The Israelites leave the camp at Shittim and stay by the Jordan River for three days. On the third day, the officers tell them to follow the ark of the covenant carried by the Levitical priests from 2,000 cubits away.
Joshua 3:1-4 depicts the relocation of the camp of the Israelites from Shittim to the banks of the Jordan River.
The previous chapter explained how a prostitute named Rahab trusted in God and saved two Israelite spies sent by Joshua to Jericho. Once the king of Jericho knew the men arrived at Rahab’s house, he sent words to her, asking her to deliver them to him. Rahab misled the king’s agents, telling them the Israelite men had left her house. Meanwhile, she hid the scouts on her house’s roof and told them how to escape safely. When the scouts returned to Joshua by the evening of the third day, they brought a positive report, telling him the LORD would grant them victory over their foes (Joshua 2). The news was so encouraging and uplifting that Joshua rose early in the morning. He did so immediately after the spies returned. Hence, he and all the sons of Israel set out from Shittim (v. 1).
The word Shittim transliterates the Hebrew word for “acacia trees.” Shittim is a large area in the plains of Moab across from the city of Jericho, east of the Jordan, and north of the Dead Sea. It was where King Balak of Moah hired a pagan seer named Balaam to curse the Israelites and prevent them from entering the Promised Land. Instead, Balaam blessed the people (Numbers 22-24). Shittim was also where Moses delivered his farewell speech and final blessing to the Israelites before his death (Deuteronomy 31-33). Joshua and the Israelites had stayed at Shittim since their victory over the Amorite kings (Sihon and Og) in the wilderness (Numbers 25:1). Now that they received good news from the spies, they were emboldened about possessing the Promised Land. Thus, they left Shittimearly in the morning and came to the Jordan.
The term Jordan refers to the 156-mile-long river which flows north to south from the Sea of Galilee to the Dead Sea. It separates the western part of Canaan from the east. The Hebrew etymology of the word Jordan means “descending from Dan.” This is because the Jordan river originates in the territory belonging to the tribe of Dan where it flows out of its subterranean aquifer near Caesarea Philippi (also known as “Banias,” named after the pagan god Pan/Ban). This aquifer is sustained from the melting snows on Mount Hermon. Since it was the boundary of the Promised Land, Joshua and the Israelites were to cross it with prudence. Theylodged there before they crossed so they could make their final preparations. At the end of three days, the officers went through the midst of thecamp with instructions for the Israelites (v. 2).
The officers (Hebrew, “shōṭēr”) were officials who served in different areas of government administration and law enforcement. In Numbers and Deuteronomy, the LORD had appointed them to help Moses in his administrative tasks because they held high esteem in the ancient Israelite community (Numbers 11:16; Deuteronomy 1:15). Under Joshua’s command, the officers already passed through the camp to urge the people to get enough food supplies for the journey (Joshua 1:10-11). Now again, they passed through the campand commanded the people, saying, “When you see the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God with the Levitical priests carrying it, then you shall set out from your place and go after it” (v. 3).
The ark was a wooden box covered with gold, a sacred object that pictured the presence of God with His covenant people (Exodus 25:10-22).. It contained the stone tablets on which the LORD wrote the Ten Commandments. As such, the Israelites needed to follow the ark carried by the Levitical priests so God could guide them and grant them victory over their adversaries as they entered the Promised Land. The LORD would do so for the Israelites because He was their God. The lid of the Ark is called “The Mercy Seat” and was where God told Moses He would meet with him,
“There I will meet with you; and from above the mercy seat.” (Exodus 25:22)
The Hebrew term translated as LORD is Yahweh, the self-existent and eternal God who revealed Himself to Moses at the burning bush (Exodus 3:14). This term often emphasizes God’s covenant relationship with the Israelites. In this relationship, Yahweh was the Suzerain ruler, and Israel was the vassal. He was their covenant partner who always did what was in their best interest. In our passage, God would ensure His people take the necessary steps to conquer the land He promised them. Therefore, He provided them with the Ark of the Covenant to symbolize His presence among them. The Levitical priests would carry it and lead the people.
