Joshua 3:1
Then Joshua rose early in the morning and they set out from Shittim. And they came to the Jordan, he and all the people of Israel, and lodged there before they passed over.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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What's easily missed is that Joshua and the people arrive at the Jordan and lodge there for a night before crossing. This pause highlights their faith, as they trusted God's promise to make a way even while facing the intimidating, swollen river without yet knowing how they would cross.
The Israelites, having camped in the acacia groves of Shittim after crossing the plains of Moab, now prepare for the monumental task of crossing the Jordan River. Joshua, taking the lead with promptness and zeal, directs the people's movement towards the river's edge, where they encamp for the night before embarking on this unprecedented journey. This moment marks the beginning of a new phase, transitioning from wandering to conquest, with the mighty Jordan as the first formidable barrier.
Joshua and the people leave Shittim, a familiar resting place, and move toward the daunting Jordan River. This journey marks a pivotal transition, moving from the known into the completely unknown.
A New Beginning
Shittim, often translated as 'acacia groves,' represents a place of encampment, a temporary stop before a significant move. For 40 years, Israel had wandered, but now, under Joshua's leadership, they are actively advancing into the Promised Land.
The Brink of the Impossible
The Jordan River in springtime was not a gentle stream. Swollen with snowmelt from Mount Lebanon, it was a powerful, overflowing torrent, making any natural crossing seem impossible, especially for a vast multitude with women, children, and livestock.
This wasn't just a physical barrier; it was a test of obedience and faith. They were being led into a path they had never taken before, a place where human strategy and strength would fall short.
Even before the miracle, Joshua commands the people to 'sanctify yourselves.' What does this spiritual preparation reveal about the nature of stepping into God's promises?
The Call to Holiness
The command to 'sanctify yourselves' (or 'prepare yourselves') was not just about physical cleansing. It was a call to set themselves apart, to purify their hearts and minds in anticipation of God's extraordinary work. This echoes the preparation given before Mount Sinai when God was about to reveal His Law.
Trusting the Unseen Leader
The text emphasizes that Israel had 'not passed this way heretofore.' They didn't know the method or the outcome. Yet, they were to follow the Ark of the Covenant, the symbol of God's presence, even though the exact means of passage were unclear. This is the essence of faith: trusting God's guidance and power even when the path ahead is completely unknown and daunting.
Beyond Human Understanding
Understand the original words
Yĕhowshuwa` · Hebrew Proper Noun
A term used to describe the primary leader appointed by God to succeed Moses, whose name means 'The LORD is salvation.' He serves as a type of Christ who leads God's people into their inheritance.
Yarden · Hebrew Proper Noun
A prominent river in the Bible, often symbolizing a boundary, a place of transition, or an obstacle that can only be crossed through God's power. It represents the final threshold between the wilderness and the Promised Land.
This moment marks a pivotal transition, not just geographically into Canaan, but also in Israel's leadership and their reliance on God's direct intervention, mirroring the exodus from Egypt.
c. 1406 BC— this verse
Israelites Encamp at Shittim
The Israelites, having completed their 40 years of wandering in the desert, encamp in the plains of Moab, east of the Jordan River. This is their last encampment before crossing into the Promised Land.
c. 1406 BC
Joshua Orders Preparation to Cross
Joshua, having succeeded Moses, instructs the people to prepare for crossing the Jordan River. He tells them to sanctify themselves, as God will perform wonders the next day.
c. 1406 BC
Priests Carry the Ark of the Covenant
Joshua commands the priests to carry the Ark of the Covenant before the people, signifying God's presence and leadership in their upcoming, unprecedented crossing.
c. 1406 BC
Jordan River Waters Divided
As the priests carrying the Ark step into the Jordan's swollen waters, the river miraculously parts. Waters upstream pile up, and downstream waters recede, creating a dry path for the Israelites.
This passage describes God leading the Israelites out of Egypt with a pillar of cloud and fire, similar to how the Ark of the Covenant leads them across the Jordan here, signifying God's direct guidance in uncharted territory.
