of Israel, Come hither, and hear the words of the LORD your God. 10. And Joshua said, Hereby ye shall know that the living God is among you, and that he will without fail drive out from before you the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Hivites, and the Perizzites, and the Girgashites, and the Amorites, and the Jebusites.
http://www.biblestudyworkshop.com 3 11. Behold, the ark of the covenant of the LORD of all the earth passeth over before you into Jordan. 12. Now therefore take you twelve men out of the tribes of Israel, out of every tribe a man. 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, the LORD of all the earth, shall rest in the waters of Jordan, that the waters of Jordan shall be cut off from the waters that come down from above; and they shall stand upon an heap. 14. And it came to pass, when the people removed from their tents, to pass over Jordan, and the priests bearing the ark of the covenant before the people; 15. And as they that bare the ark were come unto Jordan, and the feet of the priests that bare the ark were dipped in the brim of the water, (for Jordan overfloweth all his banks all the time of harvest,) 16. That the waters which came down from above stood and rose up upon an heap very far from the city Adam, that is beside Zaretan: and those that came down toward the sea of the plain, even the salt sea, failed, and were cut off: and the people passed over right against Jericho. 17. And the priests that bare the ark of the covenant of the LORD stood firm on dry ground in the midst of Jordan, and all the Israelites passed over on dry ground, until all the people were passed clean over Jordan. Commentary: Joshua 3:1, And Joshua rose early in the morning; and they removed from Shittim, and came to Jordan, he and all the children of Israel, and lodged there before they passed over. I. From Shittim to the Jordan 3:1 A. This is the last place in which the Israelites encamped before they crossed the Jordan River.
http://www.biblestudyworkshop.com 4 1. It was here that Balaam wrought his destructive counsel against Israel. a. Numbers 25: 1-9, And Israel abode in Shittim, and the people began to commit whoredom with the daughters of Moab. And they called the people unto the sacrifices of their gods: and the people did eat, and bowed down to their gods. And Israel joined himself unto Baalpeor: and the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel. And the LORD said unto Moses, Take all the heads of the people, and hang them up before the LORD against the sun, that the fierce anger of the LORD may be turned away from Israel. And Moses said unto the judges of Israel, Slay ye every one his men that were joined unto Baalpeor. And, behold, one of the children of Israel came and brought unto his brethren a Midianitish woman in the sight of Moses, and in the sight of all the congregation of the children of Israel, who were weeping before the door of the tabernacle of the congregation. And when Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, saw it, he rose up from among the congregation, and took a javelin in his hand; And he went after the man of Israel into the tent, and thrust both of them through, the man of Israel, and the woman through her belly. So the plague was stayed from the children of Israel. And those that died in the plague were twenty and four thousand. 2. Probably, Moses spoke many (if not all) his words as recorded in Deuteronomy at this location (N-ISBE, vol. 4, p. 490). 3. It was here that vengeance was taken on the Midianites. a. Numbers 31:1-20, And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Avenge the children of Israel of the Midianites:
http://www.biblestudyworkshop.com 5 afterward shalt thou be gathered unto thy people. And Moses spake unto the people, saying, Arm some of yourselves unto the war, and let them go against the Midianites, and avenge the LORD of Midian. Of every tribe a thousand, throughout all the tribes of Israel, shall ye send to the war. So there were delivered out of the thousands of Israel, a thousand of every tribe, twelve thousand armed for war. And Moses sent them to the war, a thousand of every tribe, them and Phinehas the son of Eleazar the priest, to the war, with the holy instruments, and the trumpets to blow in his hand. And they warred against the Midianites, as the LORD commanded Moses; and they slew all the males. And they slew the kings of Midian, beside the rest of them that were slain; namely, Evi, and Rekem, and Zur, and Hur, and Reba, five kings of Midian: Balaam also the son of Beor they slew with the sword. And the children of Israel took all the women of Midian captives, and their little ones, and took the spoil of all their cattle, and all their flocks, and all their goods. And they burnt all their cities wherein they dwelt, and all their goodly castles, with fire. And they took all the spoil, and all the prey, both of men and of beasts. And they brought the captives, and the prey, and the spoil, unto Moses, and Eleazar the priest, and unto the congregation of the children of Israel, unto the camp at the plains of Moab, which are by Jordan near Jericho. And Moses, and Eleazar the priest, and all the princes of the congregation, went forth to meet them without the camp. And Moses was wroth with the officers of the host, with the captains over thousands, and captains over hundreds, which came from the battle. And Moses said unto them, Have ye saved all the women alive? Behold, these caused the children of Israel, through the counsel of Balaam, to commit trespass against the LORD in the matter of Peor, and there was a plague among the
