Joshua 3

[alon]

Joshua 3

It can be said that Israel’s history as a nation began when they crossed over into their own land. Everything that came before was preparing them for this. Not to denigrate everything up to now, but this is a true picture of how well Elohim prepares us for our destiny in Him. Their time in the desert had formed this people into a cohesive unit; close knit and able to maneuver quickly and surely. They were what we would have called a “tight” unit in the service. They’ve been tried under fire, so to speak. Now they come face to face with their mission as a people. They were to disposes heathenism and pagan gods, and then to become a light to the world for YHVH El Elohim- The Lord God of Gods:

Joshua 22:22 (KJV) The Lord God of gods, the Lord God of gods, he knoweth, and Israel he shall know; if it be in rebellion, or if in transgression against the Lord, (save us not this day,)

John 8:12 (KJV) Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.

Matthew 5:14 (KJV) Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.

The story of their crossing over the Jordan is told in Joshua in several interwoven units wherein some of the events are told more than once. (3:1-17; 4:1-9; 4:10-14; 4:15-18; 4:19-5:1). This makes a somewhat complex narrative of a single event, but like all synoptic accounts it does give a different take, focusing on different aspects of this seminal event in the history of God’s people. The first description in 3:1-17 focuses more the priests and thus the religious character of these events.

Joshua 3:1-2 (NASB) Then Joshua rose early in the morning; and he and all the sons of Israel set out from Shittim and came to the Jordan, and they lodged there before they crossed. At the end of three days the officers went through the midst of the camp;

For three days the people sat looking at the Jordan River in spring flood stage. This would have been a little bit daunting even for skilled outdoorsmen equipped for such things. I’ve crossed rivers in spring flood, and it is a dangerous undertaking. But they had to take their families and possessions with them! They had of course heard the stories of Moshe parting the Reed (or Red) Sea. However this was a test this generation had not yet faced. They were to be led by the Ark of the Covenant, itself an object lesson in the power and faithfulness of their Elohim and their Redeemer. The Ark contained the Book of Teaching:

Deuteronomy 31:26 (KJV) Take this book of the law, and put it in the side of the ark of the covenant of the Lord your God, that it may be there for a witness against thee. [some texts say beside the Ark, however this would have been awkward to carry like that].

Like His Word is for us today, this was a potent picture of how we receive power from on high. We walk by trust in His Word to see us through the floodwaters of life, on into battle with the enemy and ultimately to possess the promises.

Numbers 10:33-35 (NASB) Thus they set out from the mount of the Lord three days’ journey, with the ark of the covenant of the Lord journeying in front of them for the three days, to seek out a resting place for them. The cloud of the Lord was over them by day when they set out from the camp. Then it came about when the ark set out that Moses said, “Rise up, O Lord! And let Your enemies be scattered, And let those who hate You flee before You.”

The phrase “early in the morning” occurs four times in the book of Joshua, and its’ pattern of use determines it to be an idiom for the time just before diligent activity is to start. Joshua is carrying the instructions of El Gibor- The Mighty God.

Joshua 3:3-5 (NASB) and they commanded the people, saying, “When you see the ark of the covenant of the Lord your God with the Levitical priests carrying it, then you shall set out from your place and go after it. However, there shall be between you and it a distance of about 2,000 cubits by measure [One cubit equals approx 18 in.]. Do not come near it, that you may know the way by which you shall go, for you have not passed this way before.” Then Joshua said to the people, “Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do wonders among you.”

“Consecrate [purify] yourselves” shadows the purification at Sinai. This was because they were going to be in the presence of the Ark of the Covenant; separated by the 2000 cubits distance to maintain the sanctity of El HaKabodh- The God of Glory, who the Ark represented and whose Spirit resided there. They were to perform the rites of outward purification; however they, as we are to always use the occasion of these rites to purify ourselves inwardly as well.

Joshua 3:7 (NASB) Now the Lord said to Joshua, “This day I will begin to exalt you in the sight of all Israel, that they may know that just as I have been with Moses, I will be with you.

The phrase “the Lord said to Joshua” is repeatedly used in chapters 1-6; and indicates that Joshua was truly Moshe’s successor; a fact which Elohim was about to prove beyond any doubt.

Joshua 3:8 (NASB) You shall, moreover, command the priests who are carrying the ark of the covenant, saying, ‘When you come to the edge of the waters of the Jordan, you shall stand still in the Jordan.’”

These priests are a perfect picture of the responsibilities shouldered by those who would be priests, pastors, prophets or teachers. They enter the waters first, before any manifestation of God’s power has occurred. They bear the burden of the Word of El Gibor- The Mighty God on their shoulders. And they must stand while the waters pile higher upstream until their flock is safely across. They are first in, last out as they stand in the presence of God to deliver the words of freedom and victory.

