3:1-6 Joshua may have moved the nation from Shittim to the Jordan's edge at approximately the same time he sent the spies on their mission (cf. vv. 1-2 and 1:11; 2:22). However the sequence of events was probably as it appears in the text.48
"Duty often calls us to take one step without knowing how we shall take the next; but if brought thus far by the leadings of Providence, and while engaged in his service, we may safely leave the event to him."49
God continued to lead His people by means of the ark. Whereas in the wilderness the cloudy pillar over the ark was the focus of the Israelites' attention, now the ark itself became the primary object of their interest. The writer mentioned the ark 17 times in chapters 3 and 4. It was the visible symbol that God Himself was leading His people into the land and against their enemies.
". . . the ark was carried in front of the people, not so much to show the road as to make a road by dividing the waters of the Jordan, and the people were to keep at a distance from it, that they might not lose sight of the ark, but keep their eyes fixed upon it, and know the road by looking at the ark of the covenant by which the road had been made, i.e., might know and observe how the Lord, through the medium of the ark, was leading them to Canaan by a way which they had never traversed before; i.e., by a miraculous way."50
Other frequently recurring words in chapters 3 and 4 are "cross"and "stand"used 22 and five times respectively. These words identify other emphases of the writer.
The people's self-consecration (v. 5) consisted of their turning their hearts to God and getting their attitudes and actions right with Him (cf. Matt. 3:2; 4:17). God had previously promised to do wonders (v. 5, awesome miracles) when they would enter the land (cf. Exod. 34:10). Undoubtedly the people had been looking forward to seeing these miracles in view of what their parents had told them and what some of them remembered about the plagues in Egypt.
3:7-13 The miraculous parting of the Jordan was only the beginning of a series of miracles that demonstrated to the Israelites that their God was indeed among them. He was active for them and working through Joshua to give them victory (v. 7).
This event bore many similarities to the crossing of the Red Sea (3:13; cf. Exod. 14). In contrast, Moses had divided the waters of the Red Sea with his rod. Joshua divided the waters of the Jordan with the ark that had become the divinely appointed symbol of God's presence since God gave the Mosaic Covenant (v. 8).
Evidently the pushing back of the waters of the Jordan was to be a sign to the Israelites that God would push back the Canaanites (v. 10). The title "the Lord of all the earth"occurs here (v. 11) first in Scripture indicating Yahweh's absolute sovereignty over this planet. Because He was "the Lord of all the earth"He could give Canaan to the Israelites.
3:14-17 The Israelites crossed the Jordan when the river was at its widest, deepest, and swiftest, in late April or early May. As the snow on Mt. Hermon melts and the rainy season ends, the Jordan rises to a depth of 10-12 feet and floods to a width of 300-360 feet at this point today. Normally it is only 150-180 feet wide here. However, in Joshua's day the river may only have been full up to its banks, as the Hebrew suggests. The people considered crossing the river at this time of year by swimming a heroic feat in ancient times (cf. 1 Chron. 12:15). This is probably how the spies crossed.
The town of Adam (v. 16) stood about 18 miles north of Jericho near where the Jabbok River empties into the Jordan Valley.
Two million Israelites could have crossed the river in half a day if the procession was a mile or more wide. The dry ground (v. 17) was a miracle too (cf. Exod. 14:21).
The major emphasis in chapter 3 is on the great miracle that God performed to lead the Israelites into the land. The conquest of the land would continue God's works for His people all of which they were to remember and appreciate.
"The people of God [i.e., Israel] must realize that God does not help them automatically. God helps them when they obey his commands given through his leader."51
The main point in the story of the crossing recorded in this chapter is the removal of the stones from the river bed. They served as a memorial of this event for generations to come (vv. 6-7).52
4:1-14 The piling up of stones was a covenant ritual in the ancient Near East.53It was a common method of preserving the memory of important events (cf. Gen. 8:20; 12:7; 35:7; et al.).
There were two piles of 12 stones each, one at Gilgal (vv. 3-8, 20) and one in the Jordan River bed (v. 9).54The Israelites probably constructed two memorials because the crossing was so miraculous that God wanted to be sure their children and the Canaanites believed it really happened. The monument at Gilgal probably consisted of large stones that people could not normally remove from the river bed. Building a monument in the river was impossible under normal circumstances due to the volume and current of the water there. Thus the Israelite children and the Canaanites had a double proof, two witnesses, of God's faithfulness and power. God specified 12 stones for each monument to represent the 12 tribes.
