Joshua 3
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Commentaries
Excerpts gathered from published commentaries to ground the reading.
Joshua rose early - Archbishop Usher supposes that this was upon Wednesday, the 28th of April, A. M. 2553, the fortieth year after the exodus from Egypt. From Shittim, where they had lately been encamped, to Jordan, was about sixty stadia, according to Josephus; that is, about eight English miles.
Open source ↗JOSHUA COMES TO JORDAN. (Jos 3:1-6) Joshua rose early in the morning--On the day following that on which the spies had returned with their encouraging report. The camp was broken up in "Shittim" (the acacia groves), and removed to the eastern bank of the Jordan. The duration of their stay is indicated (Jos 3:2), being, according to Hebrew reckoning, only one entire day, including the evening of arrival and the morning of the passage; and such a time would be absolutely necessary for so motley an assemblage of men, women, and children, with all their gear and cattle to make ready for going into an enemy's country.
Open source ↗And Joshua rose early in the morning,.... The morning after the spies had returned and made their report; which, as Kimchi rightly observes, was the ninth of Nisan; for on the morrow, which was the tenth, the people passed over Jordan, see Jos 3:5. Moses, according to the Jewish writers, died on the seventh of Adar or February; the thirty days of his mourning ended the seventh of Nisan or March; two days before they were ended the spies were sent, who returned on the eighth day of the month; and the morning following Joshua rose early, which shows his readiness and alacrity to proceed in the expedition he was directed and encouraged to: and they removed from Shittim, and came to Jordan; from Shittim in the plains of Moab, to the river Jordan: he and all the children of Israel; he as their general, and they an army of six hundred thousand fighting men under him, besides women and children, and others that came along with them: and lodged there before they passed over; lay there encamped a night before they passed over the river Jordan.
Open source ↗Jos 3:1-4 "Arrangements for the Passage through the Jordan. - When they reached the Jordan, the Israelites rested till they passed over. לוּן, to pass the night; then in a wider sense to tarry, Pro 15:31; here it means to rest. According to Jos 3:2, they stayed there three days. "At the end (after the expiration) of three days" cannot refer to the three days mentioned in Jos 1:11, if only because of the omission of the article, apart from the reasons given in the note upon Jos 1:11, which preclude the supposition that the two are identical. The reasons why the Israelites stayed three days by the side of the Jordan, after leaving Shittim, are not given, but they are not difficult to guess; for, in the first place, before it could be possible to pass into an enemy's country, not only with an army, but with all the people, including wives, children, and all their possessions, and especially when the river had first of all to be crossed, it must have been necessary to make many preparations, which would easily occupy two or three days. Besides this, the Jordan at that time was so high as to overflow its banks, so that it was impossible to cross the fords, and they were obliged to wait till this obstruction was removed. But as soon as Joshua was assured that the Lord would make a way for His people, he issued the following instructions through the proper officers to all the people in the camp: "When ye see the ark of the covenant of the Lord your God, and (see) the Levitical priests bear it, then ye shall remove from your place, and go after it: 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 yesterday and the day before." On the expressio…
Open source ↗Rahab, in mentioning to the spies the drying up of the Red Sea (Jos 2:10), the report of which terrified the Canaanites more than anything else, intimates that those on that side the water expected that Jordan, that great defence of their country, would in like manner give way to them. Whether the Israelites had any expectation of it does not appear. God often did things for them which they looked not for, Isa 64:3. Now here we are told, I. That they came to Jordan and lodged there, Jos 3:1. Though they were not yet told how they should pass the river, and were unprovided for the passing of it in any ordinary way, yet they went forward in faith, having been told (Jos 1:11) that they should pass it. We must go on in the way of our duty though we foresee difficulties, trusting God to help us through them when we come to them. Let us proceed as far as we can, and depend on divine sufficiency for that which we find ourselves not sufficient for. In this march Joshua led them, and particular notice is taken of his early rising as there is afterwards upon other occasions (Jos 6:12; Jos 7:16; Jos 8:10), which intimates how little he loved his ease, how much he loved his business, and what care and pains he was willing to take in it. Those that would bring great tings to pass must rise early. Love not sleep, lest thou come to poverty. Joshua herein set a good example to the officers under him, and taught them to rise early, and to all that are in public stations especially to attend continually to the duty of their place. II. That the people were directed to follow the ark. Officers were appointed to go through the host to give these directions (v. 2), that every Israelite might know both what to do and what to depend upon. 1. They might depend upon the ark to lead them; that is…
Open source ↗3:1 Israel had camped at Acacia Grove since before Balaam’s oracles (Num 22–24).
