Bible Commentaries
Joshua 3

Introduction

Overview

Joshua 3:1, Joshua comes to Jordan; Joshua 3:2, The officers instruct the people for their passage; Joshua 3:7, The Lord encourages Joshua; Joshua 3:9, Joshua encourages the people; Joshua 3:14, The water of Jordan are divided.

Verse 1

rose early: Archbishop Usher supposes, that this was upon Wednesday, the 28th of April, am 2553, the fortieth year of the Exodus from Egypt. From Shittim, where the israelites had been encamped for about two months - Deuteronomy 1:3, to the Jordan, was, according to Josephus, about sixty stadia; that is, between seven and eight English miles. Genesis 22:3, Psalms 119:60, Jeremiah 7:13, Jeremiah 25:3, Jeremiah 26:5, Mark 1:35

Shittim: Joshua 2:1, Numbers 25:1, Micah 6:5

Jordan: Jordan, called by the Arabs El 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 forms the waters of Merom or Semechon, now Houle; 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.

Reciprocal: Joshua 6:12 - Joshua rose Joshua 7:16 - rose up Joshua 8:10 - rose up Judges 7:1 - rose up Judges 20:19 - rose up Proverbs 31:15 - riseth

Verse 2

three days: Joshua 1:10, Joshua 1:11

Reciprocal: Numbers 10:33 - went before

Verse 3

Numbers 10:33

When ye see: Joshua 3:11

the priests: Joshua 3:6, Joshua 3:8, Joshua 3:14-17, Joshua 4:10, Joshua 6:6, Numbers 4:15, Deuteronomy 31:9, Deuteronomy 31:25, 2 Samuel 6:3, 2 Samuel 6:13, 1 Chronicles 15:11, 1 Chronicles 15:12

ye shall remove: Exodus 13:21, Exodus 13:22, Matthew 8:19, Matthew 16:24, Revelation 14:4

Reciprocal: Joshua 3:17 - the priests Joshua 4:16 - General Joshua 8:33 - priests 2 Samuel 15:24 - bearing 1 Chronicles 15:2 - None ought to

Verse 4

a space: Exodus 3:5, Exodus 19:12, Psalms 89:7, Hebrews 12:28, Hebrews 12:29

heretofore: Heb. since yesterday and the third day, Genesis 31:2, Exodus 4:10, 1 Chronicles 11:2, Isaiah 30:33, *marg.

Reciprocal: Exodus 19:23 - Set bounds Numbers 2:2 - far off Deuteronomy 19:4 - in time past Isaiah 42:16 - lead

Verse 5

Sanctify: Joshua 7:13, Exodus 19:10-15, Leviticus 10:3, Leviticus 20:7, Numbers 11:8, 1 Samuel 16:5, Job 1:5, Joel 2:16, John 17:19

the Lord: Joshua 3:13, Joshua 3:15, Psalms 86:10, Psalms 114:1-7

Reciprocal: Exodus 19:23 - Set bounds Joshua 11:6 - morrow 2 Kings 7:1 - To morrow

Verse 6

Take up: Joshua 3:3, Numbers 14:15, Numbers 10:33, Micah 2:13, John 14:2, John 14:3, Hebrews 6:20

Reciprocal: Numbers 4:33 - under the hand Deuteronomy 9:1 - to pass Joshua 3:14 - bearing the ark Joshua 6:6 - Take up the ark Joshua 8:33 - priests 2 Samuel 15:24 - bearing 1 Kings 8:3 - the priests took up 2 Chronicles 5:4 - the Levites Acts 7:45 - Jesus

Verse 7

magnify thee: Joshua 4:14, 1 Chronicles 29:25, 2 Chronicles 1:1, Job 7:17, Psalms 18:35, John 17:1, Philippians 1:20, Philippians 2:9-11

as I was: Joshua 1:5, Joshua 1:17

Reciprocal: Genesis 21:22 - God Genesis 26:28 - was with Genesis 48:21 - God Deuteronomy 3:28 - for he shall Deuteronomy 31:3 - and Joshua 2 Kings 2:15 - The spirit Hosea 13:1 - exalted Luke 1:15 - great Acts 7:45 - Jesus

Verse 8

command: Joshua 3:3, 1 Chronicles 15:11, 1 Chronicles 15:12, 2 Chronicles 17:8, 2 Chronicles 17:9, 2 Chronicles 29:4-11, 2 Chronicles 29:15, 2 Chronicles 29:27, 2 Chronicles 29:30, 2 Chronicles 30:12, 2 Chronicles 31:9, 2 Chronicles 31:10, 2 Chronicles 35:2-6, Nehemiah 12:24-28, Nehemiah 13:22, Nehemiah 13:28

ye shall stand: Joshua 3:17, Exodus 14:13, Lamentations 3:26

Reciprocal: Joshua 4:11 - that the ark

Verse 9

Hear the words: Deuteronomy 4:1, Deuteronomy 12:8

Verse 10

Hereby ye: Numbers 15:28-30, 1 Kings 18:36, 1 Kings 18:37, 1 Kings 22:28, Psalms 9:16, Isaiah 7:14, 2 Corinthians 13:2, 2 Corinthians 13:3

living: Deuteronomy 5:26, 1 Samuel 17:26, 2 Kings 19:4, Jeremiah 10:10, Hosea 1:10, Matthew 16:16, John 6:69, 1 Thessalonians 1:9, Hebrews 10:31

among: Joshua 22:31, Exodus 17:7, Deuteronomy 31:17, Judges 6:12, Judges 6:13

drive out from: Joshua 21:45, Genesis 15:15-18, Exodus 3:8, Exodus 23:27-30, Exodus 33:2, Deuteronomy 7:1, Psalms 44:2, Psalms 44:3

