Joshua 3 - Summary

Historical setting

Joshua leads Israel east of the Jordan River, where they have camped at Shittim (a location in the plains of Moab, east of the river). The Jordan lies ahead, marking the border of Canaan, the land promised to Israel's ancestors. The text does not name the enemy powers already living there until verse 10, where seven nations are listed: Canaanites, Hittites, Hivites, Perizzites, Girgashites, Amorites, and Jebusites. The people have spent forty years in the wilderness since leaving Egypt under Moses; now Moses is dead and Joshua commands them. This crossing happens at harvest time, when the Jordan runs at flood stage, making a natural crossing extremely difficult or impossible.

The ark of the covenant, a wooden chest containing the two stone tablets of the law, is Israel's most sacred object. It is housed in a tent sanctuary and carried by priests from the tribe of Levi. In Israelite belief, God's presence dwells above the ark, between the two golden figures on its lid. The ark has gone before Israel in their wilderness travels and now leads them toward their new land.

Life and customs

A cubit is a unit of length, roughly eighteen inches to two feet, though ancient measures varied. Two thousand cubits, mentioned in verse 4, would be roughly 600 to 1000 yards. The space between the ark and the main body of people serves both practical and religious purposes: it prevents casual approach to a sacred object and allows the people to see where the ark goes and thus where they must follow.

To "sanctify" oneself, as commanded in verse 5, means to make oneself ritually pure and set apart for encounter with God. This typically involved washing, abstaining from certain activities, and mental preparation. Israelites understood that drawing near to God required such preparation; approaching without it was thought dangerous. The priests who carry the ark are Levites, the tribe dedicated to religious service, and they alone may touch or carry the most sacred objects.

What the text says

Joshua and all Israel travel from Shittim to the Jordan and camp there (verse 1). Three days later, officers command the people to follow the ark of the covenant when they see the priests carrying it, keeping a distance of about two thousand cubits and letting the ark guide their path, since they have not traveled this route before (verses 2-4). Joshua tells the people to make themselves ceremonially clean, for tomorrow God will perform wonders (verse 5). Joshua orders the priests to take up the ark and go ahead of the people (verse 6). God speaks to Joshua, saying that this day he will establish Joshua's authority in Israel's sight as he did with Moses (verse 7). Joshua instructs the priests that when they reach the water's edge, they are to stand still in the Jordan (verse 8). Joshua summons the people and announces that by what God is about to do, they will know the living God is with them and will drive out the seven named nations (verses 9-10). The ark of the Lord of all the earth will pass over before them (verse 11). Joshua instructs them to select twelve men, one from each tribe (verse 12). When the priests' feet touch the water, the waters flowing down from above will be cut off and stand up in a heap (verse 13).

When the people break camp and the priests carrying the ark go before them, and the priests' feet touch the water's edge, the text notes the Jordan is overflowing its banks at harvest time (verses 14-15). The flowing water stands and rises up as a heap far from Adam (a city nearby), the waters toward the Dead Sea are cut off, and the people cross opposite Jericho (verse 16). The priests holding the ark stand firm on dry ground in the river's middle until all Israel has finished crossing on dry ground (verse 17).

Takeaways

• The ark of the covenant, understood as the place of God's presence, leads Israel's crossing and stands still in the riverbed while the entire nation passes.
• God's action is presented as a sign that will establish both Joshua's leadership and Israel's confidence that the nations ahead will be driven out.
• Twelve men are chosen to carry stones from the riverbed, a memorial whose purpose becomes clear in the next chapter.