Open source ↗Original language
The Hebrew and Greek words behind this passage, with Strong's numbers — from openscriptures (CC BY-SA).
יְהוֹשׁוּעַ (Yᵉhôwshûwaʻ, H3091) — Jehoshua (i.e. Joshua), the Jewish leader שָׁכַם (shâkam, H7925) — literally, to load up (on the back of man or beast), i.e. to start early in the morning בֹּקֶר (bôqer, H1242) — properly, dawn (as the break of day); generally, morning נָסַע (nâçaʻ, H5265) — properly, to pull up, especially the tent-pins, i.e. start on ajourney שִׁטִּים (Shiṭṭîym, H7851) — Shittim, a place East of the Jordan בּוֹא (bôwʼ, H935) — to go or come (in a wide variety of applications) יַרְדֵּן (Yardên, H3383) — Jarden, the principal river of Palestine בֵּן (bên, H1121) — a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative… יִשְׂרָאֵל (Yisrâʼêl, H3478) — Jisrael, a symbolical name of Jacob; also (typically) of his posterity לוּן (lûwn, H3885) — to stop (usually over night); by implication, to stay permanently; hence (in a bad sense)… עָבַר (ʻâbar, H5674) — to cross over; used very widely of any transition (literal or figurative; transitive,…
Open source ↗קָצֶה (qâtseh, H7097) — an extremity שָׁלוֹשׁ (shâlôwsh, H7969) — three; occasionally (ordinal) third, or (multiple) thrice יוֹם (yôwm, H3117) — a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to… שֹׁטֵר (shôṭêr, H7860) — properly, a scribe, i.e. (by analogy or implication) an official superintendent or… עָבַר (ʻâbar, H5674) — to cross over; used very widely of any transition (literal or figurative; transitive,… קֶרֶב (qereb, H7130) — properly, the nearest part, i.e. the center, whether literal, figurative or adverbial… מַחֲנֶה (machăneh, H4264) — an encampment (of travellers or troops); hence, an army, whether literal (of soldiers) or…
Open source ↗צָוָה (tsâvâh, H6680) — (intensively) to constitute, enjoin עַם (ʻam, H5971) — a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a tribe (as those of Israel); hence… אָמַר (ʼâmar, H559) — to say (used with great latitude) רָאָה (râʼâh, H7200) — to see, literally or figuratively (in numerous applications, direct and implied,… אָרוֹן (ʼârôwn, H727) — a box בְּרִית (bᵉrîyth, H1285) — a compact (because made by passing between pieces of flesh) יְהֹוָה (Yᵉhôvâh, H3068) — Jehovah, Jewish national name of God אֱלֹהִים (ʼĕlôhîym, H430) — gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with… כֹּהֵן (kôhên, H3548) — literally one officiating, a priest; also (by courtesy) an acting priest (although a… לֵוִיִּי (Lêvîyîy, H3881) — a Levite or descendant of Levi נָשָׂא (nâsâʼ, H5375) — to lift, in a great variety of applications, literal and figurative, absolute and relative נָסַע (nâçaʻ, H5265) — properly, to pull up, especially the tent-pins, i.e. start on ajourney מָקוֹם (mâqôwm, H4725) — properly, a standing, i.e. a spot; but used widely of a locality (general or specific);… הָלַךְ (hâlak, H1980) — to walk (in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively)
Open source ↗רָחוֹק (râchôwq, H7350) — remote, literally or figuratively, of place or time; specifically, precious; often used… אֶלֶף (ʼeleph, H505) — hence (the ox's head being the first letter of the alphabet, and this eventually used as… אַמָּה (ʼammâh, H520) — properly, a mother (i.e. unit of measure, or the fore-arm (below the elbow), i.e. a… מִדָּה (middâh, H4060) — properly, extension, i.e. height or breadth; also a measure (including its standard);… קָרַב (qârab, H7126) — to approach (causatively, bring near) for whatever purpose יָדַע (yâdaʻ, H3045) — to know (properly, to ascertain by seeing); used in a great variety of senses,… דֶּרֶךְ (derek, H1870) — a road (as trodden); figuratively, a course of life or mode of action, often adverb יָלַךְ (yâlak, H3212) — to walk (literally or figuratively); causatively, to carry (in various senses) עָבַר (ʻâbar, H5674) — to cross over; used very widely of any transition (literal or figurative; transitive,… תְּמוֹל (tᵉmôwl, H8543) — properly, ago, i.e. a (short or long) time since; especially yesterday, or day before… שִׁלְשׁוֹם (shilshôwm, H8032) — trebly, i.e. (in time) day before yesterday