Reciprocal: Deuteronomy 4:38 - drive Deuteronomy 7:19 - so shall Deuteronomy 7:21 - the Lord Judges 2:1 - have brought Judges 11:24 - whomsoever 1 Samuel 12:8 - made them 1 Chronicles 1:14 - Amorite Amos 2:9 - I the Acts 14:15 - the living 2 Corinthians 3:3 - the living 1 Timothy 3:15 - the living Hebrews 12:22 - of the

Verse 11

the Lord: Joshua 3:13, Psalms 24:1, Isaiah 54:5, Jeremiah 10:7, Micah 4:13, Zephaniah 2:11, Zechariah 4:14, Zechariah 6:5, Zechariah 14:9

passeth: Joshua 3:3-6, Isaiah 3:12

Reciprocal: Numbers 10:33 - went before Deuteronomy 9:3 - goeth over Acts 7:45 - Which

Verse 12

Joshua 4:2, Joshua 4:9

Reciprocal: Joshua 18:4 - three Matthew 19:28 - the twelve

Verse 13

the soles: Joshua 3:15, Joshua 3:16, Exodus 14:19-22

of the Lord: Joshua 3:11

stand upon: Joshua 3:16, Exodus 15:8, Psalms 33:7, Psalms 78:13, Psalms 114:3-5, Habakkuk 3:15

Reciprocal: Exodus 14:21 - the Lord Deuteronomy 11:31 - General Joshua 3:5 - the Lord Joshua 4:3 - the priests feet Joshua 4:7 - the waters Joshua 4:10 - stood in the midst Joshua 4:18 - the soles 2 Chronicles 6:41 - the ark Psalms 18:15 - channels Psalms 74:15 - flood Isaiah 43:16 - maketh Nahum 1:4 - and drieth Zechariah 4:14 - the Lord Matthew 2:13 - until

Verse 14

bearing the ark: Joshua 3:3, Joshua 3:6, Joshua 6:6, Deuteronomy 31:26, Jeremiah 3:16, Acts 7:44, Acts 7:45, 1 Corinthians 1:24, 1 Corinthians 1:25, Hebrews 9:4

Reciprocal: Deuteronomy 9:1 - to pass Deuteronomy 9:3 - goeth over Deuteronomy 31:9 - which bare Joshua 8:33 - priests Joshua 22:11 - at the passage Joshua 24:11 - And ye 1 Kings 8:3 - the priests took up 2 Kings 2:8 - were Psalms 66:6 - they Psalms 111:6 - showed

Verse 15

the feet: Joshua 3:13, Isaiah 26:6

Jordan overfloweth: The ordinary current of the Jordan, near where the Israelites crossed, is said by Maundrell, to be about twenty yards across, deeper than a man's height, and so rapid, that 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, in the months of March and April. And this was the time which God chose that the Israelites should pass over it; that a miraculous interposition might be necessary; and that, by the miracle, they might be convinced of his omnipotence. Joshua 4:18, 1 Chronicles 12:15, Jeremiah 12:5, Jeremiah 49:19

all the time: Joshua 5:10-12, Leviticus 23:10-16, Deuteronomy 16:1-9

Reciprocal: Joshua 3:5 - the Lord 2 Samuel 15:24 - bearing 1 Kings 8:3 - the priests took up 2 Kings 5:12 - better Job 40:23 - Jordan Psalms 77:16 - General Isaiah 43:2 - passest Habakkuk 3:10 - the overflowing Zechariah 10:11 - smite

Verse 16

rose up: Joshua 3:13, Psalms 29:10, Psalms 77:19, Psalms 114:3, Matthew 8:26, Matthew 8:27, Matthew 14:24-33

Zaretan: 1 Kings 4:12, Zartanah, 1 Kings 7:46, Zarthan

the salt sea: Joshua 15:2, Genesis 14:3, Numbers 34:3, Deuteronomy 3:17, The passage through the Red Sea took place in the night, when the Israelites were fleeing from the Egyptians with great trepidation, but they passed Jordan in the day-time, with previous warning, leisurely, directly opposite to Jericho, and with a triumphant defiance of the Canaanites; this passage into the promised land evidently typifying the believer's passage through death to heaven.

Reciprocal: Exodus 14:29 - a wall Numbers 22:1 - on this side Deuteronomy 9:1 - to pass Joshua 4:10 - stood in the midst Joshua 12:3 - the sea Joshua 16:7 - Jericho Joshua 18:12 - Jericho Joshua 18:19 - the salt Judges 6:33 - went over 2 Chronicles 20:2 - beyond the sea Psalms 33:7 - heap Psalms 66:6 - they Psalms 77:16 - General Psalms 78:13 - made Psalms 126:4 - as the streams Isaiah 50:2 - I dry Isaiah 63:12 - dividing Ezekiel 47:8 - desert Habakkuk 3:8 - the Lord Habakkuk 3:10 - the overflowing

Verse 17

the priests: Joshua 3:3-6

stood firm: Joshua 4:3, 2 Kings 2:8

all the Israelites: Exodus 14:22, Exodus 14:29, Psalms 66:6, Isaiah 25:8, Hebrews 11:29

Reciprocal: Genesis 8:16 - General Numbers 33:51 - General Deuteronomy 12:10 - But when Joshua 3:8 - ye shall stand Joshua 4:1 - were clean passed Joshua 4:10 - stood in the midst Joshua 4:11 - that the ark Joshua 4:22 - General Joshua 9:1 - on this Joshua 12:7 - on this side Nehemiah 9:23 - broughtest Daniel 3:26 - come forth Habakkuk 3:8 - the Lord Matthew 2:13 - until