Joshua Chapter 3 — Crossing the Jordan River
Joshua leads the Israelites across the Jordan River as God stops the flow of water, allowing the nation to cross into the Promised Land on dry ground.
1Joshua got up early in the morning; and they moved from Shittim and came to the Jordan, he and all the children of Israel. They camped there before they crossed over.
2After three days, the officers went through the middle of the camp;
3and they commanded the people, saying, “When you see the ark of the LORD your God’s covenant, and the Levitical priests bearing it, then leave your place and follow it.
4Yet there shall be a space between you and it of about two thousand cubits*A cubit is the length from the tip of the middle finger to the elbow on a man’s arm, or about 18 inches or 46 centimeters, so 2,000 cubits is about 920 meters. by measure—don’t come closer to it—that you may know the way by which you must go; for you have not passed this way before.”
5Joshua said to the people, “Sanctify yourselves; for tomorrow the LORD will do wonders among you.”
6Joshua spoke to the priests, saying, “Take up the ark of the covenant, and cross over before the people.” They took up the ark of the covenant, and went before the people.
7The LORD said to Joshua, “Today I will begin to magnify you in the sight of all Israel, that they may know that as I was with Moses, so I will be with you.
8You shall command the priests who bear the ark of the covenant, saying, ‘When you come to the brink of the waters of the Jordan, you shall stand still in the Jordan.’ ”
9Joshua said to the children of Israel, “Come here, and hear the words of the LORD your God.”
10Joshua said, “By this you shall know that the living God is among you, and that he will without fail drive the Canaanite, the Hittite, the Hivite, the Perizzite, the Girgashite, the Amorite, and the Jebusite out from before you.
11Behold, the ark of the covenant of the Lord†The word translated “Lord” is “Adonai.” of all the earth passes over before you into the Jordan.
12Now therefore take twelve men out of the tribes of Israel, for every tribe a man.
13It shall be that when the soles of the feet of the priests who bear the ark of GOD,‡When rendered in ALL CAPITAL LETTERS, “LORD” or “GOD” is the translation of God’s Proper Name (Hebrew “יהוה”, usually pronounced Yahweh). the Lord of all the earth, rest in the waters of the Jordan, that the waters of the Jordan will be cut off. The waters that come down from above shall stand in one heap.”
14When the people moved from their tents to pass over the Jordan, the priests who bore the ark of the covenant being before the people,
15and when those who bore the ark had come to the Jordan, and the feet of the priests who bore the ark had dipped in the edge of the water (for the Jordan overflows all its banks all the time of harvest),
16the waters which came down from above stood, and rose up in one heap a great way off, at Adam, the city that is beside Zarethan; and those that went down toward the sea of the Arabah, even the Salt Sea, were wholly cut off. Then the people passed over near Jericho.
17The priests who bore the ark of the LORD’s covenant stood firm on dry ground in the middle of the Jordan; and all Israel crossed over on dry ground, until all the nation had passed completely over the Jordan.
WEB Translation
Notable Verses
Joshua 3:5
“Joshua said to the people, “Sanctify yourselves; for tomorrow the LORD will do wonders among you.””
This verse emphasizes the spiritual preparation required before witnessing God's miraculous intervention in the life of the nation.
Joshua 3:17
“The priests who bore the ark of the LORD’s covenant stood firm on dry ground in the middle of the Jordan; and all Israel crossed over on dry ground, until all the nation had passed completely over the Jordan.”
This verse records the completion of the miracle and the physical entry of the nation into their new land on dry ground.
Chapter Summary
Joshua and the Israelites move from Shittim to the banks of the Jordan River. After three days, officers instruct the people to follow the Ark of the Covenant carried by the Levitical priests, maintaining a respectful distance of about two thousand cubits. Joshua calls the people to sanctify themselves in preparation for the wonders God is about to perform. God promises to magnify Joshua's leadership in the eyes of all Israel, affirming that He is with Joshua just as He was with Moses. As the priests carrying the Ark step into the river—which was at flood stage due to the harvest season—the waters from upstream stop and rise in a heap at the city of Adam. The entire nation of Israel then crosses the riverbed on dry ground near Jericho while the priests remain stationary in the middle of the Jordan with the Ark until the crossing is complete.
Frequently Asked Questions
According to the text, the waters of the Jordan stopped flowing and rose up in a heap as soon as the priests carrying the Ark of the Covenant stepped into the water. This allowed the entire nation to cross on dry ground even though the river was at flood stage.
The people were commanded to keep a distance of about 2,000 cubits so they could clearly see the path they needed to take. Since they had never traveled that way before, the Ark served as their visible guide.
The water coming down from upstream stood and rose up in one heap at a city called Adam, while the water flowing toward the Salt Sea was completely cut off. This created a dry path for the Israelites to pass over near the city of Jericho.
Study Note
The mention of the Jordan overflowing its banks indicates the crossing occurred during the spring harvest, when the river was traditionally at its highest and most dangerous level.
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