The term Levitical came from Levi, the third son of Jacob with Leah (Genesis 29:34). Levi was the father of the tribe of Levi, from which Moses and Aaron descended. The Levitical priests descended from Aaron, the first High Priest of Israel. Their purpose was to minister in the Tabernacle, and, later, the temple. They were to offer sacrifices to God on behalf of the people, serving as mediators between man and God. As religious leaders, they were to carry the ark of the covenant, “to stand before the LORD to serve Him, and to bless in His name” (Deuteronomy 10:8). The officers instructed the people to follow the ark because they were to depend on God to achieve success in the land of Canaan.
Although the Ark of the Covenant would be a visible symbol to lead the Israelites, the people were not permitted to get close to it. The officers made that clear when they stated: There shall be between you and it a distance of about 2,000 cubits by measure (v. 4). That means they were to stay at least 914 meters—over half a mile—away from the ark. Doing so would remind them that the ark was sacred since it represented a holy and perfect God. The officers reiterated the command in the negative to strengthen it: Do not come near it! The purpose of keeping a healthy distance from the ark was that you may know the way by which you shall go, for you have not passed this way before.
God’s commands regarding who was and who was not allowed to touch the Ark were serious. Centuries later, when King David was bringing the Ark from Kiriath-jearim to the city of Jerusalem, a man named Uzzah touched the Ark and was struck dead (1 Chronicles 13:10).
The Israelites were about to embark on an entirely new undertaking. They had long heard about the land of Canaan, and except for Joshua and Caleb, the people had never seen it or lived in it before. Indeed, they needed caution as they crossed the Jordan River to enter Canaan. Without the LORD’s guidance and care, the people would not know which direction to take. Therefore, they would do well to obey God’s command.
The first generation of Israelites missed out on the opportunity to inherit God’s reward. They were afraid of entering the Promised Land, and thus experienced separation from God’s promise. They did not have faith that these promises were true to act upon them (Numbers 14:7-9). Had they trusted and obeyed God, they would have received His blessing.
In our own lives, we become who God has designed us to be when we change our thoughts to God's thoughts and walk the path which God directs us to pursue. All other roads will lead to futility and loss. All other paths separate us from God's (good) design. The promises of God have no benefit to us if we do not have the faith to walk in them. In order to possess God's promises, we must take action and obey Him. Without trust in God, we cannot be obedient to Him; faith is required to gain the reward of our inheritance (Hebrews 3:18-19). This second generation of Israelites, led by Joshua, were faithful and ready to obey God’s calling for their lives.
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Joshua 3:1–4 meaning
Joshua 3:1-4 depicts the relocation of the camp of the Israelites from Shittim to the banks of the Jordan River.
The previous chapter explained how a prostitute named Rahab trusted in God and saved two Israelite spies sent by Joshua to Jericho. Once the king of Jericho knew the men arrived at Rahab’s house, he sent words to her, asking her to deliver them to him. Rahab misled the king’s agents, telling them the Israelite men had left her house. Meanwhile, she hid the scouts on her house’s roof and told them how to escape safely. When the scouts returned to Joshua by the evening of the third day, they brought a positive report, telling him the LORD would grant them victory over their foes (Joshua 2). The news was so encouraging and uplifting that Joshua rose early in the morning. He did so immediately after the spies returned. Hence, he and all the sons of Israel set out from Shittim (v. 1).
The word Shittim transliterates the Hebrew word for “acacia trees.” Shittim is a large area in the plains of Moab across from the city of Jericho, east of the Jordan, and north of the Dead Sea. It was where King Balak of Moah hired a pagan seer named Balaam to curse the Israelites and prevent them from entering the Promised Land. Instead, Balaam blessed the people (Numbers 22-24). Shittim was also where Moses delivered his farewell speech and final blessing to the Israelites before his death (Deuteronomy 31-33). Joshua and the Israelites had stayed at Shittim since their victory over the Amorite kings (Sihon and Og) in the wilderness (Numbers 25:1). Now that they received good news from the spies, they were emboldened about possessing the Promised Land. Thus, they left Shittim early in the morning and came to the Jordan.
The term Jordan refers to the 156-mile-long river which flows north to south from the Sea of Galilee to the Dead Sea. It separates the western part of Canaan from the east. The Hebrew etymology of the word Jordan means “descending from Dan.” This is because the Jordan river originates in the territory belonging to the tribe of Dan where it flows out of its subterranean aquifer near Caesarea Philippi (also known as “Banias,” named after the pagan god Pan/Ban). This aquifer is sustained from the melting snows on Mount Hermon. Since it was the boundary of the Promised Land, Joshua and the Israelites were to cross it with prudence. They lodged there before they crossed so they could make their final preparations. At the end of three days, the officers went through the midst of the camp with instructions for the Israelites (v. 2).