http://www.biblestudyworkshop.com 6 congregation of the LORD. Now therefore kill every male among the little ones, and kill every woman that hath known man by lying with him. But all the women children, that have not known a man by lying with him, keep alive for yourselves. And do ye abide without the camp seven days: whosoever hath killed any person, and whosoever hath touched any slain, purify both yourselves and your captives on the third day, and on the seventh day. And purify all your raiment, and all that is made of skins, and all work of goats' hair, and all things made of wood. B. Madvig thought this was a journey of about ten miles (p. 265). C. Davis made a pertinent remark when he said that Joshua set right out across the Jordan without delay. 1. He did not ask the Lord for time in order for the river to decrease its swelling. 2. He did not ask the Lord to enter and confront Jericho from another direction. 3. He did not ask for a commission or committee to report to him (in five copies!) about the best route and attack to take. 4. He just went (Davis, p. 35)! Joshua 3:2-4, And it came to pass after three days, that the officers went through the host; And they commanded the people, saying, When ye see the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God, and the priests the Levites bearing it, then ye shall remove from your place, and go after it. Yet there shall be a space between you and it, about two thousand cubits by measure: come not near unto it, that ye may
http://www.biblestudyworkshop.com 7 know the way by which ye must go: for ye have not passed this way heretofore. I. The Ark of the Covenant went before them. A. The leaders went through the camp preparing all for the trip ahead. 1. It was going to be a hard trip, but one that had to be made. 2. It was going to be a trip that would test one s faith, but those devoted to the Lord would stay strong and come through it. A. This is the first time the Ark of the Covenant led Israel into battle; at least, was explicitly stated (Butler, p. 45). B. The Priests only were to carry it; specifically the Kohathites were to do so. 1. Numbers 3:31, And their charge shall be the ark, and the table, and the candlestick, and the altars, and the vessels of the sanctuary wherewith they minister, and the hanging, and all the service thereof. 2. Numbers 4:15, And when Aaron and his sons have made an end of covering the sanctuary, and all the vessels of the sanctuary, as the camp is to set forward; after that, the sons of Kohath shall come to bear it: but they shall not touch any holy thing, lest they die. These things are the burden of the sons of Kohath in the tabernacle of the congregation. D. Kohath was a direct descendent of Levi
http://www.biblestudyworkshop.com 8 1. Numbers 3:17, And these were the sons of Levi by their names; Gershon, and Kohath, and Merari. 2. From Kohath came Amram, the father of Aaron Moses. a. Numbers 3:19, And the sons of Kohath by their families; Amram, and Izehar, Hebron, and Uzziel. b. Exodus 6:20, And Amram took him Jochebed his father's sister to wife; and she bare him Aaron and Moses: and the years of the life of Amram were an hundred and thirty and seven years. c. There was to be about a distance of 3,500 feet (2,000 cubits with each cubit being equal to 18 ) between the Ark of the Covenant, carried by the Levites, and the people who followed behind. 3. This would be about a little over 1,000 yards or 2/3 of a mile. 4. Why such great distance? Simply put, the Lord said so. 5. Probably there is much more significance to this than merely leading the way for that could be done at a much closer separation. E. Because the Lord wanted this distance, there was to be no discussion on this question. 1. Because the Lord set up His plan of salvation, all discussion is set aside regarding an alternative a. John 14:6, Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
http://www.biblestudyworkshop.com 9 b. Acts 4:12, Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. Joshua 3:5-8, And Joshua said unto the people, Sanctify yourselves: for to morrow the LORD will do wonders among you. And Joshua spake unto the priests, saying, Take up the ark of the covenant, and pass over before the people. And they took up the ark of the covenant, and went before the people. And the LORD said unto Joshua, This day will I begin to magnify thee in the sight of all Israel, that they may know that, as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee. And thou shalt command the priests that bear the ark of the covenant, saying, When ye are come to the brink of the water of Jordan, ye shall stand still in Jordan. I. Joshua spoke to the people. A. The people were to consecrate themselves. 1. There was no real way to make oneself holy, but one could do that which God required and, thus, consecrate oneself. 2. The consecration procedure involved bathing, washing one s clothes, and abstaining from sexual activity. i. Exodus 19:14, 15, And Moses went down from the mount unto the people, and sanctified the people; and they washed their clothes. And he said unto the people, Be ready against the third day: come not at your wives. A. The priests took the Ark of the Covenant and passed before the people.