"No certain identification exists for the site of the Gilgal'. It is not necessary or even likely that all the occurrences of Gilgal in the Bible refer to the same location. The name means circle', and is a good description for a fortified camp such as must have been present in Joshua's time."55
"It is doubtful whether there was either city or town in that place before the arrival of the Israelites."56
4:15-24 The text carefully clarifies that it was the presence of God, which the ark symbolized, that held back the waters of the Jordan. When the priests removed the ark from the river bed, the waters resumed their flow (v. 18).
"The ark is the very symbol of the covenant of the Lord. Thus the full light falls on the redemptive significance of the event. No mere recalling of a miracle is envisaged. The miracle is to be viewed as an expression of covenant fidelity."57
There are many references to the fact that all Israel crossed over the Jordan in this chapter (vv. 1-5, 8-9, 12, 14, 20, 24). This, too, highlights the faithfulness of God to His promises to bring the whole nation into the Promised Land.
The notation that the crossing took place on the tenth day of the first month (v. 19) is significant. It was exactly 40 years earlier to the day that God instructed Israel to prepare to depart from Egypt by setting apart the paschal lambs (Exod. 12:3).
"God had said in his wrath that they should wander forty years in the wilderness, and at last he brought them into Canaan five days before the forty years were ended, to show how little pleasure God takes in punishing, how swift he is to show mercy. God ordered it so that they should enter Canaan four days before the annual solemnity of the passover, and on the very day when the preparation for it was to begin (Exod. xii. 3), because he would have them then to be reminded of their deliverance out of Egypt."58
The purposes of the memorial stones were the same as the purpose of the miracle at the Red Sea. They manifested the power of Yahweh to all people (v. 24; cf. Exod. 14:4, 18), and they caused God's people to fear Him (v. 24; cf. Exod. 14:31). "Fear the Lord"is the most common expression calling for faith in God in the Old Testament.59
It is a good custom to memorialize God's great acts for us so that we will remember them and so that our children will learn that God is powerful and faithful. Baptism is one such memorial for the Christian, and the Lord's Supper is another.
"In the history of Dallas Seminary, there are just such memorial stones.' More than 40 years ago, Mrs. Howard Taylor told one such story in a pamphlet entitled, Empty Racks and How to Fill Them.'
"In the spring of 1924, plans were being laid for a new seminary to be organized in Dallas, to emphasize above all else the teaching of the Bible itself. Lewis Sperry Chafer, president-elect, had gone to Dundee, Scotland to hold evangelistic meetings at the invitation of a leading manufacturer of that city, in whose home he was a guest. Related Dr. Chafer:
"At four o'clock on a never-to-be-forgotten morning, I wakened with a sense of deep foreboding with regard to the agreement reached in Dallas. It seemed as if an unbearable burden had been thrust upon me. Failure, probable if not certain, was the only thing I could see, and all the forebodings the powers of darkness could devise came rolling like billows over me.
"In great agony of spirit, I cried to God, saying I could not go through the day without some very definite indication of His will in the matter. If such indication were not given, I should have to cable to Dallas requesting them to discontinue the whole project.
"Following that prayer I fell asleep, and later, seated by my host at the breakfast table, was surprised by his asking whether we had any provision in view for the library which would be needed for the new seminary. I told him that we had not, but that since Dr. Griffith Thomas had just died--whose loss we were mourning on both sides of the Atlantic--I had written to our constituency in Dallas asking them to pray definitely that his valuable reference library might be secured for the college.
"I am interested in what you have told me,' he replied, and would like you to purchase these books and send the bill to me. And do not drive too close a bargain; I wish to pay whatever the library is worth.'
"A little later that same morning, I had retired to the study when my host came in and said, Speaking of the College, what about your salary as President?' I at once told him that I had not expected to draw any salary; that nothing was further from my thoughts.
"You will need some financial help,' he replied, and though I cannot give all that would be expected for one in such a position in the United States, I wish to send you personally two thousand dollars a year.'
"Truly my cup ran over! The gift of a library valued at four thousand dollars, and such unexpected provision for my salary--all in one day! Could I doubt that God desired the Evangelical Theological College to go forward?"60
