1. The announcement of the entry (3:1‑6)⤒🔗

The account of the spies gives Joshua every reason to make preparations. He rises early in the morning and leads the Israelites to the Jordan. They remain there for three days.

Question 1: Read v.15b. What must the Israelites have been thinking as they were watching the river Jordan?

The officers have to tell the people to follow the ark, which was carried by the Levitical priests.

Question 2:  What was the significance of the ark and what did it portray? (e.g., see Ex 25:21 and 22.)  The ark was the throne of God on earth. Does this explain why the Israelites had to look at the ark?  What name is given to the ark of the LORD in these chapters?

It is striking that the ark has to be carried by the Levitical priests during the crossing of the Jordan. Usually, another group of men from the tribe of Levi, the Kohathites, would carry the ark (Num 4:4,15). During the crossing, however, the priests have to perform this task.

Some are of the opinion that on this occasion the ark was not covered. If that is true, the gold of the ark would have been glistening in the sun!

When the ark starts to move, the Israelites have to follow -- but at a distance of about 2000 cubits. (The Korte Verklarig¹ says that that is about 1000 meters.)  In this way, not only the ark but also what the LORD was going to do can be seen by all the people (see Ps 6:5‑7)!

Question 3: Why did the Israelites have to keep their distance? (Notice v.4b; see also Ps 77:19.)

Joshua makes an astonishing announcement.  He tells the people that the LORD will perform miracles in their midst. The people eagerly anticipate the coming events. Although a crossing had been announced, the manner of crossing had not been pointed out yet.  Read Exodus 34, especially v.10; then, the LORD for the second time had given two stone tablets that had to be placed in the ark.

Joshua tells the Israelites that they have to consecrate themselves because the LORD is going to act. He is going to demonstrate his majesty.

Question 4:  How the Israelites were to consecrate themselves can be read in Exodus ch.19 starting at v.10.  After reading these verses you should be able to explain why they had to consecrate themselves before the crossing of the Jordan.  How does this apply to our lives?

2. The LORD shows the way (3:7‑13)←⤒🔗

The LORD encourages Joshua; on this day he begins to exalt Joshua in the eyes of all of Israel. In v.7 you can read why he did that: "...that they may know that, as I was with Moses, so I will be with you" (cf. Ex 14:31). (On what previous occasion had God's people believed in him and Moses?)  Why did Joshua need to be exalted, and how is it possible that Exodus 14:31 speaks of the Israelites' belief in Moses? When we see God's servants, the office-bearers, carrying out their task, we must always see the LORD himself at work.

The day arrives. The entry into Canaan is about to begin. It is going to happen. God is going to fulfill his promises. Joshua directs the people to come, look, and listen carefully to what he is going to say (v.9). "Hereby you shall know..."

Question 5:  Which two things would they come to know if they came and looked at what was going to take place? 

The LORD is Lord over all the earth. He alone is God, master over everything. He is the LORD, Jahweh. He made his covenant with Israel. That is why he is in their midst. For that reason he will drive out all those mighty nations before them. God's enormous display of might and power in controlling the power of the water guarantees and heralds this feat.

Question 6:  How could they know that the LORD would do all this (v.11)?

The LORD himself would lead the way; he would show them that magnificent way. This must be impressed upon the whole nation, upon all twelve tribes.

In advance, Joshua also has to announce how the way will be prepared. The water will, so to speak, humbly retreat before the glory of the God of Israel. In this context, take note of the detailed descriptions of the Ark of the Covenant, which especially on this occasion is referred to as the ark of the LORD, the Lord of all the earth. The crossing of the Jordan shows who God is and what he is willing to do for his people.

3. The way is prepared and followed (3:14‑17)←⤒🔗

The event was very simply recorded: "...the people set out from their tents, to pass over the Jordan...". But faith was certainly required! For three days they had been watching that wide river Jordan.

Prof. B. Holwerda points out that it was the season of the harvest, at which time the river Jordan reached its highest level. Although ordinarily the river would be 30m wide, at that time it was three kilometers wide. This meant that there were no fords that the Israelites could use. (The timing of the crossing can be read in 4:19 and 5:10. See also outline 4 section 3.)

It took place as was announced. God's Word is reliable. What may be impossible with men is possible with him.

Far off, at a city called Adam that was 30 km north of Jericho, the water stands erect like a dam. The rest of the water flows into the Dead Sea, here referred to as the Salt Sea. (This reminds us of Sodom and Gomorrah, the cities of God's judgment.)

