Bible Commentaries
Joshua 3

Verses 1-17

Israel Crosses Over the Jordan River Joshua 3:1 to Joshua 4:24 records the account of Israel’s crossing of the Jordan River.

Joshua 3:4 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.

Joshua 3:4 Comments - The children of Israel had been led through the wilderness for forty years by a divine manifestation of a cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night. There were perhaps several million Israelites crossing over the Jordan River. They needed to see those leading them in order to walk in the right direction, since they no longer had the cloud or pillar of fire to guide them. Therefore, Joshua sent the Levites with the ark ahead of them two thousand cubits. They were now to be led by faith in the Word and the Law of God.

Joshua 3:7 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.

Joshua 3:7 Comments - Unbelievers and those weak in their faith in God need a sign and a wonder to stimulate their faith. God was going to work a miracle for the children of Israel so that they would be willing to follow and obey Joshua.

Joshua 3:15 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,)

Joshua 3:15 Comments - The waters of the Jordan River returned to its normal flow in Joshua 4:18.

Joshua 4:18, “And it came to pass, when the priests that bare the ark of the covenant of the LORD were come up out of the midst of Jordan, and the soles of the priests' feet were lifted up unto the dry land, that the waters of Jordan returned unto their place , and flowed over all his banks, as they did before.”

Joshua 4:13 About forty thousand prepared for war passed over before the LORD unto battle, to the plains of Jericho.

Joshua 4:13 “About forty thousand prepared for war” - Comments - According to the last census taken in Numbers 26:0:

Reuben was 43,730 men of war (Numbers 26:7).

Gad was 40,500 men of war (Numbers 26:18).

Manasseh was 52,700 men of war (Numbers 26:34).

The grand total is 136,930 men of war in these three tribes.

If you count half of Manasseh, the number of men able to go to war was 110,580 men. So, if around 40,000 men crossed over, this left about 70,000 men who stayed with their wives and children. Therefore, about one third of the men from these tribes crossed over, and two thirds stayed in their territories.

Joshua 4:14 On that day the LORD magnified Joshua in the sight of all Israel; and they feared him, as they feared Moses, all the days of his life.

Joshua 4:14 Comments - People will reverence and obey those whom they fear, just like a young child fears and obeys his father. Israel served God all of Joshua’s days (Joshua 24:31), but forsook God quickly afterwards (Judges 2:10).

Joshua 24:31, “And Israel served the LORD all the days of Joshua, and all the days of the elders that overlived Joshua, and which had known all the works of the LORD, that he had done for Israel.” (almost the same verse as Judges 2:6)

Judges 2:10, “And also all that generation (Joshua's generation) were gathered unto their fathers: and there arose another generation after them, which knew not the LORD, nor yet the works which he had done for Israel.”

Joshua 4:18 And it came to pass, when the priests that bare the ark of the covenant of the LORD were come up out of the midst of Jordan, and the soles of the priests' feet were lifted up unto the dry land, that the waters of Jordan returned unto their place, and flowed over all his banks, as they did before.

Joshua 4:18 Comments - The waters of the Jordan River were stopped in Joshua 3:15.

Joshua 3:15, “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,)”