Outline
The Israelites come to Jordan. (Verse 1-6.)
The Lord encourages joshua-Joshua encourages the people. (Verse 7-13.)
The Israelites pass through Jordan on dry land. (Verse 14-17.)
Atonement was made for Israel nationally at passover when the lamb was slain, and the blood was applied to the doorpost which had to happen before they were delivered at the Red sea.
Israel had to die to their old way of life as a slave to sin, typified by their bondage in Egypt and rise up out of the Red sea in victory, but of course we know the story, the flesh got to them immediately and they wandered for forty years because of it.
1 And Joshua rose early in the morning; and they removed from Shittim, and came to Jordan, he and all the children of Israel, and lodged there before they passed over.
2 And it came to pass after three days, that the officers went through the host;
3 And they commanded the people, saying, When ye see the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God, and the priests the Levites bearing it, then ye shall remove from your place, and go after it.
a cubit was roughly one half of a meter; therefore, the “space” mentioned here was just about a kilometer.
4 Yet there shall be a space between you and it, about two thousand cubits by measure: come not near unto it, that ye may know the way by which ye must go: for ye have not passed this way heretofore.
About two thousand cubits separate the children of Israel from the law as they are to enter into their rest. We as the body of Christ have been separated from the law for about two thousand years.
5 And Joshua said unto the people, Sanctify yourselves: for to morrow the LORD will do wonders among you.
6 And Joshua spake unto the priests, saying, Take up the ark of the covenant, and pass over before the people. And they took up the ark of the covenant, and went before the people.
7 And the LORD said unto Joshua, This day will I begin to magnify thee in the sight of all Israel, that they may know that, as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee.
8 And thou shalt command the priests that bear the ark of the covenant, saying, When ye are come to the brink of the water of Jordan, ye shall stand still in Jordan.
9 And Joshua said unto the children of Israel, Come hither, and hear the words of the LORD your God.
10 And Joshua said, Hereby ye shall know that the living God is among you, and that he will without fail drive out from before you the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Hivites, and the Perizzites, and the Girgashites, and the Amorites, and the Jebusites.
Seven nations are mentioned but there were originally ten. Three were already put down just like the ten-nation confederacy during the tribulation period puts down three of its own kings and their nations.
The Egyptians were the first followed by the Amalekites and then by Balak and the Amorites.
11 Behold, the ark of the covenant of the Lord of all the earth passeth over before you into Jordan.
12 Now therefore take you twelve men out of the tribes of Israel, out of every tribe a man.
13 And it shall come to pass, as soon as the soles of the feet of the priests that bear the ark of the LORD, the Lord of all the earth, shall rest in the waters of Jordan, that the waters of Jordan shall be cut off from the waters that come down from above; and they shall stand upon an heap.
faith had to be exercised – these men had to step into the water as if they were going to walk right into the river. They couldn’t stand on the bank and wait for the water to stop; in like manner, God will often require you to commit yourself in order to try your faith.
Whether it is the Red sea, or the Jordan, it doesn’t matter, this miraculous event added to the fear that the inhabitants of the land and Jericho had for the children of Israel but mostly they feared the God of the children of Israel.
14 And it came to pass, when the people removed from their tents, to pass over Jordan, and the priests bearing the ark of the covenant before the people;
15 And as they that bare the ark were come unto Jordan, and the feet of the priests that bare the ark were dipped in the brim of the water, (for Jordan overfloweth all his banks all the time of harvest,)
16 That the waters which came down from above stood and rose up upon an heap very far from the city Adam, that is beside Zaretan: and those that came down toward the sea of the plain, even the salt sea, failed, and were cut off: and the people passed over right against Jericho.
[Gen 14:3, Num 34:12, Deut 3:17]
Some writers have tried to connect the city of Adam with the first man Adam and have made some lofty claims that this is where Adam moved to once he was cast out of the garden of Eden. That may be so, but it is mere speculation on their part.
Notice also here that some of the people thought they knew better than God and they tried to cross further to the south and were all drowned (cut off).
17 And the priests that bare the ark of the covenant of the LORD stood firm on dry ground in the midst of Jordan, and all the Israelites passed over on dry ground, until all the people were passed clean over Jordan.
What a way to enter into the promised land, by a miracle. Remember, entering the promised land is not a picture of salvation, or heaven.
Israel’s salvation as a nation was pictured at passover. It was Christ that was resting in the ark, and it was he that held the waters back for Israel to pass over.
The forty years of wandering in the wilderness are symbolic of our doing things our own way instead of God’s ways and the consequences for those decisions.
Passing over Jordan is symbolic of the spirit filled life. If passing over Jordan was symbolic of going to heaven, then there would mean there would be many battles to fight in heaven which there will not be.
Commentary by Matthew Henry, 1710.
Verse 1-6 – The Israelites came to Jordan in faith, having been told that they should pass it. In the way of duty, let us proceed as far as we can, and depend on the Lord. Joshua led them. Particular notice is taken of his early rising, as afterwards upon other occasions, which shows how little he sought his own ease. Those who would bring great things to pass, must rise early. Love not sleep, lest thou come to poverty. All in public stations should always attend to the duty of their place. The people were to follow the ark. Thus must we walk after the rule of the word, and the direction of the Spirit, in everything; so shall peace be upon us as upon the Israel of God; but we must follow our ministers only as they follow Christ. All their way through the wilderness was an untrodden path, but most so this through Jordan. While we are here, we must expect and prepare to pass ways that we have not passed before; but in the path of duty we may proceed with boldness and cheerfulness. Whether we are called to suffer poverty, pain, labour, persecution, reproach, or death, we are following the Author and Finisher of our faith; nor can we set our feet in any dangerous or difficult spot, through our whole journey, but faith will there see the prints of the Redeemer’s feet, who trod that very path to glory above, and bids us follow him, that where he is, we may be also. They were to sanctify themselves. Would we experience the effects of God’s love and power, we must put away sin, and be careful not to grieve the Holy Spirit of God.
Verse 7-13 – The waters of Jordan shall be cut off. This must be done in such a way as never was done, but in the dividing of the Red sea. That miracle is here repeated; God has the same power to finish the salvation of his people, as to begin it; the WORD of the Lord was as truly with Joshua as with Moses. God’s appearances for his people ought to encourage faith and hope. God’s work is perfect, he will keep his people. Jordan’s flood cannot keep out Israel, Canaan’s force cannot turn them out again.
Verse 14-17 – Jordan overflowed all its banks. This magnified the power of God, and his kindness to Israel. Although those who oppose the salvation of God’s people have all advantages, yet God can and will conquer. This passage over Jordan, as an entrance to Canaan, after their long, weary wanderings in the wilderness, shadowed out the believer’s passage through death to heaven, after he has finished his wanderings in this sinful world. Jesus, typified by the ark, hath gone before, and he crossed the river when it most flooded the country around. Let us treasure up experiences of His faithful and tender care, that they may help our faith and hope in the last conflict.