Open source ↗יְהוֹשׁוּעַ (Yᵉhôwshûwaʻ, H3091) — Jehoshua (i.e. Joshua), the Jewish leader אָמַר (ʼâmar, H559) — to say (used with great latitude) עַם (ʻam, H5971) — a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a tribe (as those of Israel); hence… קָדַשׁ (qâdash, H6942) — to be (causatively, make, pronounce or observe as) clean (ceremonially or morally) מָחָר (mâchâr, H4279) — properly, deferred, i.e. the morrow; usually (adverbially) tomorrow; indefinitely,… יְהֹוָה (Yᵉhôvâh, H3068) — Jehovah, Jewish national name of God עָשָׂה (ʻâsâh, H6213) — to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application פָּלָא (pâlâʼ, H6381) — properly, perhaps to separate, i.e. distinguish (literally or figuratively); by… קֶרֶב (qereb, H7130) — properly, the nearest part, i.e. the center, whether literal, figurative or adverbial…
Open source ↗יְהוֹשׁוּעַ (Yᵉhôwshûwaʻ, H3091) — Jehoshua (i.e. Joshua), the Jewish leader אָמַר (ʼâmar, H559) — to say (used with great latitude) כֹּהֵן (kôhên, H3548) — literally one officiating, a priest; also (by courtesy) an acting priest (although a… נָשָׂא (nâsâʼ, H5375) — to lift, in a great variety of applications, literal and figurative, absolute and relative אָרוֹן (ʼârôwn, H727) — a box בְּרִית (bᵉrîyth, H1285) — a compact (because made by passing between pieces of flesh) עָבַר (ʻâbar, H5674) — to cross over; used very widely of any transition (literal or figurative; transitive,… פָּנִים (pânîym, H6440) — the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and… עַם (ʻam, H5971) — a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a tribe (as those of Israel); hence… יָלַךְ (yâlak, H3212) — to walk (literally or figuratively); causatively, to carry (in various senses)
Open source ↗יְהֹוָה (Yᵉhôvâh, H3068) — Jehovah, Jewish national name of God אָמַר (ʼâmar, H559) — to say (used with great latitude) יְהוֹשׁוּעַ (Yᵉhôwshûwaʻ, H3091) — Jehoshua (i.e. Joshua), the Jewish leader יוֹם (yôwm, H3117) — a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to… חָלַל (châlal, H2490) — properly, to bore, i.e. (by implication) to wound, to dissolve; figuratively, to profane… גָּדַל (gâdal, H1431) — to be (causatively make) large (in various senses, as in body, mind, estate or honor,… עַיִן (ʻayin, H5869) — an eye (literally or figuratively); by analogy, a fountain (as the eye of the landscape) יִשְׂרָאֵל (Yisrâʼêl, H3478) — Jisrael, a symbolical name of Jacob; also (typically) of his posterity יָדַע (yâdaʻ, H3045) — to know (properly, to ascertain by seeing); used in a great variety of senses,… מֹשֶׁה (Môsheh, H4872) — Mosheh, the Israelite lawgiver
Open source ↗צָוָה (tsâvâh, H6680) — (intensively) to constitute, enjoin כֹּהֵן (kôhên, H3548) — literally one officiating, a priest; also (by courtesy) an acting priest (although a… נָשָׂא (nâsâʼ, H5375) — to lift, in a great variety of applications, literal and figurative, absolute and relative אָרוֹן (ʼârôwn, H727) — a box בְּרִית (bᵉrîyth, H1285) — a compact (because made by passing between pieces of flesh) אָמַר (ʼâmar, H559) — to say (used with great latitude) בּוֹא (bôwʼ, H935) — to go or come (in a wide variety of applications) קָצֶה (qâtseh, H7097) — an extremity מַיִם (mayim, H4325) — water; figuratively, juice; by euphemism, urine, semen יַרְדֵּן (Yardên, H3383) — Jarden, the principal river of Palestine עָמַד (ʻâmad, H5975) — to stand, in various relations (literal and figurative, intransitive and transitive)
