The Israelites begin crossing the Jordan River. The LORD stops the upstream waters and cuts off the downstream, allowing the Levitical priests who carry the Ark of the Covenant to stand still in the Jordan River on dry ground until the entire nation finishes crossing it.
In Joshua 3:14-17, the Israelites finally enter the Promised Land.
In the previous section, the LORD vowed to exalt Joshua through the miracle of crossing the Jordan River. He then gave him instructions for the priests. Joshua urged the Israelites to hear God’s words to confirm His presence with them as they got ready to fight against the Canaanite nations and conquer the Promised Land. Finally, the LORD commanded the priests to carry the Ark of the Covenant and stand still in the Jordan River because the LORD would stop the waters to allow His people to march on dry ground (Joshua 3:7-13).
In the present section, the Israelites began to put their faith into action. The crossing started when the people set out from their tents with the priests carrying the ark of the covenant before the people (v. 14). The Israelites had lodged by the Jordan River for three days to receive Joshua’s final instructions. As part of their preparations, Joshua urged them to consecrate themselves (to practice purity ceremonies). This may have been the same ceremonial purification as was commanded in Exodus 19, where the LORD instructed Moses to “consecrate the people today and tomorrow” so that they could meet Him on the third day on Mount Sinai (Exodus 19:10, 22). This ceremony involved washing their “garments” and abstaining from sexual relations (Exodus 19:14-15).
The priests who carried the ark came into the Jordan, and the feet of the priests carrying the ark were dipped in the edge of the water (v. 15). That event occurred during springtime when the melting snow from the Anti-Lebanon mountains created a flood stage for the Jordan River. The name Jordan means “descending from Dan.” This is because the Jordan River initially springs in the territory belonging to the tribe of Dan where it flows out of its subterranean aquifer near Caesarea Philippi (also known as “Banias,” names after the pagan god Pan/Ban). This aquifer is sustained from the melting snows of Mount Hermon.
It was a dangerous time to cross because the river overflowed all its banks all the days of harvest. However, the LORD who created the heavens and earth performed a miracle: The waters flowing down from above stood and rose up in one heap (v. 16). That was a great distance away at Adam, the city beside Zarethan.
Adam was on the eastern side of the Jordan Valley and south of where the Jabbok River flows. It is about 18 miles north of Jericho. Today, its name is Damiya. The city of Zarethan was also on the east bank. Archaeologists identify it with either Tell es-Sa’idiyeh, about 12 miles further north, or Tell Umm Hamad on the north side of the Jabbok. While the waters from upstream stopped flowing, those flowing down toward the sea of the Arabah, the Salt Sea, were completely cut off. The sea of the Arabah (also called the Salt Sea) is the Dead Sea, which lies 18 miles from the town of Adam.
The text provides these geographical details to emphasize the magnitude of the miracle the LORD performed on behalf of His covenant people. While the Jordan River was at its flood stage, Yahweh stopped the upstream waters and cut off the downstream, causing the river to dry.
This miracle was a sign to the Israelites that God was among them. It is an obvious parallel to the crossing of the Red Sea when the Israelites left Egypt (Exodus 14). Here at the Jordan, God had performed a miracle that would remind the Israelites of when Moses parted the Red Sea and made a dry path through, by the power of God, showing that Joshua had taken Moses’s place as leader.
As a result, the people crossed opposite Jericho (v. 16). The Israelites at last had finished their wilderness wanderings and were moving forward to finally inherit the Promised Land.
The city of Jericho was in the lower Jordan Valley, west of the Jordan River and about ten miles northwest of the Dead Sea. The Bible calls it the “city of palms” because it had abundant palm trees (Deuteronomy 34:3; Judges 1:16; 2 Chronicles 28:15). It was a secure fortress with formidable walls. It was the first city that stood in Israel’s way. Thus, once the people crossed the Jordan River, they reached Jericho.
Joshua 3:14-17 concludes the narrative by describing once again how the miracle occurred: The priests who carried the ark of the covenant of the LORD initiated the action (v. 17).
They stood firm on dry ground in the middle of the Jordan while all Israel crossed on dry ground. The author repeated the phrase on dry ground to show the extent of the wonder. Although the Jordan was at its flood stage, it did not impress God. He stopped all the waters and allowed the priests to stand in the Jordan River on dry ground. He kept it dry until the nation had finished crossing the Jordan. This parting of the Jordan River is also similar to when the power of Elijah passed on to Elisha (2 Kings 2:13-14). Interestingly, Elisha confirms the passing of Elijah’s mantle to him by parting the Jordan River like Joshua did when Moses’s mantle passed to him centuries earlier. What a mighty God we serve!