http://www.biblestudyworkshop.com 10 1. The priests were to go to the brink of the river to rest there. 2. The Lord did not let them determine the manner in which the crossing would occur. B. The Lord spokes to Joshua. 1. Joshua s exaltation. 2. With Joshua already being identified by the Lord as His leader, one would think the people would be satisfied with such evidence. a. Joshua 1:16-18, And they answered Joshua, saying, All that thou commandest us we will do, and whithersoever thou sendest us, we will go. According as we hearkened unto Moses in all things, so will we hearken unto thee: only the LORD thy God be with thee, as he was with Moses. Whosoever he be that doth rebel against thy commandment, and will not hearken unto thy words in all that thou commandest him, he shall be put to death: only be strong and of a good courage. 3. Yet, the Lord knew well the people s thinking. a. Many would have been satisfied, but many as well (perhaps more) would not be satisfied (there always seem to be critics in the assembly). 4. Speak to the priests and tell them to stand on the brink of the river. a. Coming to the brink was to step just into the Jordan with the water over-flowing its banks.
http://www.biblestudyworkshop.com 11 b. There, they were to stop. Joshua 3:9-13, And Joshua said unto the children of Israel, Come hither, and hear the words of the LORD your God. And Joshua said, Hereby ye shall know that the living God is among you, and that he will without fail drive out from before you the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Hivites, and the Perizzites, and the Girgashites, and the Amorites, and the Jebusites. Behold, the ark of the covenant of the LORD of all the earth passeth over before you into Jordan. Now therefore take you twelve men out of the tribes of Israel, out of every tribe a man. And it shall come to pass, as soon as the soles of the feet of the priests that bear the ark of the LORD, the LORD of all the earth, shall rest in the waters of Jordan, that the waters of Jordan shall be cut off from the waters that come down from above; and they shall stand upon an heap. I. Joshua spoke to Israel. A. The way the people would know the Lord was among them and who was going to be driven out of the lands were explored here. 1. The people were to listen to the Lord. This would occur when they listened to Joshua. 2. They were to recognize who was to be driven out. a. Canaanites. b. Hittites. c. Hivites. d. Perizzites
http://www.biblestudyworkshop.com 12 e. Girgashites f. Amorites g. Jebusites 3. The Ark of the Covenant passed before them in order to show them the way. a. Joshua 3:3, And they commanded the people, saying, When ye see the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God, and the priests the Levites bearing it, then ye shall remove from your place, and go after it. b. John 14:6, Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. A. The Jordan would be stopped. 1. When the sole of the feet of the priests carrying the ark rested in the Jordan, the Jordan would stop. 2. This was how the Lord was going to show Israel that he was with Joshua. 3. One man from each tribe, twelve men, were to be identified (unknown reason at this point). a. Joshua 4:1-7, And it came to pass, when all the people were clean passed over Jordan, that the LORD spake unto Joshua, saying, Take you twelve men out of the people, out of every tribe a man, And command ye them, saying, Take you
http://www.biblestudyworkshop.com 13 hence out of the midst of Jordan, out of the place where the priests' feet stood firm, twelve stones, and ye shall carry them over with you, and leave them in the lodging place, where ye shall lodge this night. Then Joshua called the twelve men, whom he had prepared of the children of Israel, out of every tribe a man: And Joshua said unto them, Pass over before the ark of the LORD your God into the midst of Jordan, and take you up every man of you a stone upon his shoulder, according unto the number of the tribes of the children of Israel: That this may be a sign among you, that when your children ask their fathers in time to come, saying, What mean ye by these stones? Then ye shall answer them, That the waters of Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of the LORD; when it passed over Jordan, the waters of Jordan were cut off: and these stones shall be for a memorial unto the children of Israel for ever. Joshua 3:14-17, And it came to pass, when the people removed from their tents, to pass over Jordan, and the priests bearing the ark of the covenant before the people; And as they that bare the ark were come unto Jordan, and the feet of the priests that bare the ark were dipped in the brim of the water, (for Jordan overfloweth all his banks all the time of harvest,) That the waters which came down from above stood and rose up upon an heap very far from the city Adam, that is beside Zaretan: and those that came down toward the sea of the plain, even the salt sea, failed, and were cut off: and the people passed over right against Jericho. And the priests that bare the ark of the covenant of the LORD stood firm on dry ground in the midst of Jordan, and all the Israelites passed over on dry ground, until all the people were passed clean over Jordan.