Open source ↗יְהוֹשׁוּעַ (Yᵉhôwshûwaʻ, H3091) — Jehoshua (i.e. Joshua), the Jewish leader אָמַר (ʼâmar, H559) — to say (used with great latitude) בֵּן (bên, H1121) — a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative… יִשְׂרָאֵל (Yisrâʼêl, H3478) — Jisrael, a symbolical name of Jacob; also (typically) of his posterity נָגַשׁ (nâgash, H5066) — to be or come (causatively, bring) near (for any purpose); euphemistically, to lie with a… שָׁמַע (shâmaʻ, H8085) — to hear intelligently (often with implication of attention, obedience, etc.; causatively,… דָּבָר (dâbâr, H1697) — a word; by implication, a matter (as spoken of) or thing; adverbially, a cause יְהֹוָה (Yᵉhôvâh, H3068) — Jehovah, Jewish national name of God אֱלֹהִים (ʼĕlôhîym, H430) — gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with…
Open source ↗יְהוֹשׁוּעַ (Yᵉhôwshûwaʻ, H3091) — Jehoshua (i.e. Joshua), the Jewish leader אָמַר (ʼâmar, H559) — to say (used with great latitude) יָדַע (yâdaʻ, H3045) — to know (properly, to ascertain by seeing); used in a great variety of senses,… חַי (chay, H2416) — alive; hence, raw (flesh); fresh (plant, water, year), strong; also (as noun, especially… אֵל (ʼêl, H410) — strength; as adjective, mighty; especially the Almighty (but used also of any deity) קֶרֶב (qereb, H7130) — properly, the nearest part, i.e. the center, whether literal, figurative or adverbial… יָרַשׁ (yârash, H3423) — to occupy (by driving out previous tenants, and possessing in their place); by… פָּנִים (pânîym, H6440) — the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and… כְּנַעַנִי (Kᵉnaʻanîy, H3669) — a Kenaanite or inhabitant of Kenaan; by implication, a pedlar (the Canaanites standing… חִתִּי (Chittîy, H2850) — a Chittite, or descendant of Cheth חִוִּי (Chivvîy, H2340) — a Chivvite, one of the aboriginal tribes of Palestine פְּרִזִּי (Pᵉrizzîy, H6522) — a Perizzite, one of the Canaanitish tribes גִּרְגָּשִׁי (Girgâshîy, H1622) — a Girgashite, one of the native tribes of Canaan אֱמֹרִי (ʼĔmôrîy, H567) — an Emorite, one of the Canaanitish tribes
Open source ↗אָרוֹן (ʼârôwn, H727) — a box בְּרִית (bᵉrîyth, H1285) — a compact (because made by passing between pieces of flesh) אָדוֹן (ʼâdôwn, H113) — sovereign, i.e. controller (human or divine) אֶרֶץ (ʼerets, H776) — the earth (at large, or partitively a land) עָבַר (ʻâbar, H5674) — to cross over; used very widely of any transition (literal or figurative; transitive,… פָּנִים (pânîym, H6440) — the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and… יַרְדֵּן (Yardên, H3383) — Jarden, the principal river of Palestine
Open source ↗לָקַח (lâqach, H3947) — to take (in the widest variety of applications) שְׁנַיִם (shᵉnayim, H8147) — two; also (as ordinal) twofold עָשָׂר (ʻâsâr, H6240) — ten (only in combination), i.e. -teen; also (ordinal) -teenth אִישׁ (ʼîysh, H376) — a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term… שֵׁבֶט (shêbeṭ, H7626) — a scion, i.e. (literally) a stick (for punishing, writing, fighting, ruling, walking,… יִשְׂרָאֵל (Yisrâʼêl, H3478) — Jisrael, a symbolical name of Jacob; also (typically) of his posterity אֶחָד (ʼechâd, H259) — properly, united, i.e. one; or (as an ordinal) first