Joshua 3:9-13 (NASB) 9 Then Joshua said to the sons of Israel, “Come here, and hear the words of the Lord your God.” 10 Joshua said, “By this you shall know that the living God is among you, and that He will assuredly dispossess from before you the Canaanite, the Hittite, the Hivite, the Perizzite, the Girgashite, the Amorite, and the Jebusite. 11 Behold, the ark of the covenant of the Lord of all the earth is crossing over ahead of you into the Jordan. 12 Now then, take for yourselves twelve men from the tribes of Israel, one man for each tribe. 13 It shall come about when the soles of the feet of the priests who carry the ark of the Lord, the Lord of all the earth, rest in the waters of the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan will be cut off, and the waters which are flowing down from above will stand in one heap.”

YHVH Elohim- “the Lord Your God” indicates a personal God. El Hay, “the living God” speaks of a God of life; vitality. It not only reassured the people that God was among them, but that He would again go before them and defeat their enemies.

Adon Khol HaEretz- “The Lord God of All the Earth” is a term used by Zechariah for the time after the enemies of Israel have been judged and the Hebrews are finally in their kingdom for good. This is a hugely appropriate title for use here as they are about to possess the land for the first time; thus linking these two events and all history in between. God does not renege on His promises. Others may have temporarily occupied the Land of Israel, but from this time on that land belongs to the Jews. Period.

Zechariah 6:5 (NASB) The angel replied to me, “These are the four spirits of heaven, going forth after standing before the Lord of all the earth,"

The selection of one man from each tribe represents all Israel, which is a common theme throughout this book.

When vs. 13 says “the waters … will ‘stand’ in one heap,” the term ‘stand’ is also used to describe the halting of the sun, again linking these two miracles:

Joshua 10:13 (NASB) So the sun stood still, and the moon stopped, Until the nation avenged themselves of their enemies. Is it not written in the book of Jashar? And the sun stopped in the middle of the sky and did not hasten to go down for about a whole day.

And the term ‘heap’ is used only in reference to the parting of the Reed Sea which creates an extremely important link to these two miracles:

Exodus 15:8 (NASB) “At the blast of Your nostrils the waters were piled up, The flowing waters stood up like a heap; The deeps were congealed in the heart of the sea.

God parted the waters again here because this generation had heard of the waters being parted for their fathers, but they had not witnessed it. This time however they had to take the first steps in faith, and where their feet touched the waters parted and the earth dried up.

Joshua 3:15-17 (NASB) 15 and when those who carried the ark came into the Jordan, and the feet of the priests carrying the ark were dipped in the edge of the water (for the Jordan overflows all its banks all the days of harvest), 16 the waters which were flowing down from above stood and rose up in one heap, a great distance away at Adam, the city that is beside Zarethan; and those which were flowing down toward the sea of the Arabah, the Salt Sea, were completely cut off. So the people crossed opposite Jericho. 17 And the priests who carried the ark of the covenant of the Lord stood firm on dry ground in the middle of the Jordan while all Israel crossed on dry ground, until all the nation had finished crossing the Jordan.

That this occurred in the harvest season when the Jordan is still in flood stage makes the event that much more powerful an example for both the Israelites and for their enemies who would witness or surely hear about it. The term crossed is used several times in chapters 3 & 4, and is indicative of the significance of the event. This is true of the frequent mention of the Jordan; representative of all the borders of HaEretz Yisro’el. This not only pictures their going in to possess the promise by their trust in El Elohe Yisra’el; it is a picture also of the salvation of Elohe Yeshuathi (God of My Salvation), which is then as now the work of God as we step out in trust. Salvation then, now and always is by grace through faith:

Eph 2:8 (KJV) For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

However salvation is not the end of the journey, but just the beginning. Many times we will be called upon to step into the waters with nothing but our trust in Elohe Mauzi- God of My Strength to sustain us.

Dan C

Resources: JPS Study TNK, W Wiersby, F Meyer, M Unger, Edersheim, Pastor Ed Cole, Pastor Bill Best, my father and others.\

[garrett]

I wonder if any of the Canaanites, Hittites, Hivites, etc. had any firsthand knowledge of this enormous group of people amassed at the edge of the river Jordan? How could they not? And if so, I wonder what their reaction was to the presence of all these people that appeared?

[alon]

Apr 29, 2016 23:51:45 GMT -8 garrett said:

I wonder if any of the Canaanites, Hittites, Hivites, etc. had any firsthand knowledge of this enormous group of people amassed at the edge of the river Jordan? How could they not? And if so, I wonder what their reaction was to the presence of all these people that appeared?

As we study further we'll see that they not only knew of the Israelites, they took measures against this invading army. Many tried to make a treaty, and the Gibeonites did trick the Israelites into making a treaty. Jabon of Hazor formed an alliance against the Hebrews. Both of these precipitated miraculous events which were extremely important in the history of Israel.

