Joshua Chapter 3 Summary - Key Points & Themes

Read Joshua Chapter 3 Summary

Joshua leads Israel from Shittim to the Jordan, where the priests bearing the ark of the covenant are commanded to step into the water; when they do, the Jordan—at flood stage during harvest—stands up in a heap at Adam while the priests stand on dry ground in the river's midst until all Israel crosses. This miracle demonstrates that the living God is among them and will drive out the Canaanites, Hittites, Hivites, Perizzites, Girgashites, Amorites, and Jebusites. Joshua has twelve men from the twelve tribes take twelve stones from the Jordan's midst for a memorial.

Characters in This Chapter

Joshua

Successor of Moses who led Israel in conquering and settling the Promised Land

Caleb

Faithful spy who received Hebron as his inheritance at age 85

Rahab

Canaanite woman who hid the spies and was saved with her family

Achan

Israelite who sinned by taking devoted things from Jericho, causing Israel's defeat at Ai

Joshua the High Priest

Joshua the High Priest

First High Priest of the Second Temple

Moses

Prophet and Lawgiver

Adam

First Man

Places in This Chapter

Jericho

First city conquered, whose walls fell miraculously after Israel marched around them

Jordan River

Miraculously crossed on dry ground, marking Israel's entry into the Promised Land

Gilgal

First camp in Canaan where Israel was circumcised and celebrated Passover

Shechem

Site of covenant renewal and Joshua's final address to the tribes

Position in Book

Entering the LandChapters 1-5

Joshua commissioned, spies sent to Jericho, crossing the Jordan, circumcision at Gilgal, and the Passover.

Conquering the LandChapters 6-12

Dividing the LandChapters 13-21

Serving the LordChapters 22-24