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Joshua 3:14-17 meaning
In Joshua 3:14-17, the Israelites finally enter the Promised Land.
In the previous section, the LORD vowed to exalt Joshua through the miracle of crossing the Jordan River. He then gave him instructions for the priests. Joshua urged the Israelites to hear God’s words to confirm His presence with them as they got ready to fight against the Canaanite nations and conquer the Promised Land. Finally, the LORD commanded the priests to carry the Ark of the Covenant and stand still in the Jordan River because the LORD would stop the waters to allow His people to march on dry ground (Joshua 3:7-13).
In the present section, the Israelites began to put their faith into action. The crossing started when the people set out from their tents with the priests carrying the ark of the covenant before the people (v. 14). The Israelites had lodged by the Jordan River for three days to receive Joshua’s final instructions. As part of their preparations, Joshua urged them to consecrate themselves (to practice purity ceremonies). This may have been the same ceremonial purification as was commanded in Exodus 19, where the LORD instructed Moses to “consecrate the people today and tomorrow” so that they could meet Him on the third day on Mount Sinai (Exodus 19:10, 22). This ceremony involved washing their “garments” and abstaining from sexual relations (Exodus 19:14-15).
The priests who carried the ark came into the Jordan, and the feet of the priests carrying the ark were dipped in the edge of the water (v. 15). That event occurred during springtime when the melting snow from the Anti-Lebanon mountains created a flood stage for the Jordan River. The name Jordan means “descending from Dan.” This is because the Jordan River initially springs in the territory belonging to the tribe of Dan where it flows out of its subterranean aquifer near Caesarea Philippi (also known as “Banias,” names after the pagan god Pan/Ban). This aquifer is sustained from the melting snows of Mount Hermon.
It was a dangerous time to cross because the river overflowed all its banks all the days of harvest. However, the LORD who created the heavens and earth performed a miracle: The waters flowing down from above stood and rose up in one heap (v. 16). That was a great distance away at Adam, the city beside Zarethan.
Adam was on the eastern side of the Jordan Valley and south of where the Jabbok River flows. It is about 18 miles north of Jericho. Today, its name is Damiya. The city of Zarethan was also on the east bank. Archaeologists identify it with either Tell es-Sa’idiyeh, about 12 miles further north, or Tell Umm Hamad on the north side of the Jabbok. While the waters from upstream stopped flowing, those flowing down toward the sea of the Arabah, the Salt Sea, were completely cut off. The sea of the Arabah (also called the Salt Sea) is the Dead Sea, which lies 18 miles from the town of Adam.
The text provides these geographical details to emphasize the magnitude of the miracle the LORD performed on behalf of His covenant people. While the Jordan River was at its flood stage, Yahweh stopped the upstream waters and cut off the downstream, causing the river to dry.
This miracle was a sign to the Israelites that God was among them. It is an obvious parallel to the crossing of the Red Sea when the Israelites left Egypt (Exodus 14). Here at the Jordan, God had performed a miracle that would remind the Israelites of when Moses parted the Red Sea and made a dry path through, by the power of God, showing that Joshua had taken Moses’s place as leader.
As a result, the people crossed opposite Jericho (v. 16). The Israelites at last had finished their wilderness wanderings and were moving forward to finally inherit the Promised Land.
The city of Jericho was in the lower Jordan Valley, west of the Jordan River and about ten miles northwest of the Dead Sea. The Bible calls it the “city of palms” because it had abundant palm trees (Deuteronomy 34:3; Judges 1:16; 2 Chronicles 28:15). It was a secure fortress with formidable walls. It was the first city that stood in Israel’s way. Thus, once the people crossed the Jordan River, they reached Jericho.
Joshua 3:14-17 concludes the narrative by describing once again how the miracle occurred: The priests who carried the ark of the covenant of the LORD initiated the action (v. 17).
They stood firm on dry ground in the middle of the Jordan while all Israel crossed on dry ground. The author repeated the phrase on dry ground to show the extent of the wonder. Although the Jordan was at its flood stage, it did not impress God. He stopped all the waters and allowed the priests to stand in the Jordan River on dry ground. He kept it dry until the nation had finished crossing the Jordan. This parting of the Jordan River is also similar to when the power of Elijah passed on to Elisha (2 Kings 2:13-14). Interestingly, Elisha confirms the passing of Elijah’s mantle to him by parting the Jordan River like Joshua did when Moses’s mantle passed to him centuries earlier. What a mighty God we serve!