UNROLL
At dawn the Jordan in spring flood, brown water spilling over its banks into the tamarisk and willow thickets, low hazy hills on the far bank.

The Book of

Joshua 3

The river is in flood, and no one has ever walked this way before. The priests are told to carry the ark straight into the water.

17 verses≈ 4 min1 personBSB

Images are artistic interpretations.

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In this chapter

Where we are

  1. 1–5Crossing overInto the landChapter 3
  2. 6–12Taking the landThe LORD fights for Israel
  3. 13–21Dividing the landAn inheritance for each tribe
  4. 22–24Choose this dayServe the LORD

Crossing the Jordan

Early the next morning Joshua got up and left Shittim with all the Israelites. They went as far as the Jordan, where they camped before crossing over.

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Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the LORD will do wonders among you.

Joshua 3:5

And he said to the priests, “Take the ark of the covenant and go on ahead of the people.” So they carried the ark of the covenant and went ahead of them.

Question

Quick question

The officers told the people to follow the ark when they saw it move, but not to crowd it.

How far behind the ark were the people told to keep?

Now the LORD said to Joshua, “Today I will begin to exalt you in the sight of all Israel, so they may know that I am with you just as I was with Moses. Command the priests carrying the ark of the covenant: ‘When you reach the edge of the waters, stand in the Jordan.’”

From the plains of Moab at morning, the Jordan’s green thickets in front and, across the valley, a small walled town beside a palm oasis at the foot of steep, bare hills.

So Joshua told the Israelites, “Come here and listen to the words of the LORD your God.” He continued, “This is how you will know that the living God is among you and that He will surely drive out before you the Canaanites, Hittites, Hivites, Perizzites, Girgashites, Amorites, and Jebusites. Behold, the ark of the covenant of the Lord of all the earth will go ahead of you into the Jordan.

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Narrated by Bob Souer · BSB audio, public domain

Now choose twelve men from the tribes of Israel, one from each tribe. When the feet of the priests who carry the ark of the LORD—the Lord of all the earth—touch down in the waters of the Jordan, its flowing waters will be cut off and will stand up in a heap.”

Reflect

Never traveled this way before

The people were told to watch the ark and follow it, “since you have never traveled this way before.” They did not get a map of the route. They got God’s presence going ahead, and a promise about what He would do. What new ground is in front of you right now? Write it down, and write what it would look like to keep your eyes on where God is going first, rather than on the whole route.

The priests in white linen, the gold ark on their shoulders, walk toward the edge of the swollen brown Jordan where it floods into the thickets; far behind them the waiting crowd.

So when the people broke camp to cross the Jordan, the priests carried the ark of the covenant ahead of them.

Now the Jordan overflows its banks throughout the harvest season.

But as soon as the priests carrying the ark reached the Jordan and their feet touched the water’s edge, the flowing water stood still. It backed up as far upstream as Adam, a city in the area of Zarethan, while the water flowing toward the Sea of the Arabah (the Salt Sea) was completely cut off.

The priests stand firm with the gold ark in the middle of the open, dry riverbed while families with children, flocks and laden donkeys stream past across it.

So the people crossed over opposite Jericho. The priests carrying the ark of the covenant of the LORD stood firm on dry ground in the middle of the Jordan, while all Israel crossed over the dry ground, until the entire nation had crossed the Jordan.

Jordan RiverShittim (site uncertain)Adam (site uncertain)Gilgal (site uncertain)Jericho

Stylised map · locations approximate

On the map

Crossing the Jordan

From Shittim on the plains of Moab, Israel went down to the Jordan and crossed opposite Jericho. The water stopped and piled up far upstream at Adam, near Zarethan, probably about 18 miles to the north, while the water flowing down to the Salt Sea (the Dead Sea) was cut off. On the far side they camped at Gilgal, between the river and Jericho. The sites of Shittim, Gilgal and Zarethan are uncertain; Adam’s is probable.

Pray

Feet in the water

The river did not stop until the priests’ feet “touched the water’s edge.” They had to step in first, on nothing but God’s word. Thank Him that He is “the Lord of all the earth,” over every flood you face. Then ask Him for the faith to take the step He has asked of you before you can see how He will make the way.

You’ve experienced

Joshua 3

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A verse to carry with you

Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the LORD will do wonders among you.

Joshua 3:5

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