Chapter 3:
| Darby
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| Gill
| Jamieson Faussett Brown
| Matthew Henry
| Matthew Henry Concise
| Wesley
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Introduction 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 Deuteronomy Judges
Joshua 3
The people decamp from Shittim, and are directed to follow
the ark, and sanctify themselves, ver. 1-5. The priests are ordered
to go first, ver. 6. Joshua being encouraged and directed as God,
tells the people what God is about to do, ver. 7 - 13. Jordan is
divided, and Israel marches through, ver. 14-17.
Verse 1. In the morning - Not after the return of the spies, but after the
three days, chap. i, 11, as it follows, ver. iii, 2. Lodge there - That
night, that they might go over in the day time, that the miracle
might be more evident and unquestionable, and strike the greater
terror into their enemies.
Verse 2. After three days - Either at the end of them, or upon the last of
them. Through the host - The second time to give them more
particular directions, as they had given them a general notice,
chap. i, 10, 11.
Verse 3. Commanded the people - In Joshua's name, and by his
authority. Priests and Levites - Who were not only Levites, but
priests also. For altho' the Levites were to carry the ark, Num. iv,
1-15, yet the priests might perform that office, and did so upon
some solemn occasions. Go after it - Towards Jordan, to go over it
in such a manner as I am about to describe. 'Till this time the ark
went in the middle of the cloudy pillar, now it goes in the front.
Probably the pillar of fire and cloud was still hovering over the
ark.
Verse 4. Two thousand cubits - A thousand yards, at which distance
from it the Israelites seem to have been encamped in the
wilderness. And because they generally went from their tents to
the ark to worship God, especially on the sabbath-days; hence it
hath been conceived, that a sabbath-day's journey reached only to
two thousand cubits. But that may be doubted; for those who
encamped nearest the ark, were at that distance from it, and came
so far; but the rest were farther from it, and their sabbath-day's
journey was considerably longer. Near unto it - Partly from the
respect they should bear to the ark; but chiefly, that the ark
marching so far before you into the river, and standing still there
'till you pass over, may give you the greater assurance of your
safe passage. Ye have not passed this way heretofore - While we
are here, we must expect unusual events, to pathways that we
have not passed before: and much more when we go hence, when
we pass thro' the valley of the shadow of death. But if we have the
assurance of God's presence, what have we to fear?
Verse 5. And Joshua said - Or rather, had said, the day before their
passage; for it follows, tomorrow. Sanctify yourselves - Both in
soul and body, that you may be meet to receive such a favour, and
with more reverence observe this great work, and fix it in your
hearts.
Verse 6. Take up - Namely, upon your shoulders; for so they were to
carry it, Num. vii, 9. Before the people - Not in the middle of
them, as you used to do.
Verse 7. Magnify thee - That is, to gain thee authority among them, as
the person whom I have set in Moses's stead, and by whom I will
conduct them to the possession of the promised land.
Verse 8. The brink - Hebrew. to the extremity, so far as the river then
spread itself, which was now more than ordinary, ver. 15. In
Jordan - Within the waters of Jordan, in the first entrance into the
river; Where they stood for a season, 'till the river was divided,
and then they went into the midst of it, and there abode 'till all the
people were passed over. 9. Come hither - To the ark or
tabernacle, the place of public assemblies. The Lord your God -
Who is now about to give a proof that he is both the Lord, the
omnipotent governor of heaven and earth, and all creatures; and
your God, in covenant with you, having a tender care and
affection for you.
Verse 10. Ye shall know - By experience and sensible evidence. The
living God - Not a dull, dead, senseless God, such as the gods of
the nations are; but a God of life, and power, and activity to watch
over you, and work for you. Among you - Is present with you to
strengthen and help you.
Verse 12. Twelve men - For the work described, chap. iv, 2, 3.
Verse 13. The ark of the Lord - That so it may appear this is the Lord's
doing, and that in pursuance of his covenant made with Israel. Of
all the earth - The Lord of all this globe of earth and water, who
therefore can dispose of this river and the adjoining land as he
pleaseth. Cut off - The waters which now are united now shall be
divided, and part shall flow down the channel towards the dead
sea, and the other part that is nearer the spring of the river, and
flows down from it, shall stand still. An heap - Being as it were
congealed, as the Red-Sea was, Exod. xv, 8, and so kept from
overflowing the country.
Verse 15. All the time of harvest - This is meant not of wheat-harvest,
but of the barley-harvest, as is manifest from their keeping the
passover at their first entrance, chap. v, 10, which was kept on the
fourteenth day of the first month, when they were to bring a sheaf
of their first-fruits, which were of barley. So that this harvest in
those hot countries fell very early in the spring, when rivers used
to swell most; partly because of the rains which have fallen all the
winter, partly because of the snows which melt and come into the
rivers. And this time God chose that the miracle might be more
glorious, more amazing and terrible to the Canaanites; and that the
Israelites might be entertained at their first entrance with plentiful
and comfortable provisions.
Verse 16. Adam - The city Adam being more obscure, is described by its
nearness to a more known place, then eminent, but now unknown.
The meaning is, that the waters were stopped in their course at
that place, and so kept at a distance from the Israelites whilst they
passed over. Against Jericho - Here God carried them over,
because this part was,
1. The strongest, as having in its neighbourhood an eminent city, a
potent king, and a stout and war-like people.
2. The most pleasant and fruitful, and therefore more convenient
both for the refreshment of the Israelites after their long and
tedious marches, and for their encouragement.
Verse 17. Stood firm - That is, in one and the same place and posture;
their feet neither moved by any waters moving in upon them, nor
sinking into any mire, which one might think was at the bottom of
the river. And this may be opposed to their standing on the bank
of the water when they came to it, commanded, ver. 8, which was
but for a while, 'till the waters were divided and gone away; and
then they were to go farther, even into the midst of Jordan, where
they are to stand constantly and fixedly, as this Hebrew word
signifies, until all were passed over. The midst of Jordan - In the
middle and deepest part of the river.
Chapter 3:
| Darby
| Geneva
| Gill
| Jamieson Faussett Brown
| Matthew Henry
| Matthew Henry Concise
| Wesley
| Index
| Bible Gateway |
Introduction 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 Deuteronomy Judges
This version of Wesley's Notes on the Bible is a derivative of an electronic version, Copyright 1997, by Sulu D. Kelley. All rights reserved. Used by permission. It may not be modified or used commercially without permission of Wesleyan Heritage Publishing and Sulu Kelley. A special thanks to Mr. Kelley and Wesleyan Heritage Publishing for permission to create and post this version of Wesley's Notes on the Bible.
Genesis
Exodus
Leviticus
Numbers
Deuteronomy
Joshua
Judges
Ruth
1 Samuel
2 Samuel
1 Kings
2 Kings
1 Chronicles
2 Chronicles
Ezra
Nehemiah
Esther
Job
Psalm
Proverbs
Ecclesiastes
Song of Solomon
Isaiah
Jeremiah
Lamentations
Ezekiel
Daniel
Hosea
Joel
Amos
Obadiah
Jonah
Micah
Nahum
Habakkuk
Zephaniah
Haggai
Zechariah
Malachi
Matthew
Mark
Luke
John
Acts
Romans
1 Corinthians
2 Corinthians
Galatians
Ephesians
Philippians
Colossians
1 Thessalonians
2 Thessalonians
1 Timothy
2 Timothy
Titus
Philemon
Hebrews
James
1 Peter
2 Peter
1 John
2 John
3 John
Jude
Revelation