A "water dam" is not an isolated phenomenon: they are sometimes formed when one of the surrounding hills of marl collapses into the river. The last time this occurred was in 1927. Does this mean that actually no miracle took place in Joshua 3 and 4, but that it was simply a 'natural phenomenon’?  After reading 3:13 and 4:18 it will become clear that the answer to this question is definitely negative.

4. The unforgettable path (4:1‑9)←⤒🔗

When the Israelites are finished crossing the river, the water does not immediately return to its previous level. The ark is still standing in the middle of the riverbed (v.4). The crossing is not completely finished.

One chosen man (3:12) from each tribe has to take a stone from the site where the ark was placed in the middle of the river. They use these stones to form a memorial in the Promised Land at the place where they would lodge. This memorial consists of twelve stones from the Jordan and involves all twelve tribes in the land that the LORD had promised them. Notice that all the tribes passed through the Jordan (4:12); the two‑and‑a‑half tribes who would live east of the Jordan even have to cross before the other tribes do.

Question 7: Why did this memorial have to be erected? (See vs.6,7.)  

In time to come, children of these Israelites would ask what the meaning of the memorial was. Already at this point in time the LORD formulates the answer, which therefore is of great importance. That memorial and explanation are part and parcel of the crossing. This crossing was to be an integral part of Israel for always.

Question 8:   Does Bible History, Church History, or general history form an integral part of God's people today?

In addition, Joshua erects twelve stones on the place where the priests stood with the Ark of the Covenant.

Question 9:  What was the intention of placing the twelve stones in the Jordan?

5. The crossing of the Jordan (4:10‑19)←⤒🔗

The Biblical account of the crossing is very detailed. Therefore there can be no doubt about the point that is emphasized.

Question 10:  Point out the central idea, which we find in v.10. This verse refers to something that was said in a previous Bible book (read Deut 31:7,8).

Not until the whole nation of Israel passes through the Jordan does the ark, the throne of the LORD, begin to move. The ark was the first to enter the river and is the last to leave it. This was visible to all.

It may seem as if part of this history is retold in v.12. However, that is not how we should interpret this verse. Instead, some specific aspects of the crossing are simply highlighted, like the crossing of the tribes that lived east of the Jordan (v.12), and the crossing of the ark (v.15). Exactly in this fashion everything took place, always at the specific command of the LORD. He was the one who guided everything.

By means of the crossing, the LORD exalts Joshua in the sight of all Israel (v.14). Because of the crossing, the Israelites "...stood in awe of him, as they had stood in awe of Moses, all the days of his life."  In this manner they had to show their respect for the awesome majesty of the LORD. 

Question 11:  Can you think of another word for 'standing in awe'? (Chapter 4:24 may be of help as well as outline 2, section 1.)

The priests hardly reach the bank of the river before the water returns to its place. What a sight that must have been, with water whirling, foaming, and bubbling in full force; all brought about by the LORD who at other times had commanded waters to be calmed.

The date of the crossing is of great importance and is mentioned in v.19.  When discussing Joshua 5, more will be said about this. However, it needs to be mentioned at this point that the Passover would be celebrated in four days. The Passover would remind the Israelites of the crossing.

Question 12:  How long ago had the Exodus from Egypt taken place? Why had it taken such a long time before they could enter Canaan? As God leads his people into the Promised Land he humbles them.

In ch. 5:9 we read what the meaning of the name 'Gilgal' is.

6. The memorial erected (4:20‑24)←⤒🔗

When the memorial is erected, the whole story is called to mind (vv.21‑24). That was precisely the purpose of the memorial. Repeatedly this history had to be remembered so that the children would know about this event also. It is not entirely clear whether v.23 is part of the answer that the fathers had to give their children or contains a further explanation of Joshua.  If v.23 is part of that answer, notice that the fathers in that case say "...until you passed over...". What would the children learn from this? (See third paragraph of section 4 and Ps 66:5,6.)

The memorial is constructed at Gilgal. From there the Israelites are to start attacking their enemies. Following these raids they would come back to this place (3:10).

Question 7:  What is a memorial? (See Ps 77:12‑21; also Ps 105:5,8.)

This memorial was also of importance for the other nations. Moreover, it is of importance for us today. Even though we may not see these stones, we may still hear about them (4:24).