Josué 3
Bob Utley · You Can Understand the Bible
Josué 3
CONTEXTUAL INSIGHTS Joshua 3 and 4 describe the crossing of the Jordan. The accounts seem to be rather repetitive, but we must remember that it is characteristic of Hebrew literature that one general account is followed by a detailed account (cf. Genesis 1 and 2). A brief outline of these two chapters is Jos. 3:1-6 ‒ preparation for entering the Promised Land Jos. 3:7-17 ‒ the crossing of the Jordan Jos. 4:1-14 ‒ extra details concerning the crossing of the Jordan Jos. 4: 15-24 ‒ the memorial stones There are several examples of memorial stone piles in Joshua. The purpose of the memorials was to instruct the next generation about YHWH's faithful covenant acts and YHWH's reaction to covenant disobedience (cf. Jos. 4:20-24; 8:35); some are positive and some negative. the positives are twelve stones from the Jordan arranged at Gilgal (cf. Jos. 4:1-8) twelve stones from the Jordan arranged on the brink of the Jordan (cf. Jos. 4:9) stone piles record the Law at Mt. Ebal (cf. Jos. 8:30-35) the negatives are Achan and his family and cattle stoned to death for their disobedience (cf. Jos. 7:25) Achan and his family buried by a great heap of stones (cf. Jos. 7:26) King of Ai killed and buried by a great heap of stones (cf. Jos. 8:29) large stones used to seal the cave where the five Canaanite kings were buried (cf. Jos. 10:27) There are two memorial stones mentioned the stone of Bochan (cf. Jos. 15:6; 18:17) the covenant stone (cf. Jos. 24:26-27)
Josué 3:1-4
3:1 "Joshua rose early in the morning" This is a Hebrew idiom which is used often in the Old Testament to describe someone who is preparing for a journey (cf. Gen. 19:2; 20:8; 21:14; 22:3; 26:31; 28:18; 31:55; Exod. 8:30; 9:13; 24:4; 32:6; 34:4; etc.). Here it implies that Joshua immediately performed his task (cf. Jos. 6:12; 7:16; 8:10). ▣ "Shittim" This seems to mean "from the acacias." Acacias are a rather hard, dark wood which was very common in the desert. This is basically the geographical area known as the Plains of Moab (cf. Num. 33:48,49,50). 3:2 "At the end of three days" Some see this as being linked to the three-day ritual of Jos. 1:11, while other commentators assume that it is a different three-day period. Three days is the normal time necessary for ritual preparation (cf. Exod. 19:10-15). ▣ "officers" This means "scribes" and refers to the helpers of the elders who are mentioned in Jos. 1:10. These would be the administrative type officials who would help Joshua. 3:3 "the ark of the covenant of the Lord your God" A full description of this symbol of the presence of God is found in Exod. 25:10-22. The Shekinah Cloud of Glory had been the symbol of God's presence with His people during the wilderness wandering period, but now it was replaced by the ark of the covenant which sat in the Holy of Holies in the tabernacle. On its mercy seat (i.e., lid) were two winged cherubim. On the Day of Atonement (Leviticus 16) the High Priest entered the Holy of Holies (twice) in order to sprinkle blood on the mercy seat (for his sin, then for the nation's) which was a sign of forgiveness for the entire nation. The rabbis believed that God dwelt in heaven and that His footstool was the ark of the covenant, the place where heaven and earth met! SPECIAL TOPIC: THE ARK OF THE COVENANT ▣ "Levitical priests carrying it" The ark and the cloud led them throughout the wilderness wandering period. Usually the ark was carried by the sons of Kohath (cf. Num. 4:4,15). The fact that it was carried here by the Levitical priests shows the significance of this particular event (also the cloud apparently was not visible). SPECIAL TOPIC: LEVITICAL PRIESTS 3:4 "However, there shall be between you and it a distance of about 2,000 cubits by measure" A cubit is the distance between a man's longest finger and his elbow. It usually equaled about 18 inches. This meant that the distance referred to here was about 3,000 feet. Some see this as the source of the rabbis' limit for a Sabbath day's journey (cf. Acts 1:12). Apparently this was a symbol of reverence and a sign of who was leading the people into the promised land (i.e., God). SPECIAL TOPIC: CUBIT ▣ "Do not come near it" The VERB (BDB 897, KB 1132, Qal IMPERFECT) is JUSSIVE in meaning. There was a holiness about the ark which required utmost care (cf. 2 Sam. 6:6-7). ▣ "for you have not passed this way before" This shows that God was leading His people in fulfillment of His promise to Abraham (cf. Gen. 12:1-3).