Numbers 10:33-36This describes the Ark of the Covenant leading the Israelites in their wilderness journey, highlighting its consistent role as the center of God's presence and the guide for His people, a role that continues in Joshua.
Psalm 114:1-8This Psalm poetically recounts the parting of the Red Sea and the Jordan, showing a deep theological connection to God's powerful acts of deliverance and His sovereignty over nature, as seen in Joshua's crossing.
1 Corinthians 10:1-4Paul explicitly uses the crossing of the Red Sea and the Jordan as examples of God's faithfulness and Christ's presence with His people, making this event a foundational type for Christian experience.
calvinJoshua 3:1-13: "And Joshua rose early in the morning; and they removed from Shittim, and came to Jordan, he and all the children of Israel, and lodged there before they passed over."
Yet there shall be a space between you and it, about two thousand cubits by measure: come not near unto it, that you may know the way by which you must go: for you have not passed this way heretofore.
Veruntamen interstitium erit inter vos et ipsam fere duorum milium cubitorum in mensura: ne appropinquetis e…
cambridgeJoshua 3:1: "And Joshua rose early in the morning; and they removed from Shittim, and came to Jordan, he and all the children of Israel, and lodged there before they passed over."
Ch. Joshua 3:1-13 . The Preparation for the Passage of Jordan 1 . they removed from Shittim ] They descended from the upper terraces of the valley of Jordan, from “the Grove of Acacias,” to the level of the river. to Jordan ] Speaking strictly, Jordan has a threefold bank:— ( a ) The lowest, at the edge of the river,…
What's easily missed is that Joshua and the people arrive at the Jordan and lodge there for a night before crossing. This pause highlights their faith, as they trusted God's promise to make a way even while facing the intimidating, swollen river without yet knowing how they would cross.
The Israelites, having camped in the acacia groves of Shittim after crossing the plains of Moab, now prepare for the monumental task of crossing the Jordan River. Joshua, taking the lead with promptness and zeal, directs the people's movement towards the river's edge, where they encamp for the night before embarking on this unprecedented journey. This moment marks the beginning of a new phase, transitioning from wandering to conquest, with the mighty Jordan as the first formidable barrier.
The Israelites, having camped in the acacia groves of Shittim after crossing the plains of Moab, now prepare for the monumental task of crossing the Jordan River. Joshua, taking the lead with promptness and zeal, directs the people's movement towards the river's edge, where they encamp for the night before embarking on this unprecedented journey. This moment marks the beginning of a new phase, transitioning from wandering to conquest, with the mighty Jordan as the first formidable barrier.
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Calvin notes that true faith doesn't question how God will act, but rests in the assurance that He will act. The people were not privy to the details of the miracle yet, but their obedience in preparing and moving forward demonstrated a profound trust.
This crossing wasn't just about Israel entering the land; it was about God making His power and presence undeniable, both to His people and to the nations.
God's Power Displayed
The Lord declares, 'This day I will begin to magnify you in the sight of all Israel.' The miracle of parting the Jordan was not merely to facilitate the crossing; it was a public demonstration. God intended for Israel to witness His power firsthand, ensuring they knew He was with Joshua just as He had been with Moses.
A Sign of Future Victories
Joshua explicitly links the Jordan crossing to the defeat of the Canaanites. He states, 'Hereby you shall know that the living God is among you, and that he will without fail drive out... the Canaanites.' The parting of the waters was a potent symbol and a prelude to God's power in conquering the land and dispossessing its inhabitants.
Establishing Joshua's Authority
By performing such a monumental miracle at the very beginning of Joshua’s leadership, God established him as the rightful successor to Moses. The people would know that God’s authority and power now rested fully on Joshua, giving them confidence to follow him into battle and into the land.
c. 1406 BC
Israelites Cross the Jordan
The entire nation of Israel, led by the Ark of the Covenant, passes over the dry riverbed of the Jordan River into the land of Canaan.
"Then Joshua rose early in the morning and they set out from Shittim. And they came to the Jordan, he and all the people of Israel, and lodged there before they passed over." — What's easily missed is that Joshua and the people arrive at the Jordan and lodge there for a night before crossing. This pause highlights their faith, as they trusted God's promise to make a way…
