Josué 3

Josué 3

McGee - This was the spring of the year. That land had two rainy seasons: in the fall and in the spring. The spring rains were most abundant. The Jordan was at flood stage. (ED NOTE - Latter Rain is the rain of spring, מִלְקוֹש, malqowsh, Pr 16:15; Job 29:23; Jer 3:3; Hos 6:3; Joel 2:23; Zechariah 10:1; Latter rain in Septuagint = ὑετὸς ὄψιμος. [huetos opsimos] The early and latter rains are mentioned together Dt 11:14; Jer 5:24; Joel 2:23; Hos 6:3; Jas 5:7 See related note on latter rain). Treasury of Scripture Knowledge - 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. George Bush - Notes Critical and Practical on the Book of Joshua - Chapter 3 15. Jordan overfloweth all his banks all the time of harvest. That is, the time of the barley harvest; which began in that country in our March or April. 1 Chron. 12:15. Prof. Robinson remarks that he could find no evidence that the Jordan ever now overflows its banks in the manner that would be supposed from the rendering of this passage; and he adds, ‘I apprehend that even the ancient rise of the river has been greatly exaggerated. The sole accounts we have of the annual increase of its waters are found in the earlier scriptural history of the Israelites; where, according to the English version, the Jordan is said to “overflow all its banks” in the first month, or all the time of harvest. But the original Hebrew expresses, in these passages, nothing more than that the Jordan “was full (or filled) up to all its banks,” meaning the banks of its channel; it ran with full banks, or was brim-full. Thus understood, the Biblical account corresponds entirely to what we find to be the case at the present day.’—(Research., Vol. II., p. 262). This annual swelling of the waters of the Jordan arises from the melting of the snows upon Mount Lebanon, in which the Jordan takes its rise. It probably took place on this occasion just before Israel was to pass over, and served to render the miracle far more stupendous and unquestionable. Indeed we may suppose that this season was chosen expressly, in order that God might have the better opportunity to convince his people of his Almighty power; that they were under his immediate care and protection; and that they might never cease to confide in him in view of the most appalling dangers. ‘Though the opposition given to the salvation of God’s people have all imaginable advantages, yet God can and will conquer it.’—Henry. Joshua 3:16 the waters which were flowing down from above stood and rose up in one heap, a great distance away at Adam, the city that is beside Zarethan; and those which were flowing down toward the sea of the Arabah, the Salt Sea, were completely cut off. So the people crossed opposite Jericho. rose up in one heap: Jos 3:13 Ps 29:10 77:19 114:3 Mt 8:26,27 14:24-33 the city that is beside Zarethan: 1Ki 4:12, 1Ki 7:46 the Salt Sea: Jos 15:2 Ge 14:3 Nu 34:3 Dt 3:17 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. Joshua 3 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries Related Passage: Exodus 15:8+ “At the blast of Your nostrils the waters were piled up, The flowing waters stood up like a heap; The deeps were congealed in the heart of the (RED) sea. Psalm 78:13 He divided the (RED) sea and caused them to pass through, And He made the waters stand up like a heap. THE MIRACULOUS DRAMA UNFOLDS: FLOW CEASES AND PEOPLE CROSS The waters which were flowing down from above stood (NET - "stopped flowing") and rose up (piled up) in one heap, a great distance away at Adam, the city that is beside Zarethan; and those which were flowing down toward the sea of the Arabah, the Salt Sea (Dead Sea), were completely cut off. So the people crossed opposite Jericho - Adam is unknown by most commentaries say it was about 16-18 miles north (upstream) from where Israel crossed. That is 16-18 miles of dry river bed, enough space for 2 million Israelites to cross over! Those who have trouble with miracles, try to contrive some naturalistic explanation for the piling up of the Jordan, but such reasoning falters on 2 points - (1) the ground was immediately completely dry (Josh 3:17) and (2) when the priests stepped out of the dry river bed, it immediately began to flow again (Josh 4:18). God did and we do not need to try to explain it naturally because it is super natural! If one believes that Yahweh is Omnipotent (and I do), this should settle all arguments and speculations. He can do with His creation whatever He desires. D Campbell - There were many supernatural elements brought together: The event came to pass as predicted. The timing was exact. The event took place when the river was at flood stage. The wall of water was held in place for what was probably an entire day . The soft river bottom became dry at once . The waters returned immediately as soon as the crossing was completed and the priests came up out of the river. In the crossing of the Jordan River at flood stage by a nation some two million strong, God was glorified, Joshµa_was exalted, and Israel was encouraged. But the Canaanites were terrorized (No Time for Neutrality) Campbell - Though the place named “Adam” is found only here it is usually identified with Tell ed-Damiyeh, about 16 miles north of the ford opposite Jericho. A wide stretch of riverbed therefore was dried up, allowing the people with their animals and baggage to hurry across (cf. Josh. 4:10). Creationist Henry Morris on rose up in one heap - A quasi-naturalistic explanation of this miracle suggests a providentially-timed upstream landslide damming the waters of the Jordan at just the right time, similar to events which have actually occurred on the river several times in the past. On the other hand, the miracle at the Jordan is compared to the miracle at the Red Sea (Joshua 4:23). This would suggest that it was also a true miracle of creation, involving the supernatural stabilizing of a wall of water until the crossing was completed. Here is a comment from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge - "This passage into the promised land evidently typifying the believer's passage through death to heaven." This is a good example of the danger of typology, for the Israelites are entering into a sin-filled land and would experience intense warfare. Heaven is a sinless place in which there will be no warfare. Thus to equate this passage over the Jordan is clearly an incorrect interpretation. Paul Toms applies this truth - Go to the edge of that difficulty: go as far as you can, to your utmost duty and leave the impossible to God. He has almighty power, He has infinite wisdom. Nothing is too hard for Him. He can do anything that He pleases. He controls the storm, He opens the seas, He makes the flinty rocks pour out fountains of water, He makes the ravens feed His servant Elijah. "If God be for us, who can be against us?" (Ro 8:31) . He will make your Jordan passable. Remember this promise: "I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine. When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee : When thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee. For I am the Lord thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Saviour" (Isa 43:1-3). Here is God's provision for you, whatever your Jordan experience may be. Come to it in faith, in confidence. Trust God, and cross the Jordan. (T'his Land Is Your Land) The LORD said to Moses, “Is the LORD’S power limited (arm too short)? Now you shall see whether My word will come true for you or not.” -- Numbers 11:23+ Alan Redpath - The floods, the opposition of principalities and powers to the child of God, can never get past what our triumphant Lord Jesus conquered. The passage of Jordan means facing the impossibility, following the dying, rising, ascending Jesus into the place of all power. Get a clear view of Him who can deal with the impossibility of your life before you have reached it. For in the name of the Lord Jesus I declare this truth, that, however subtle, however strong it may be, there is no attack of Satan on the child of God but first has struck the heart of the Lord. He overcame it at the Cross, and He bids us, His children to get a clear view of Him, to face again the impossibility that we have faced so often, then look up into His face and say, “Now, Lord Jesus, I believe that, although I cannot, you can.” In that moment the roar of Jordan will be silent, its violence be checked, and we will go through on dry land. The path of the child of God from the wilderness to Canaan is by way of facing the impossible and looking up to a Risen Christ and getting hold of Him. (Victorious Christian Living) George Bush - Notes Critical and Practical on the Book of Joshua - Chapter 3 Stood and rose up upon a heap. Being checked in their course they continued to accumulate and swell higher and higher, till they filled up the channel to a great distance towards the source of the river. Probably another miracle was wrought in restraining the waters thus piled up from deluging the adjacent country. From the city Adam that is beside zaretan. The position of these cities is not easily ascertained. As to the first, nothing is known; and perhaps it was even then so obscure as to be described by its nearness to Zaretan’, a place of more notoriety. This we learn from 1 Kings 4:12, was situated below Jezreel, near Beth-shean or Scythopolis, and not far from Succoth; but Succoth, as appears from Gen. 33:17; Josh. 13:27, lay on the east of Jordan, not far from the lake of Gennesaret, and somewhere in this immediate vicinity, doubtless, was Adam situated. Passed over right against Jericho. It is probable that the people crossed the river at what was afterwards called Beth-abara, or house of passage, which seems to have derived its name from this very circumstance. It was here that John baptized, John 1:28, and that Jesus, as well as Joshua, began to be magnified. Joshua 3:17 And the priests who carried the ark of the covenant of the LORD stood firm on dry ground in the middle of the Jordan while all Israel crossed on dry ground, until all the nation had finished crossing the Jordan. the priests: Jos 3:3-6 stood firm: Jos 4:3 2Ki 2:8 all Israel: Ex 14:22,29 Ps 66:6 Isa 25:8 Heb 11:29 Joshua 3 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries Related Passages: Exodus 14:29+ But the sons of Israel walked on dry land through the midst of the sea, and the waters were like a wall to them on their right hand and on their left. CROSSING THE JORDAN RIVER ON DRY GROUND And the priests who carried the ark of the covenant of the LORD (Jehovah) stood firm on dry ground in the middle of the Jordan while all Israel crossed on dry ground, until all the nation had finished crossing the Jordan - So it was not only the miracle of stopping up the Jordan but also of drying out the muddy river bed to allow firm footing for crossing. When God does a work in our life, He takes care of the details (even the "muddy river beds"! Keep in mind that the priests stood firm, presumably holding up the Ark on their shoulders and would have kept this position likely for many hours if not the entire day, for passage of up to 2 million people would take some time to complete. It is surely no accident that 40 years earlier that by a similar divine miracle Yahweh redeemed the first generation OUT of bondage and now this second similar miracle He brought INTO the Promised Land and into the potential for great freedom. THOUGHT - Are you tired of wandering in the desert of Christian experience and longing for the spiritual sweetness of drawing upon an adequate Christ, so that out of your innermost being flow rivers of living water (cf Jn 7:38-39+)? Have you wholeheartedly surrendered and turned it all over to Him? Alan Redpath - There are many faulty interpretations as to the spiritual meaning of this crossing of the Jordan into the land of Canaan. Many of the old hymns likened the crossing of Jordan to physical death and Canaan being our heavenly home. It is quite obvious that the rest of the story of the book of Joshua with all of its conflict and battles does not fit this typology . It would be better, probably, to see the following events in sequence: 1. The natural man in Egypt. 2. The salvation experience in crossing the Red Sea . 3. The carnal experience of wandering around the wilderness. 4. The surrender that takes place in the crossing of the Jordan, and then the spiritual life that follows that surrender in the land of Canaan . The crossing of Jordan does not illustrate the passing of a soul into eternity, but rather does it illustrate the passing of a Christian from one level of Christian life to another. It marks the end of the self-life and the beginning of the Christ-life: the end of a life lived on the principle of effort and the beginning of a life lived on the principle of faith and obedience . Between these two rolls the mighty river Jordan--a river of impossibility. (Victorious Christian Living) F B