Josué 3:5-6
3:5 "Consecrate yourselves" This VERB (BDB 872, KB 1073, Hithpael IMPERATIVE, cf. Jos. 7:13) is used for specific acts of purification in Exod. 19:10,14,22. This is the Hebrew root which is used for holiness. SPECIAL TOPIC: HOLY
Josué 3:7-13
3:7 "that they may know that just as I have been with Moses, I will be with you" The human leader had changed but God was the same! God is going to show His support for Joshua by doing several things for him that He had also done for Moses. As God split the Red Sea in the Exodus, He now splits the Jordan in the Conquest. Another example of this same type of duplicated events is Jos. 5:13-15, which is comparable with Moses' burning bush experience in Exodus 3. 3:9 Joshua again commands the people. "come here," BDB 620, KB 670, Qal IMPERATIVE. This probably refers to the leaders who would pass on the information, but it could also refer to all the Israelites. "hear the words of the Lord your God," BDB 1033, KB 1570, Qal IMPERATIVE. This VERB means to hear so as to do! These are God's words, not Joshua's. 3:10 "the living God" This is the meaning of the name "YHWH" (cf. Exod. 3:14). It is from the Hebrew VERB "to be." He is the ever living, only living God. SPECIAL TOPIC: NAMES FOR DEITY, D. ▣ "the living God is among you" What a tremendous promise this is. The transcendent Holy One is with them (immanence). YHWH's miracle (splitting the Jordan) will convince them all that YHWH fulfills His promise (cf. Num. 16:28). ▣ "that He will assuredly dispossess from before you" This is an emphatic grammatical construction made up of the Hiphil INFINITIVE ABSOLUTE and the Hiphil IMPERFECT of the VERB for possess/drive out (BDB 439, KB 441). This VERB is common in Deuteronomy, Joshua, and Judges. ▣ "the Canaanite, the Hittites, the Hivites, the Perizzites, the Girgashites, the Amorites, and the Jebusites" SPECIAL TOPIC: PRE-ISRAELITE INHABITANTS OF PALESTINE 3:11 "the ark of the covenant of the Lord of all the earth" This is the name adon (BDB 10), which means "owner," "husband," or "master." Here again is that universal emphasis which is seen so often in the Pentateuch (cf. Jos. 3:13; 4:24; Gen. 3:15; 12:3; Exod. 9:29: 19:5). There is one and only one creator, sustainer, and redeemer, God (cf. Ps. 97:5; Micah 4:13). SPECIAL TOPIC: YHWH'S ETERNAL REDEMPTIVE PLAN 3:12 "take for yourselves twelve men from the tribes of Israel, one man for each tribe" Notice that this does not include the tribe of Levi. This emphasis on the inclusion of the tribes is a major theme throughout the book of Joshua. Their purpose is stated in chapter 4 (to gather stones as a memorial). SPECIAL TOPIC: SYMBOLIC NUMBERS IN SCRIPTURE, #6 3:13 "when the soles of the feet of the priests who carry the ark of the Lord" These priests who were carrying the ark had to act in faith to enter the turbulent waters of the overflowing Jordan. All of them had to get their feet into the water before it would divide. This is another sign of the faith that God required of His people. ▣ "the waters of the Jordan will be cut off" At a location north of the crossing (Jericho) the limestone cliffs caved in at the city of Adam and dammed up the Jordan (cf. Jos. 3:16). This was a natural event, but with supernatural timing (when it started and when it stopped) and locality. This was just like the plagues of Egypt, which they had heard about from their parents. In Genesis 1 water is never said to be spoken into existence. It is present and covers the earth in Gen. 1:2. God's control of water (i.e., forming the dry land, splitting the Red Sea and the Jordan) shows that He is the God of creation. Water is so important to life, but can be so destructive. Too much is a problem and too little is a problem. YHWH controls the oceans (salt water) and the rivers, dew, and rain (fresh water). Water brings and sustains life (as does God)! SPECIAL TOPIC: WATERS
