Joshua 3

Joshua with the Israelites being departed from Sittim , cometh to Jordan , v.1. & c. the officers give direction when , and in what manner the people and the priests should march, 2. joshua comforteth and encourageth the people , declaring the wonderfull work which the LORD should do before their eyes , 9. drying up Jordan , untill the ark and all the people should have passed over it on drie-foot : 13.

1. Josua then rose early in the morning , and they journeyed from Sittim, and came unto Jordan , he and all the children of Israel : and they over-nighted there before they marched over .

2. And it came to passe , that the Officers at the end of three dayes , [Understand the end of the three dayes , wherof is spoken above chap.1.11. & see concerning this manner of speaking , Deut.15.1.] went thorow the midst of the Camp :

3. And charged the people , saying : When ye see the Ark of the covenant of the LORD your God , and the Leviticall Priests [i.e. who were all of the tribe of Levi but all that were of the tribe, were not Priests] bearing the same , do you likewise remove from your place , and follow after it .

4. Yet so that there be space between you , and between it about two thousand ells ( or cubits) in measure , and approach not unto it , that ye may know that way which ye shall go , for ye passed not that way yesterday ( and) eve yesterday . [i.e. heretofore. See Genes.31.2.]

5. Josua said [viz. before ; or had said] also unto the people , hallow your selves ; [Of hallowing , see Exodus 19:10. Levit 20.7. Numbers 11:18. Joshua 7:13. and 1 Sam.16.5.] for to morrow the LORD will do wonders in the midst of you. [See below v. 15, etc.]

6. Likewise Josua spake unto the Priests , saying , Take up the ark of the covenant , and passe over before the face of the people : Then they tooke up the Ark of the covenant , and they went before the face of the people .

7. For the LORD had said unto Josua , This day will I begin to magnifie thee [i.e.bring thee in repute & esteem by this miracle which I will do , whereby the people of Israel shall know that I have made thee the head over them and that by thy ministry I will bring them into the land of Canaan :] before the eyes of all Israel : that they may know that I will be with thee , even as I have been with Moseh.

8. Thou then shalt command the Priests , who bear the Ark of the covenant , saying : when ye are come unto the brink of the water of Jordan , stand still in Jordan.

9. Then Josua said unto the children of Israel , Draw neer hither , and hear the words of the LORD your God .

10. Moreover, josua said , hereby [To wit, by this miracle , which is related , verse 13.]ye shall acknowledge that the living God is in the midst of you , [Oth. that God is living in the midst of us] and that he will wholly drive out before your face the Canaanites , and the Hethites , and the Hivites , and the Perezites , and the Girgasites , and the Amorites , and the Jebusites .

11. Behold the ark of the covenant of the Lord of all the earth , [Oth. the Ark of the covenant ( yea) the Lord of the whole earth . Compare Micah 4:13. Zach.4.14. and 6.5.] passeth thorow before your face into Jordan .

12. Now then take ye unto yourselves twelve men out of the tribes of Israel , [viz. to offer that which is mentioned , below chap 4.2, etc .] out of every tribe a man [Heb. one man , one man out of one tribe .]

13. For it shall come to passe , assoon as the soles of the feet of the Priests who 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 , [Intimating , that the warer which descended from above should stand still , the other should run down] ( to wit ) the waters which came down from above , and they shall remain standing upon one heap .

14. And it came to passe when the people removed out of their tents , to passe over Jordan , that the Priests did bear the Ark of the covenant before the face of the people .

15. And they that bare the Ark were come unto Jordan , and the feet of the Priests that bare the Ark were dipped in the outmost (part) of the water ( Jordan now was full all the dayes of harvest [i.e. it was wont to be full at this time , that in his nature , and so was it likewise also at this time] on [Oth. above . See above chap.4.18.] all his banks : )

16. the waters which came down from above , stood : they rose up upon an heap , very far off from the citie Adam [This city is placed in some Maps on the east-side of Jordan over against Gilgal] which ( lieth) on the side of Zartan , [a place situate South-wards from adamon the east-side of Jordan . See of two other Zarthans , 1 Kings 4:12. and 7.46.] and those that came down toward the Sea of the plain ( to wit ) the salt Sea , [Heb. the sea of salt , see gen. 14.5.] they passed away , they were cut off : [intimaing that the lowermost waters with a speedy current straight-way descended , and emptied themselves or were swallowed in the salt-sea , that the people of God might walk on drie foot in the bottom of the River ,] then the people passed over , right against Jericho .

17. But the Priests that bare the Ark of the covenant of the LORD , stood firm on the drie (ground ) in the midst of Jordan : and all Israel went over upon the drie (ground ) untill all the people had made an end to passe thorow Jordan.