11. The ark of the Lord passed over Great prominence is given to the ark as the visible instrument of the miracle, the first to enter and the last to leave the bed of the Jordan. In the presence of the people Who, after their own hasty passage, were now standing on the western bank, contemplating the wonderful spectacle. This greatest miracle of the Old Testament had at least a million eye-witnesses. read more
12. And the children of Reuben The conjunction and does not indicate the order of events, but the historian wishes by repetition to give emphasis to the statement that the eastern tribes had already passed over to assist their brethren in the conquest of the land. Armed See Joshua 1:14, note. Before That is, in sight of. They were, perhaps, placed in the van to ensure the fulfilling of their promise, or because they were unencumbered with their families and flocks, which they had... read more
13. Forty thousand For their entire military strength see Joshua 1:14, note. Plains of Jericho A part of the Ghor or Arabah near Jericho. The mountains on the west fall back considerably to the south of the entrance into the Wady Kelt, and sweep toward the southwest, and then turn again toward the Dead Sea. The valley on the west of the Jordan is at this point seven miles wide. read more
14. The Lord magnified Joshua This is the fulfilment of the promise in Joshua 3:7. See the note. And they feared him, as they feared Moses “This was not, indeed, the chief design of the miracle, to exalt the power and authority of Joshua. But as it was of the greatest importance to the people generally that the government of Joshua should be firmly established, it is very properly mentioned as the crowning advantage resulting from it, that he was, as it were, invested with sacred... read more
15. The Lord spake unto Joshua The Hebrew having no pluperfect, this may be rendered had spoken. This repetition of what has been previously described is for the purpose of showing how Joshua was magnified, by connecting his agency with the miracle. “The priests did not quit their station till Joshua, who had ordered them thither, ordered them thence; nor did he thus order them until the Lord commanded him: so obedient were all parties to the word of God.” Scott. read more
16. Ark of the testimony This was so called because it contained the two tables of testimony. Deuteronomy 31:18; see note on Joshua 3:3. Gesenius renders, ark of the law. read more
18. The soles of the priests’ feet were lifted up unto the dry land Hebrew, plucked up, that is, from the miry bed of the river, which was dry only in the sense of being drained of water. The waters of Jordan returned As the waters suddenly stopped when the ark was borne into them, and flowed onward again when the ark left the bed of the river, the wonderful miracle must be ascribed to the ark as the instrument, and to God as the efficient cause. Click image for full-size version read more
19. The tenth day of the first month In Joshua 5:10, we learn that the passover, the anniversary of the Exodus, occurred on the fourteenth of the same month, so that there were forty years, wanting four days, between the departure from Egypt and the entrance into Canaan. They did not enter earlier because of their unbelief. Hebrews 3:19. Gilgal On the significance which the Israelites afterwards attached to this name, see note on Joshua 5:9. According to Josephus, Gilgal was fifty... read more
20. Did Joshua pitch in Gilgal The Hebrew word here rendered pitch is precisely the same as that rendered set up in Joshua 4:9, where see note. These twelve memorial stones were here built up by Joshua into a perpetual monument, resting, doubtless, upon a pedestal, to render it more conspicuous. More than six hundred years afterwards the Minor Prophets, Hosea (Hosea 4:15; Hosea 9:15; Hosea 12:11) and Amos, (Amos 4:4; Amos 5:5,) repeatedly reprove the Jews for going to Gilgal “to... read more
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Whedon's Commentary on the Bible - Joshua 4:10
10. The priests… stood… until every thing was finished It is not necessary to suppose that the building of the river monument took place after the people had passed, but it could have been built while they were hastening across the dry channel. This would abbreviate the time of the priests standing still and supporting the ark. According to all that Moses commanded Joshua We do not find in the books of Moses any directions respecting the manner of passing over the Jordan, and of... read more