Matthew Poole and continuators on Joshua 3

AND Joshua rose early in the morning , and they removed from Shittirn, and came to Jordan, he, and all the children of Israel, and lodged there before they passed over.

Not after the return of the Spies, as may seem at first view; but after the three days, as it follows v. 2.

That night, that they might go over in the day time, partly that the Miracle might be more evident and unquestionable; and partly to strike the greater terror into their Enemies.

2 And it came to pass after three days , that the Officers went through the host ;

Either, 1. at the end of the three days mentioned, Iosh. 1. 11. or upon the last of them, as this Phrase is used: See on Deut. 15. 1. Or, 2. after those days were expired: See on Iosh. 1. 11.

The second time to give them more particular Directions, as they had given them a general notice, Iosh. 1. 10, 11.

3 And they commanded the people , saying, When ye see the ark of the Covenant of the LORD your God, and the Priests the Levites bearing it, then ye shall remove from your place, and go after it .

In Ioshua's name, and by his Authority.

Who were not only Levites, but Priests also. For although the Levites were to carry the Ark, Numb. 4. yet the Priests might perform that Office, and did so upon some solemn occasions, as here, and Iosh. 6. 6. Chap. 3. 3.

Towards Iordan, to go over it in such manner as I am about to describe. Till this time the Ark went in the middle of the cloudy Pillar, probably being now vanished; now it goes in the Front.

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.

Which make a thousand yards, and at which distance from it the Israelites seem to have been encamped in the Wilderness. And because they generally went from their Tents to the Ark to worship God, especially on the Sabbathdays; hence it hath been conceived, that a Sabbath-days journey reached only to 2000. Cubits. But that may be doubted; for those who encamped nearest the Ark, were at that distance from it, and came so far; but the most were further from it, and their Sabbath-days journey was considerably longer.

Partly from the reverent respect they should bear to the Ark; and partly for the following reason.

That the Ark marching so far before you into the River, and standing still there till you pass over, may give you the greater assurance of your safe passage.

Marginal references: ‡ Heb. [illegible: 1 word] yesterday and the third [illegible: 1 word]

5 And Joshua said unto the people, sanctifie your selves : for to morrow the LORD will do wonders among you.

Or rather, had said, to wit, the day before their passage; for it follows, to morrow, &c.

Both in Soul and Body, that you may be meet to receive such a favour, and with more Attention and Reverence observe and ponder this great Work, and fix it in your Hearts and Memories: See on Exod. 19. 10. Lev. 20. 7.

Marginal references: Exod. 19, 14, 15. Lev. 20. 7. Num. 11. 18 Chap. 7. 13. 1 Sam. 16. [illegible: 1+ letters] Joel 2. 16.

6 And Joshua spake unto the priests, saying, Take up the ark of the covenant, and pass over before the people . And they took up the ark of the covenant, and went before the people.

To wit, upon your shoulders; for so they were to carry it, Numb. 7. 9.

Not in the middle of them, as you used to do.

7 And the LORD said unto Joshua, This day will I begin to magnifie thee in the sight of all Israel , that they may know that as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee.

i. e. To gain thee Authority and Reputation among them, as the person whom I have set in Moses his stead, and by whom I will conduct them to the Possession of the promised Land.

Marginal references: Chap. 1. [illegible: 1+ letters]

8 And thou shalt command the Priests that bear the Ark of the Covenant, saying, When ye are come to the brink of the water of Jordan, ye shall stand still in Jordan .

Heb. to the extremity, so far as the River then spread it self, which was now more than ordinary, v. 15.

Within the waters of Iordan, in the first entrance into the River; where they stood for a season, till the River was divided, and then they went into the midst of it, as it is implyed v. 17. and there abode till all the people were passed over, as it follows in the History.

9 And Joshua said unto the children of Israel, Come hither , and hear the words of the LORD your God .

To the Ark or Tabernacle, the place of publick Assemblies.

Who is now about to give a proof that he is both the Lord, the Omnipotent Governour of Heaven and Earth, and all Creatures; and your God, in Covenant with you, having a tender care and true affection for you.

10 And Joshua said, Hereby ye shall know that the living God is among you , and that he will without fail drive out from before you the Canaanite, and the Hittite, and the Hivite, and the Perizzite, and the Girgashite, and the Amorite, and the Jebusite.

To wit, by experience and sensible evidence.

Not a dull, dead, sensless and unactive God, such as the gods of the Nations are; but a God of life, and power, and activity to watch over you, and work for you.

Is present with you to strengthen and help you, as the Phrase signifies, Exod. 17. 7. Deut. 31. 17. Iosh. 22. 31.

11 Behold, the ark of the covenant, of the LORD of all the earth, passeth over before you into Jordan .

Into part of the River.

12 Now therefore take ye twelve men out of the Tribes of Israel, out of every Tribe a man.

For the work described, Iosh. 4. 2, 3.

13 And it shall come to pass assoon as the soles of the feet of the priests that 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 from the waters that come down from above : and [they shall stand upon an heap .