The officers (Hebrew, “shōṭēr”) were officials who served in different areas of government administration and law enforcement. In Numbers and Deuteronomy, the LORD had appointed them to help Moses in his administrative tasks because they held high esteem in the ancient Israelite community (Numbers 11:16; Deuteronomy 1:15). Under Joshua’s command, the officers already passed through the camp to urge the people to get enough food supplies for the journey (Joshua 1:10-11). Now again, they passed through the camp and commanded the people, saying, “When you see the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God with the Levitical priests carrying it, then you shall set out from your place and go after it” (v. 3).
The ark was a wooden box covered with gold, a sacred object that pictured the presence of God with His covenant people (Exodus 25:10-22).. It contained the stone tablets on which the LORD wrote the Ten Commandments. As such, the Israelites needed to follow the ark carried by the Levitical priests so God could guide them and grant them victory over their adversaries as they entered the Promised Land. The LORD would do so for the Israelites because He was their God. The lid of the Ark is called “The Mercy Seat” and was where God told Moses He would meet with him,
“There I will meet with you; and from above the mercy seat.”
(Exodus 25:22)
The Hebrew term translated as LORD is Yahweh, the self-existent and eternal God who revealed Himself to Moses at the burning bush (Exodus 3:14). This term often emphasizes God’s covenant relationship with the Israelites. In this relationship, Yahweh was the Suzerain ruler, and Israel was the vassal. He was their covenant partner who always did what was in their best interest. In our passage, God would ensure His people take the necessary steps to conquer the land He promised them. Therefore, He provided them with the Ark of the Covenant to symbolize His presence among them. The Levitical priests would carry it and lead the people.
The term Levitical came from Levi, the third son of Jacob with Leah (Genesis 29:34). Levi was the father of the tribe of Levi, from which Moses and Aaron descended. The Levitical priests descended from Aaron, the first High Priest of Israel. Their purpose was to minister in the Tabernacle, and, later, the temple. They were to offer sacrifices to God on behalf of the people, serving as mediators between man and God. As religious leaders, they were to carry the ark of the covenant, “to stand before the LORD to serve Him, and to bless in His name” (Deuteronomy 10:8). The officers instructed the people to follow the ark because they were to depend on God to achieve success in the land of Canaan.
Although the Ark of the Covenant would be a visible symbol to lead the Israelites, the people were not permitted to get close to it. The officers made that clear when they stated: There shall be between you and it a distance of about 2,000 cubits by measure (v. 4). That means they were to stay at least 914 meters—over half a mile—away from the ark. Doing so would remind them that the ark was sacred since it represented a holy and perfect God. The officers reiterated the command in the negative to strengthen it: Do not come near it! The purpose of keeping a healthy distance from the ark was that you may know the way by which you shall go, for you have not passed this way before.
God’s commands regarding who was and who was not allowed to touch the Ark were serious. Centuries later, when King David was bringing the Ark from Kiriath-jearim to the city of Jerusalem, a man named Uzzah touched the Ark and was struck dead (1 Chronicles 13:10).
The Israelites were about to embark on an entirely new undertaking. They had long heard about the land of Canaan, and except for Joshua and Caleb, the people had never seen it or lived in it before. Indeed, they needed caution as they crossed the Jordan River to enter Canaan. Without the LORD’s guidance and care, the people would not know which direction to take. Therefore, they would do well to obey God’s command.
The first generation of Israelites missed out on the opportunity to inherit God’s reward. They were afraid of entering the Promised Land, and thus experienced separation from God’s promise. They did not have faith that these promises were true to act upon them (Numbers 14:7-9). Had they trusted and obeyed God, they would have received His blessing.
In our own lives, we become who God has designed us to be when we change our thoughts to God's thoughts and walk the path which God directs us to pursue. All other roads will lead to futility and loss. All other paths separate us from God's (good) design. The promises of God have no benefit to us if we do not have the faith to walk in them. In order to possess God's promises, we must take action and obey Him. Without trust in God, we cannot be obedient to Him; faith is required to gain the reward of our inheritance (Hebrews 3:18-19). This second generation of Israelites, led by Joshua, were faithful and ready to obey God’s calling for their lives.