Josh.3;4
Full Lesson HERE
INTRODUCTION. Since the city of Jericho lay at the eastern entrance into the land of Canaan, it was necessary for the children of Israel to capture this fortified city first before they could conquer the land. But before they could attack Jericho, they had to cross the Jordan River. For three days they camped on the banks of the river, planning and preparing for their river crossing.
Normally the Jordan River is not a wide stream nor very deep. But at this particular time-
spring harvest time-the river had overflowed its banks. Therefore, without God's
miraculous help, the crossing would have been impossible.
Joshua instructed the priests to carry the ark of the covenant to the brink of the river. When the soles of their feet entered the water, the waters would cease flowing some distance above, and the waters below flowing into the Dead Sea would be cut off. The people would then follow, passing over on dry ground, and keeping a space of 2000 cubits (more than one-half mile) between them and the ark. In their wilderness wanderings the ark was always carried in the center of their camp, but now it was to be at the head of their army as a guide.
Twelve men were selected, one from each tribe, to carry a stone from the place where the priests stood with the ark to the other side (west side) of the river. Joshua also took twelve stones from the place where the priests stood and set them up on the east bank of the river. These two heaps of stones were to be a memorial to the children of Israel that they had crossed the Jordan River on dry ground.
When all the people had crossed over the river, then the priests carrying the ark crossed to the other side. As soon as their feet touched the dry land-the banks of the river-then the waters of the river ran once more, overflowing the banks as before.
Comments