Joshua 3
1 Joshua comes to Jordan.
2 The officers instruct the people for their passage.
7 The Lord encourages Joshua.
9 Joshua encourages the people.
14 The water of Jordan are divided.
early <07925> [rose early.]
Archbishop Usher supposes, that this was upon Wednesday, the 28th of April, A.M. 2553, the fortieth year of the Exodus from Egypt. From Shittim, where the israelites had been encamped for about two months (De 1:3), to the Jordan, was, according to Josephus, about sixty stadia; that is, between seven and eight English miles.
Shittim <07851> [Shittim.]
Jordan <03383> [Jordan.]
Jordan, called by the Arabs El Sharia, takes its rise in Anti-Libanus, about twelve miles north of C‘sarea Philippi, now Banias; and, having run about twelve miles southward, it receives a considerable stream, which is now called the Moiet Hasbeia. About 15 miles farther, it forms the waters of Merom or Semechon, now Houle; and, after running about 28 miles more, it passes through the lake of Gennesareth, and thence runs southward till it loses itself in the Dead Sea; its whole course being about 160 miles.
three days <07969 03117> [three days.]
see <07200> [When ye see.]
see <07200> [See on]
priests <03548> [the priests.]
leave <05265> [ye shall remove.]
<07350> [a space.]
before <08543> [heretofore. Heb. since yesterday and the third day.]
consecrate <06942> [Sanctify.]
Lord <03068> [the Lord.]
Pick ................. picked <05375> [Take up.]
honor ... before <01431 05869> [magnify thee.]
Moses <04872> [that, as I was.]
Instruct <06680> [command.]
wade <05975> [ye shall stand.]
listen .... words <01697 08085> [Hear the words.]
know <03045> [Hereby ye.]
living <02416> [living.]
among <07130> [among.]
drive out before <03423 06440> [drive out from.]
<0113> [the Lord.]
enter <05674> [passeth.]
<03709> [the soles.]
Lord <03068> [of the Lord.]
carrying ... ark <05375 0727> [bearing the ark.]
feet <07272> [the feet.]
Jordan .................. Jordan <04390 03383> [Jordan overfloweth.]
The ordinary current of the Jordan, near where the Israelites crossed, is said by Maundrell, to be about twenty yards across, deeper than a man's height, and so rapid, that there is no swimming against it. It has, however, two banks; the first, or inner one, is that of the river in its natural state, and the second, or outer one, about a furlong distant, is that of its overflowings, which it does when the summer's sun has melted the snow on mount Lebanon and Hermon, in the months of March and April. And this was the time which God chose that the Israelites should pass over it; that a miraculous interposition might be necessary; and that, by the miracle, they might be convinced of his omnipotence.
time <03117> [all the time.]
<06965> [rose up.]
Zarethan <06891> [Zaretan.]
[Zartanah.]
[Zarthan. the salt sea.]
The passage through the Red Sea took place in the night, when the Israelites were fleeing from the Egyptians with great trepidation: but they passed Jordan in the day-time, with previous warning, leisurely, directly opposite to Jericho, and with a triumphant defiance of the Canaanites; this passage into the promised land evidently typifying the believer's passage through death to heaven.
priests <03548> [the priests.]
stood firmly <05975 03559> [stood firm.]
Israel <03478> [all the Israelites.]
