Joshua 3:14-17

The Parting of the Jordan Joshua 3:14-17

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 a 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.

15.

What is striking about the mention of the overflow of waters? Joshua 3:15

Every attempt to explain the miracle by a natural occurrence is thereby prevented. Often a radical critic pronounces the clause a gloss, and endeavors to get rid of it altogether. The text enjoys integrity, and the statement is a matter of historical record. The fact that the Jordan was overflowing would explain why a miracle was necessary in order for the people of Israel to cross at this time. When the Jordan is flowing naturally, it is a very small stream. When the winter rains have raised the head waters, the Jordan flows through a wide extent of territory stretching from the hill country of Judea to the hill country of Perea. It actually forms a sea of water through which no group of people could cross without divine assistance,

16.

Where was the town called Adam? Joshua 3:16

This city is not mentioned anywhere else. It is not, moreover, to be confounded with Adamah, in the tribe of Naphtali. The town of Zarethan, by the side of which Adam was situated, has also vanished. These towns were evidently located some distance upstream from the point at which Israel entered the Jordan River. It is useless to speculate that they were located at a point where the bluffs of Perea are close to the mountains of Ephraim, thus making a rather narrow passageway for the Jordan's waters. Some who would deny a miracle at this point suggest a rock slide may have dammed up the Jordan River from the north, thus enabling the Israelites to cross on dry ground. Even if God did use an earthquake or a rock slide to dam up the waters at this time, it was a miracle that the waters were stopped at the very moment when the priests stepped into the water. Such an occurrence would be a miracle of timing, but the narrative points to more than a miracle of timing. It was a miracle of divine intervention into the affairs of man. It was performed by the prerogative and at the insistence of the Maker of heaven and earth.

17.

How long would it take this multitude of people to cross Jordan? Joshua 3:17

It is said that the priests stood in the midst of Jordan in the bed of the river. All Israel went over upon dry ground. This could easily have been accomplished in half a day, if the people formed a procession of a mile or more in breadth. The people evidently did not pass across in single file or two abreast. They must have literally swarmed across the river in great exuberance as they saw what the hand of God was doing for them. Their anxiety about the coming campaign must have been relieved as they saw how God led them even in this initial stage of their attack on Canaan.