# Joshua 03 📖: Crossing the Jordan
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> [!info] Table of Contents
> [[#📜 Scripture Text (NET)]]
> [[#📖 Verse-by-Verse Commentary]]
> [[#🤔 Interesting Facts / Historical and Cultural Insights]]
> [[#🧠 Chapter Summary]]
> [[#✝️ Christ in This Chapter]]
> [[#🔎 Key Principles / 🛟 Life Application]]
> [[#💬 Discussion Questions]]
> [[#✍️ Key Verses to Remember]]
> [[#🔗 Related Passages/Cross Reference]]
> [[#🙏 Devotional Reflection]]
> [[#📂 Internal Notes]]
## 📜 Scripture Text (NET)
(The NET Bible: New English Translation. Biblical Studies Press, 2005)
### Israel Crosses the Jordan
[[#Verse 01.]] Bright and early the next morning Joshua and the Israelites left Shittim and came to the Jordan. They camped there before crossing the river.
[[#Verse 02.]] After three days the leaders went through the camp
[[#Verse 03.]] and commanded the people: “When you see the ark of the covenant of the Lord your God being carried by the Levitical priests, you must leave here and walk behind it.
[[#Verse 04.]] But stay about 3,000 feet behind it. Keep your distance so you can see which way you should go, for you have not traveled this way before.”
[[#Verse 05.]] Joshua told the people, “Ritually consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will perform miraculous deeds among you.”
[[#Verse 06.]] Joshua told the priests, “Pick up the ark of the covenant and pass on ahead of the people.” So they picked up the ark of the covenant and went ahead of the people.
[[#Verse 07.]] The Lord told Joshua, “This very day I will begin to honor you before all Israel, so they will know that I am with you just as I was with Moses.
[[#Verse 08.]] Instruct the priests carrying the ark of the covenant, ‘When you reach the bank of the Jordan River, wade into the water.’”
[[#Verse 09.]] Joshua told the Israelites, “Come here and listen to the words of the Lord your God!”
[[#Verse 10.]] Joshua continued, “This is how you will know the living God is among you and that he will truly drive out before you the Canaanites, Hittites, Hivites, Perizzites, Girgashites, Amorites, and Jebusites.
[[#Verse 11.]] Look! The ark of the covenant of the Lord of the whole earth is ready to enter the Jordan ahead of you.
[[#Verse 12.]] Now select for yourselves twelve men from the tribes of Israel, one per tribe.
[[#Verse 13.]] When the feet of the priests carrying the ark of the Lord, the Lord of the whole earth, touch the water of the Jordan, the water coming downstream toward you will stop flowing and pile up.”
[[#Verse 14.]] So when the people left their tents to cross the Jordan, the priests carrying the ark of the covenant went ahead of them.
[[#Verse 15.]] When the ones carrying the ark reached the Jordan, and the feet of the priests carrying the ark touched the surface of the water—(the Jordan is at flood stage all during harvest time)—
[[#Verse 16.]] the water coming downstream toward them stopped flowing. It piled up far upstream at Adam (the city near Zarethan); there was no water at all flowing to the sea of the rift valley (the Salt Sea). The people crossed the river opposite Jericho.
[[#Verse 17.]] The priests carrying the ark of the covenant of the Lord stood firmly on dry ground in the middle of the Jordan. All Israel crossed over on dry ground until the entire nation was on the other side.
## 📖 Verse-by-Verse Commentary
###### Overall.
###### Verse 01.
###### Verse 02.
###### Verse 03.
###### Verse 04.
###### Verse 05.
###### Verse 06.
###### Verse 07.
###### Verse 08.
###### Verse 09.
###### Verse 10.
###### Verse 11.
###### Verse 12.
###### Verse 13.
###### Verse 14.
###### Verse 15.
###### Verse 16.
###### Verse 17.
## 🤔 Interesting Facts / Historical and Cultural Insights
1. Two thousand cubits (3:4) is roughly half a mile.
2. The Jordan was overflowing its banks because it was harvest season in the spring (3:15).
3. The water piled up far upstream at a town called Adam, near Zarethan (3:16), often identified with Tell ed-Damiyeh.
4. History records times when landslides near Damiya blocked the Jordan for hours, including in 1267 and 1927. Even if God used such means, the timing was His miracle.
5. The ark is called the ark of the covenant of the Lord of all the earth (3:11, 13).
6. Seven nations are named that the living God would drive out (3:10).
7. The Dead Sea is called the Sea of the Arabah, the Salt Sea (3:16).
8. The name Jordan likely comes from a Hebrew root meaning "to go down," fitting a river that drops steeply to the Dead Sea.
9. The crossing deliberately echoes the Red Sea crossing (4:23).
10. Israel crossed opposite Jericho (3:16), facing their first battle immediately.
## 🧠 Chapter Summary
> [!note] 🌱 Still growing. This section is on its way.
## ✝️ Christ in This Chapter
Christ is the One who goes before us through the waters. The ark went ahead of the people into the Jordan (3:11), and Jesus was baptized in that same river before passing through death for us as our forerunner (Matthew 3:13-17; Hebrews 6:20).
## 🔎 Key Principles / 🛟 Life Application
> [!note] 🌱 Still growing. This section is on its way.
## 💬 Discussion Questions
1. The people were to keep about 2,000 cubits between themselves and the ark (3:4). Why might that distance have mattered?
2. The waters stopped only when the priests' feet touched the water (3:13-15). When has God asked you to step out before you saw the way?
3. The Lord exalted Joshua so the people would know He was with him as He had been with Moses (3:7). How does God affirm the leaders He calls?
## ✍️ Key Verses to Remember
- 📖 verse 5: Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do amazing things among you.
- 📖 verse 7: The Lord begins to exalt Joshua so Israel will know He is with him as He was with Moses.
- 📖 verse 17: The priests stand on dry ground in the middle of the Jordan while all Israel crosses.
## 🔗 Related Passages/Cross Reference
- 🔗 [[Exodus 14#Verse 21.|Exodus 14:21-22]] - Israel crosses the Red Sea.
- 🔗 [[Psalm 114#Verse 01.|Psalm 114:1-5]] - The Jordan turned back.
- 🔗 [[Matthew 03#Verse 13.|Matthew 3:13-17]] - Jesus is baptized in the Jordan.
- 🔗 [[Isaiah 43#Verse 02.|Isaiah 43:2]] - When you pass through the waters, I will be with you.
- 🔗 [[Hebrews 06#Verse 19.|Hebrews 6:19-20]] - Jesus our forerunner.
## 🙏 Devotional Reflection
📝 SOAP: [[Joshua 3 - SOAP|The Lord Makes Us]]
## 📂 Internal Notes