http://www.biblestudyworkshop.com 14 I. The priests stepped into the Jordan. A. With the Ark of the Covenant leading the way, the people started toward the Jordan. 1. The Jordan was over flowing its banks and as soon as the priest s feet entered into the Jordan, the river stopped flowing. B. The Bible states that factual aspect of it, but imagine if you were to have seen it! 1. How would you look at Joshua at this point? 2. How would you have began to look at those of Jericho or Canaan? 3. Coming down from above (ESV) means it came down from the direction from which it flowed. C. Where the river stopped (Adam, thought to be about 20 miles upstream from the point of the crossing), from that point down the Dead Sea, the riverbed was dry. 1. This would have been a large area and quite easy for the volume of people to cross. II. The people crossed over the Jordan on dry ground. A. Skeptics will look at this whole scenario and just laugh; they will say this is impossible. 1. Naturally speaking they would be correct. And that is the point!
http://www.biblestudyworkshop.com 15 2. God is in control of this whole situation; there is nothing natural about it! B. Imagine the riverbed and the drying process (time); it would taken many hours to be sure. 1. The priests went before the people and a half mile distance separated them. This might have been all the time the Lord wanted for the riverbed to dry up (assuming He took any time at all to dry it up). C. With the Lord in complete control, the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord stood firmly on dry ground. 1. When the Lord establishes a foundation upon which another will stand, one can be sure he can stand firmly.
http://www.biblestudyworkshop.com 16 Questions Joshua 3:1-17 (Questions based NIV text) 1. Early in the morning Joshua and all Israel went to the Jordan. Do you subscribe to the proverb, Early to bed early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise? Explain your answer. 2. Why did Israel delay crossing the Jordan for three days? Does haste make waste? Is patience really a virtue? 3. What orders did the officers give the people? 4. Did the Ark of the Covenant guarantee Israel s success? See 1 Samuel 4:1-11.
http://www.biblestudyworkshop.com 17 5. Israel was to follow the Ark of the Covenant because, on their own, they did not know which way to go since they had not been that way before? How are we to know which way we should go? 6. What might have happened if Israel had gotten too close to the Ark of the Covenant? See 2 Samuel 6:1-7. 7. How did the people consecrate themselves? What procedure did they use in the consecration process? 8. What amazing things did God do among the Israelites the next day?
http://www.biblestudyworkshop.com 18 9. And the said to, I will begin to you in the of all, so they may know that I am with you as I was with. 10. What were the priests who carried the Ark of the Covenant asked to do? What was the purpose of this? 11. What direction, instruction did Joshua give Israel? (See verse 9.) 12. What difference in today s world would this direction make were it observed by everybody? 13. Is it enough to know the word of God? Are the hearers or the does of the law justified? See James 2:24.
http://www.biblestudyworkshop.com 19 14. Identify the following nations; that is, what were the origin, history and place of residence of each? (1) Canaanites )2) Hittites (3) Hivites (4) Perizzites (5) Girgashites (6) Amorites (7) Jebusites 15. How would the Israelites know that the living God was among them and that he would drive their enemies out of the promised land.
http://www.biblestudyworkshop.com 20 16. Compare the Israelites who left Egypt with the desert hardened Israelites who were now ready to invade the promised land. Which would have made the better battle soldiers? 17. What duties were performed by the men mentioned in verse 12. 18. What happened when the priests carrying the Ark of the Covenant set foot in the water of the Jordan River? 19. How many times did the two spies cross the Jordan River? 20. Compare the Israelite crossing of the Jordan with their crossing of the Red Sea? Cite similarities and differences.
http://www.biblestudyworkshop.com 21 21. At what place north of the crossing site did the waters stop flowing south? How far north of the crossing site did this happen? 22. What happened to the waters of the river south of the crossing site?_ 23. How did God produce this wonder? 24. So the over. The who carried of the of He stood firm on in the of the which all passed by until the had completed the on.
http://www.biblestudyworkshop.com 22 25. What was the population of Israel at the time of the Jordan crossing? How long did it take for Israel to cross the Jordan? Don t forget the baggage and livestock that also crossed with them.