That so it may appear that this is the Lords doing, and that in pursuance, and for the accomplishment of his Covenant made with Israel.

The Lord of all this terrestrial Globe made of Earth and Water, who therefore can dispose of this River and the adjoyning Land as he pleaseth.

The Waters which now are united shall be divided, and part shall flow down the Channel towards the Dead-Sea, and the other part that is nearer the Spring or Rise of the River, and flows down from it, shall stand still.

Being as it were congealed, as the Red-Sea was, Exod. 15. 8. and so kept from overflowing all the Country.

Marginal references: Psal. 114. 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)

Which is also noted, 1 Chron. 12. 15. Ecclus. 24. 36. and by Aristoeas in his History of the LXX Interpreters. This is meant not of the Wheat-harvest, but of the Barleyharvest, (which was before it, Ruth 1. 22. 2 Sam. 21. 9.) as is manifest from their keeping of the Passover at their first entrance, Iosh. 5. 10. which Feast was kept on the fourteenth day of their first Month, when they were to bring a Sheaf of their first-fruits, Levit. 23. 10. Deut. 16. 9, 10. which were of Barley, as Iosephus affirms, and is evident from the thing it self. So that this Harvest in those hot Countreys fell very early in the Spring, when Rivers use to swell most; partly because of the rains which have fallen all the Winter, and partly because of the Snows which then melt into Water and come into the Rivers; for which Reasons the same overflowing of Water which is here ascribed to Iordan, is by other Authors ascribed to Euphrates, and Tigris, and the Rhine, and Main, &c. And this time God chose for this Work, partly that the Miracle might be more glorious in it self, more obliging to the Israelites, and more amazing and terrible to the Canaanites; and partly that the Israelites might be entertained at their first entrance with more plentiful and comfortable Provisions.

Marginal references: 1 Chron. 12. 15. Jer. 12. 5. & 49. 19.

16 That the waters which came down from above, stood and rose up upon an heap very far from the city Adam that is beside Zaretan ; and those that came down toward the sea of the plain, even the salt sea failed, and were cut off: and the people passed over right against Jericho .

Which having been affirmed by Heathen Writers to have been done by Magicians, it is great impudence to disbelieve or doubt of Gods power to do it.

The City Adam being more obscure, is described by its nearness to a more known place, Zaretan, or Sarthan, which some think is the same place mentioned 1 King. 4. 12. and 7. 46. but it rather seems to have been another place then eminent, but now unknown, as many thousands are. The meaning is, That the Waters were stopped in their course at that place, and so kept at a due distance from the Israelites whilst they passed over.

Here God carried them over, because this part was, 1. The strongest, as having in its Neighbourhood an eminent City, a potent King, and a stout and Warlike people. 2. The most pleasant and fruitful, and therefore more convenient both for the Refreshment of the Israelites after their long and tedious Marches, and for their Encouragement to their present Expedition.

17 And the priests that bare the ark of the covenant of the LORD, stood firm on dry ground in the midst of Jordan , and all the Israelites passed over on dry ground, until all the people were passed clean over Jordan.

i. e. In one and the same place and posture; their [illegible: 1+ letters]eet neither moved by any Waters flowing in upon them, nor finking into any mire, which one might think was at the bottom of the River. And this may be opposed unto their other standing in the brink of the water when they came to it, commanded, v. 8. which was but for a while, till the Waters were divided and gone away; and then they were to go further, even into the midst of Iordan, as is here said, where they are to stand constantly and fixedly, as this Hebrew word signifies, until all were passed over. If it be said, that what is prescribed, v. 8. is here said to be executed; and therefore the midst of Iordan here, is the same place with the brink of the water of Iordan, v. 8. It may be answered, That the manifest variation of the Phrase shews, that it is not absolutely the same thing or place which is spoken of there and here; but what is there enjoyned, is here executed with advantage; for when it is said, that they stood firm—in the midst of Iordan, it must needs be supposed, that they first came to the brink of the water, and that they stood there for a season till the Waters were cut off and dried up, as appears from the nature of the thing; and that they went further, even into the midst of Iordan.

Either, 1. within Iordan, as it is expressed above, v. 8. for that Phrase doth not always signifie the exact middle of a place, but any part within it, as appears from Gen. 45. 6. Exod. 8. 22. and 24. 18. Iosh. 7. 13. and 10. 13. Prov. 30. 19. Or rather, 2. in the middle and deepest part of the River. For, 1. words should be taken properly, where they may without any inconveniency, which is the case here. 2. The Ark went before them to direct, and encourage and secure them in the dangers of their Passages, for which ends the middle was the fittest place. 3. In this sense this same Phrase is used Iosh. 4. v. 3, 8. For certainly those Stones which were to be Witnesses and Monuments of their Passage over Iordan, should not be taken from the brink or brim of the River, or from the shore which Iordan overflowed only at that season, but from the most inward and deepest parts of the River; and v. 16, 17, 18. where the Priests are said to ascend or come up out of Iordan, and out of the midst of Iordan—unto the dry land; whereas had this been meant only of the first entrance into the River, they must have been said first to go down into Iordan, and then to go up to the land.