_A.M. 2553. B.C. 1451._
The people decamp from Shittim, and are directed to follow the ark and
sanctify themselves, Joshua 3:1. The priests are ordered to go first,
Joshua 3:6. Joshua being encouraged and directed to God, tells the
people what God is about to do, Joshua 3:7. Jordan is divided, and... [ Continue Reading ]
_Joshua rose early in the morning_ Not after the return of the spies,
as may seem at first view, but after the three days mentioned Joshua
1:11, when orders were given to the army to make all necessary
provision for invading the enemies' country. _They came to Jordan and
lodged there_ That night, th... [ Continue Reading ]
_After three days_ The three days mentioned Joshua 1:11, either at the
end of them, or upon the last of them. _The officers went through the
host_ To give them more particular directions, as they had given a
general notice before. _They commanded the people_ In Joshua's name,
and by his authority. _... [ Continue Reading ]
_There shall be a space between you and it_ Thus it was made to appear
that the ark needed not to be guarded by the men of war, but was
itself a guard to them. With what a noble defiance of the enemy did it
leave all its friends far behind, save the unarmed priests that
carried it, as perfectly suff... [ Continue Reading ]
_And Joshua said_ He himself also, as well as the officers, by his
direction, spake to the people the day before their passage; and as
the matter was very important, he probably went himself from tribe to
tribe, to give the orders here mentioned. _Sanctify yourselves_ Not
only wash your clothes, and... [ Continue Reading ]
_Take up the ark_ Namely, upon your shoulders; for so they were to
carry it, Numbers 7:9. _Before the people_ Not in the middle of them,
as you used to do. _And they took up the ark_ They did as they were
commanded. And now we may suppose that prayer of Moses to be used,
which he addressed to God wh... [ Continue Reading ]
_This day will I begin to magnify thee_ That is, to honour thee in a
peculiar manner, and gain thee authority; _in the sight of all Israel_
As the person I have set in Moses's stead, and by whom I will conduct
them into the promised land. It has been observed by some, as a
remarkable circumstance, t... [ Continue Reading ]
_The brink of Jordan_ Hebrew, _to the extremity_, so far as the river
then spread itself, which was now more than ordinary, Joshua 3:15. _Ye
shall stand still in Jordan_ Within the waters of Jordan, in the first
entrance into the river; where they stood for a season, till the river
was divided, and... [ Continue Reading ]
_Come hither_ To the ark or tabernacle, the place of public
assemblies. _Hear the words of the Lord your God_ Who is now about to
give a proof that he is both the Lord, the omnipotent Governor of
heaven and earth, and all creatures, and your God, in covenant with
you, having a tender care and affect... [ Continue Reading ]
_Twelve men_ For the work described, Joshua 4:2. _The ark of the Lord_
That so it may appear this is the Lord's doing, and that in pursuance
of his covenant made with Israel. _Of all the earth_ The Lord of all
this globe of earth and water, who therefore can dispose of this river
and the adjoining l... [ Continue Reading ]
_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 throug... [ Continue Reading ]
_Adam_ The city of Adam, being more obscure, is described by its
nearness to a more known place, then eminent, but now unknown. The
meaning is, that the waters were stopped in their course at that
place, and so kept at a distance from the Israelites while they passed
over. _Against Jericho_ Here God... [ Continue Reading ]
_Stood firm_ That is, in one and the same place and posture; their
feet were neither moved by any waters flowing in upon them, nor sunk
into any mire, which one might think was at the bottom of the river.
And this may be opposed to their standing in the brink of the water
when they came to it, as co... [ Continue Reading ]