Open source ↗כַּף (kaph, H3709) — the hollow hand or palm (so of the paw of an animal, of the sole, and even of the bowl of… רֶגֶל (regel, H7272) — a foot (as used in walking); by implication, a step; by euphemistically the pudenda כֹּהֵן (kôhên, H3548) — literally one officiating, a priest; also (by courtesy) an acting priest (although a… נָשָׂא (nâsâʼ, H5375) — to lift, in a great variety of applications, literal and figurative, absolute and relative אָרוֹן (ʼârôwn, H727) — a box יְהֹוָה (Yᵉhôvâh, H3068) — Jehovah, Jewish national name of God אָדוֹן (ʼâdôwn, H113) — sovereign, i.e. controller (human or divine) אֶרֶץ (ʼerets, H776) — the earth (at large, or partitively a land) נוּחַ (nûwach, H5117) — to rest, i.e. settle down; used in a great variety of applications, literal and… מַיִם (mayim, H4325) — water; figuratively, juice; by euphemism, urine, semen יַרְדֵּן (Yardên, H3383) — Jarden, the principal river of Palestine כָּרַת (kârath, H3772) — to cut (off, down or asunder); by implication, to destroy or consume; specifically, to… יָרַד (yârad, H3381) — to descend (literally, to go downwards; or conventionally to a lower region, as the… מַעַל (maʻal, H4605) — properly, the upper part, used only adverbially with prefix upward, above, overhead, from…
Open source ↗עַם (ʻam, H5971) — a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a tribe (as those of Israel); hence… נָסַע (nâçaʻ, H5265) — properly, to pull up, especially the tent-pins, i.e. start on ajourney אֹהֶל (ʼôhel, H168) — a tent (as clearly conspicuous from a distance) עָבַר (ʻâbar, H5674) — to cross over; used very widely of any transition (literal or figurative; transitive,… יַרְדֵּן (Yardên, H3383) — Jarden, the principal river of Palestine כֹּהֵן (kôhên, H3548) — literally one officiating, a priest; also (by courtesy) an acting priest (although a… נָשָׂא (nâsâʼ, H5375) — to lift, in a great variety of applications, literal and figurative, absolute and relative אָרוֹן (ʼârôwn, H727) — a box בְּרִית (bᵉrîyth, H1285) — a compact (because made by passing between pieces of flesh) פָּנִים (pânîym, H6440) — the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and…
Open source ↗Cross-references
Other passages the community most often connects to this one. Tap to read.
Then Joshua son of Nun secretly sent two spies from Shittim, saying, “Go, inspect the land, especially Jericho.” So they went and entered the house of a prostitute named Rahab and stayed there.
Early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up and slipped out to a solitary place to pray.
While Israel was staying in Shittim, the men began to indulge in sexual immorality with the daughters of Moab,
So Abraham got up early the next morning, saddled his donkey, and took along two of his servants and his son Isaac. He split the wood for a burnt offering and set out for the place God had designated.
My people, remember what Balak king of Moab counseled and what Balaam son of Beor answered. Remember your journey from Shittim to Gilgal, so that you may acknowledge the righteousness of the LORD.’”
I hurried without hesitating to keep Your commandments.
and if you do not listen to the words of My servants the prophets, whom I have sent you again and again even though you did not listen,
“From the thirteenth year of Josiah son of Amon king of Judah until this very day—twenty-three years—the word of the LORD has come to me, and I have spoken to you again and again, but you have not listened.
And now, because you have done all these things, declares the LORD, and because I have spoken to you again and again but you would not listen, and I have called to you but you would not answer,