Remember too they had already won victories on the other side of the river, and during the forty years wandering everyone in the region knew of them. So I can't believe any of the peoples in the land at that time didn't hear of them and send out their own reconnaissance. They would have known from first hand reports who these invaders were and exactly what they did, and how.  Also go back to ch. 2, the two spies and Rahab:

Joshua 2:10 (ESV) For we have heard how the Lord dried up the water of the Red Sea before you when you came out of Egypt, and what you did to the two kings of the Amorites who were beyond the Jordan, to Sihon and Og, whom you devoted to destruction.

Joshua 2:23-24 (ESV) Then the two men returned. They came down from the hills and passed over and came to Joshua the son of Nun, and they told him all that had happened to them. And they said to Joshua, “Truly the Lord has given all the land into our hands. And also, all the inhabitants of the land melt away because of us.”

So you're right: they knew. And I think they were probably terrified, since here was a people whose God was demonstrably superior to their gods. But these were exceedingly wicked people, and wickedness is not something man can easily throw off, even when we come face to face with God Himself. Remember too that ha'satan knew as well, and he had forty years to really work on his own "armies." Actually, he'd know since God gave the land to Avraham. So if I had to guess at the state of affairs in the land just before the conquest, I'd say look hard at Islam today and you might get a small window into the deplorable spiritual condition of the Canaanites.

Dan C

[Elizabeth]

I would imagine the Israelites were a bit afraid of G-d in this moment as well. It's moments like this where it just clicks for me how well Judaism gets it. I think I would have thought to myself something like,  "Everyone just shut-up and do what He says. Glad He's on our side."

But truly, what other kind of leader would we want to get us through this mess and take on our enemies? There is a wonderful relationship between faith in G-d and fear of G-d that keeps the relationship true, holy, and for our good. I am sure there are moments where for us to act for our good, we have to fear G-d more than the world around us. I feel really fortunate as a Messianic beliver in this moment to kind of see that because I never would have been able to see it as a Christian.

[garrett]

Apr 30, 2016 12:45:07 GMT -8 Elizabeth said:

I would imagine the Israelites were a bit afraid of G-d in this moment as well. It's moments like this where it just clicks for me how well Judaism gets it. I think I would have thought to myself something like,  "Everyone just shut-up and do what He says. Glad He's on our side."

But truly, what other kind of leader would we want to get us through this mess and take on our enemies? There is a wonderful relationship between faith in G-d and fear of G-d that keeps the relationship true, holy, and for our good. I am sure there are moments where for us to act for our good, we have to fear G-d more than the world around us. I feel really fortunate as a Messianic beliver in this moment to kind of see that because I never would have been able to see it as a Christian.

It is interesting to think about. For instance, the Israelites literally had to wait until the VERY last person from the generation of those who disobeyed, died. It's as if the green light did not occur until that very last person had died and was buried. And the new generation believed G-d and was obedient - at least to the degree that was necessary to go into the Land. I would really like to see what this huge group of people was like, in person, on a spiritual level.

This thought of fearing G-d enough to obey Him caused me to really think about the way I encounter situations in my life. And the faith part...I think that can be even more difficult! By that I mean trusting Him, thinking of Him and devoting more time to dialogue with Him.

[mosheli]

Apr 29, 2016 12:37:56 GMT -8 alon said:

Joshua 3:15-17 (NASB) 15 and when those who carried the ark came into the Jordan, and the feet of the priests carrying the ark were dipped in the edge of the water (for the Jordan overflows all its banks all the days of harvest), 16 the waters which were flowing down from above stood and rose up in one heap, a great distance away at Adam, the city that is beside Zarethan; and those which were flowing down toward the sea of the Arabah, the Salt Sea, were completely cut off. So the people crossed opposite Jericho. 17 And the priests who carried the ark of the covenant of the Lord stood firm on dry ground in the middle of the Jordan while all Israel crossed on dry ground, until all the nation had finished crossing the Jordan.

Just thought I would share something I saw when I read this chapter a year or so ago. Though not sure if I may have already mentioned it in some other post here or in some other forum/group.)

When I read that the waters were stopped all the way back at Adam it was like I suddenly saw an analogy with the crucifixion and all our sins all the way back to the original sin in Eden, and it blew me away as starling evidence. The Jordan is associated with Yeshua's/Jesus' baptism, so crossing the Jordan is like an analogy of baptism and of Yeshua's death and us dying and rising with him. Joshua is same name as Yeshua/Jesus too (and/or the Ark seemingly is also a type of Yeshua/Jesus). (Zarethan is also maybe similar to Nazareth.) Some also link the Yarden/Jordan "descender" with the river of Eden.

The twelve stones & twelve men from each tribe in 4:2-4 might also parallel the 12 apostles.

Not sure if there might also be further link via the month & day of the harvest in the calendar?