Joshua 3

Notes on the verses

Chap. III. Ver.1—17. Israel pass over Jordan, being preceded by the ark.—Archbishop Usher fixes the date of this event on the 28th of April, in the year of the world 2553, being the fortieth year after the Exodus. The ark was to pass on about three quarters of a mile before the people, in order to render the miracle of passing the river more conspicuous and decided. For the same reason, the time of the river overflowing was fixed upon for the passage, that it might not be pretended to have been a natural event. But it may be said, Why did not the Canaanites oppose their passage ? In the first place, if they heard of the attempt, it would be likely to provoke their ridicule; and when they saw the miracle, they would naturally be intimidated and terrified, as it appears (by the account of Rahab) was the case with the inhabitants of Jericho, who had heard of the passage of the Red sea, and would not be willing to risk the same destruction as Pharoah and his host met with on that occasion.

The timary object of this miraculous passage was, to convince oth the people of Israel and their enemies, that JeHovan, their God, was with Joshua, as he had been with Moses; that the one might be animated with courage and with confidence, and the other intimidated in opposing them. The New Testament authorizes us to consider Canaan as a type of heaven, though, like all other types, very inferior to the antitype, even as Joshua to our Saviour Jesus. Canaan was, Chap. Ill. Ver. 1. Jordan.—{Jordan, called by the Arabs E/ Sharia, takes its rise in Anti-Libanus, about twelve miles north of Cesarea Philippi, now Banias; and, having run about twelve miles southward, it receives a considerable stream, which is now called the Moiet Hasbeia.

About 15 miles farther, it furms the waters of Merom or Semechon, now How/e; and, after running about 28 miles more, it passes through the lake of Gennesareth, and thence runs southward till it loses itself in the Dead sea; its whole course being about 160 miles. ]—Bagster. Ver. 3. When ye see the ark.—In all other cases, the ark was to move in the centre of the camp, (as shown in the Plate,) but now it was to move before them, at the distance of 2000 cubits, or nearly three quarters of a mile, that the whole camp might view it as their guide. Ver. 4. The priests bearing it.—This office belonged in general to the Levites of the family of Kohath, (Numbers 4:15), but on this and some other special oe the priests were commanded to bear it, probably for the greater so- 11 Behold, the ark of the covenant of the m De.5.26.

Pr Lord of all the earth passeth over before 1 Th.1.9. you into Jordan. 14 J] And it came to pass, when the people indeed, vastly superior, as a residence, to the wilderness. through which they had passed, and afforded more permanent supplies; still, however, it was a country of but very partial rest. There were difficulties to be surmounted, and enemies to be subdued, in which respects it corresponded more with our present imperfect state than with that heavenly country where sin and sorrow can never efter. There is, however, a striking correspondence between the passage of Israel over Jordan, and that of the Christian believer through the valley of the shades of death. Joshua, no doubt, as well as Moses, and probably others of the elders of Israel, surveyed the promised land before they passed over to it; and on their passage through the Jordan, were animated and encouraged by the divine presence, which always accompanied the ark that now went before them, an occasioned the waters to retire both on one side and on the other.

Thus the Christian, animated by faith, and encouraged by the divine presence, may enter the stream without fear, and pass it in triumph; or should-his faith waver, and his courage fail, his passage is no less secure under his divine Leader, and his arrival no less certain. “*O could we make our doubts remove, Those gloomy doubts that rise, And see the Canaan that we love With unbeclouded eyes ! Could we but climb where Moses stood, And view the landscape o’er. Not Jordan’s stream, nor death’s cold flood, Should fright us from the shore.” Watts, Ver. 8. Ye shall stand still in Jordan.—When the priests first entered the bed of the river, its course was immediately arrested, the waters collecting in a heap above the place where the priests stood, while the lower waters ran of!

rapidly into the Dead sea, leaving the channel dry, to the extent of several miles, while the people passed safely over, to the number of 600,000 men, besides women and children.: hs J Ver. 10. The Canaanites, &c.—Those called Canaanites chiefly inhabitea what is called Phenicia, the environs of Tyre and Sidon; the Hittites occupied the mountains south of the promised land; the Hivites dwelt by Ebal and Gerizim, Sichem and Gibeon, towards the mountains of Hermon. The Perizzites were probably not a distinct nation or tribe, but rather villagers scattered through the country. The Girgashites possessed the country beyond the Jordan, toward the lake of Genesareth. The Jebusites possessed Jerusaiein.

The Amorites occupied the mountainous country in the vient os the western part of the Dead sea; also that part of the Jand of Moab, which the Israelites conquered from Sihon and Og.—Calmet and Clarke. ’ Ver. 15. Jordan overfloweth all his banks all the time of harvest.—This is what was called “‘ the swelling of Jordan.” ((Jeremiah 12:5).) [The ordinary current of the Jordan, near where the Israelites crossed, is said, by Mawndrell, to be about 20 yards across, deeper than a man’s height, and so rapid, as there is no swimming against it. It has, however, two banks; the first, or inner one, is that of the river in its natural state, and the second, or outer one, about a furlong distant, is that of its overflowings, which it does when the summer’s sun has melted the snow on mount Lebanon and Hermon, ir the months of March and April.

And this was the time which God chose that tne Israelites should pass over it; that a miraculous interposition might be necessary; and that by the miracle, they might be convinced of his omnipotence. }—Bagster. Ver. 16. The city of Adam, beside Zaretan.—*‘ The city Adam is wholly unknown.—Of Zaretan, see (1 Kings 4:12); vii. 46,"—Dr. Clarke. Ver. 17. On ay ground.—{" There are two obvious natural couses,” says King, “ by which the effect here described might be produced; though most certainly the bringing either one or both of them to act, on the precise occagion, and so very powerfully, could only be the immediate command of God, the great Creator of ull those powers in nature. The one might be an earthquake.

The other cause mizht be a strong south, or south-west wind, which might drive back, and retard the flowing of the waters above Jericho; whilst those below more easily found their way to the Dead sea, and left a tordable Passage at the appointed place. Either or hoth these causes might operate. We are by no meafis without experience of instances of such natural cauof things. We find on record, that in the year 1645, there arose, in the morning, so furious a wind at Geneva, that it laid dry the bed of the impetuous Rhone above the bridge; insomuch that many crossed quite over it dry, on foot; and the son of M. D’ Aubigny even picked up some ancient medals therein; the passage continuing free during an hour’s time.|—Bagster.

But how coulda body of men, requiring at least a space of 12 miles for their accommodation, with confidence pass over Jordan, on “ dry ground," unless some palpable miracle was wroaght. Besides, a direct miracle_is as easy and satisfactory a solution as such an unprecedented operation of natural causes.