Josué 3:14-17
3:14 "the people set out from their tents to cross the Jordan" This literally means "to pull tent pegs" (BDB 652, KB 704, Qal INFINITIVE CONSTRUCT). 3:15 There is a distinct literary feature used throughout Joshua. Joshua regularly uses the same VERB twice, mentioned once and then acted on (the VERB "to be," BDB 224, KB 243, is used this way so often I will not list them): Jos. 2:12 ‒ "dealt kindly with you" (BDB 793, KB 889, Qal PERFECT, Qal PERFECT) Jos. 3:6; 4:1 ‒ "said. . .saying" (BDB 55, KB 65, Qal IMPERFECT, Qal INFINITIVE CONSTRUCT) Jos. 3:15 ‒ "carried the ark" (BDB 669, KB 724, 2 Qal ACTIVE PARTICIPLES) Jos. 4:11; 5:1 ‒ "a crossing" (BDB 716, KB 778, Qal INFINITIVE CONSTRUCTS, 2 Qal IMPERFECTS) Jos. 4:14 ‒ "revered" (BDB 431, KB 432, Qal IMPERFECT, Qal PERFECT) Jos. 5:3,4 ‒ "circumcise" (BDB 557, KB 555, Qal IMPERFECT, Qal PERFECT) Jos. 6:3 ‒ "march around" (BDB 685, KB 738, Qal PERFECT, Hiphil INFINITIVE ABSOLUTE There are many more. It becomes a literary characteristic of this book. ▣ "for the Jordan overflows all its banks all the days of harvest" This was the time of the flax and barley harvest, not the later wheat harvest. This would mean that the Jordan was rushing out of its banks because of the melting snows from Mt. Hermon. Crossing it would be very difficult, almost impossible, at this time of the year. God would show them that He was still with them and for them by this miraculous crossing! 3:16 "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" The method which God used was a cave-in of the limestone cliffs which were several miles upstream. The miraculous elements were (1) the supernatural timing of the landslide and (2) its releasing of the water. We know from history, both Arab (1267 B.C.) and modern history (A.D. 1297) that the Jordan River has been stopped by landslides in this area before. There is a difference in opinion concerning the location of the city of Adam. Some say that it is about sixteen miles north of Jericho, while others say it is as far north as thirty-six miles. This same city in mentioned in Hosea 6:7. The word "heap" (BDB 622) is always used in connection with God's control of water. Red Sea, Exod. 15:8; Ps. 78:13 gathering of water at creation, Ps. 33:7 ▣ "beside" Zarethan is several miles north of Adam. The Hebrew may imply that the water backed up to Zarethan, not that it was close to Adam (cf. W. F. Albright). 3:17 "the priests . . . stood firm on dry ground in the middle of the Jordan" The Hebrew term (BDB 892) in Jos. 3:15 means "on the edge or brink of the Jordan." Yet, in Jos. 3:17, the priest seems to have moved to the middle (BDB 1063) of the Jordan. However, if the men gathered two sets of twelve stones from the middle of the Jordan as a memorial in chapter four: (1) one set was placed at the first camp site, Gilgal and (2) the second set (cf. Jos. 4:9) was placed "in the middle" of the Jordan. But in this location they would never be seen. This must mean on the edge or brink as in Jos. 3:15 so that they were visible all year except during the few weeks of the flood stage. ▣ "until all the nation had finished crossing the Jordan" We learn from Jos. 4:10 that the people hurried across. Apparently the priests were growing very weary of holding the heavy, gold-covered ark for the hours it must have taken for the large number of people to cross.