Joshua 3

Joshua 3:1

C. Crossing the Jordan (3:15:1)3:1-13 The time had come to cross . . . the Jordan River, which was now in flood stage. The priests were instructed to go forth, carrying the ark of the covenant. (The Kohathites usually carried the ark, as in Num_4:1-15, but the priests were to carry it on this special occasion.) The people were ordered to follow the ark at a distance, but always keeping it in view. The ark speaks of Christ. We should maintain a respectful distance by not irreverently trying to solve mysteries concerning His Person that are too deep for the human mind. Some of the worst heresies in Christian history have arisen because of brazen attempts to do this. But we should always keep Christ in view. This assures us of victory. 3:14-17 When the priests’ feet touched the water of the Jordan, a miracle occurred. The river was stopped at the city of Adam, some miles to the north. The waters piled up there in a heap, and whatever water was left in the bed of the river below that point drained into the Salt (Dead) Sea. Similar stoppages of the Jordan near where Adam no doubt was located took place in 1267, when the river was dammed for ten hours, and in 1927 for twenty-one hours. Both times it was due to earthquakes. However, D. K. Campbell argues that there is much here to suggest not merely perfect timing, but a special miracle: Many supernatural elements were brought together: (1) The event came to pass as predicted (3:13, 15). (2) The timing was exact (v. 15). (3) The event took place when the river was at flood stage (v. 15). (4) The wall of water was held in place for many hours, possibly an entire day (v. 16). (5) The soft, wet river bottom became dry at once (v. 17). (6) The water returned immediately as soon as the people had crossed over and the priests came up out of the river (Jos_4:18). Centuries later the Prophets Elijah and Elisha crossed the same river on dry ground to the east (2Ki_2:8). Soon thereafter Elisha crossed back over the river on dry ground. If a natural phenomenon is necessary to explain the Israelites’ crossing under Joshua, then one would have to conclude that two earthquakes occurred in quick sequence for Elijah and Elisha, which seems a bit presumptuous. God, represented by the ark, led the people into the Jordan even as He would lead them to victory west of the Jordan. He was demonstrating that His presence, which caused the waters to flee before Israel, was their hope of triumph, and not anything in themselves. The priests walked to the middle of the riverbed and stayed there while all Israel crossed over on dry ground.