And the priests that bare the ark of the covenant of the LORD stood firm on dry ground in the midst of Jordan, and all the Israelites passed over on dry ground, until all the people were passed clean over Jordan.
This verse describes the fulfillment of God's promise—the miracle occurred exactly as predicted. The phrase 'stood firm' (amad nakon, עָמַד נָכוֹן) emphasizes stability and security; the priests weren't tentatively balanced but firmly established on dry ground. Their position 'in the midst of Jordan' (betok hayarden, בְּתוֹךְ הַיַּרְדֵּן) meant they stood in the riverbed's center while waters were supernaturally held back upstream and downstream. The repeated phrase 'on dry ground' (becharavah, בֶּחָרָבָה) echoes Exodus 14:22, 29, deliberately connecting this miracle with the Red Sea crossing. God doesn't provide merely damp or muddy ground but completely dry passage. The phrase 'all the Israelites' (kol-Yisrael, כָּל־יִשְׂרָאֵל) stresses corporate participation—the entire nation, perhaps 2-3 million people, crossed. The final phrase 'until all the people were passed clean over' (ad asher-tamu kol-hagoy lavor, עַד אֲשֶׁר־תַּמּוּ כָל־הַגּוֹי לַעֲבֹר) indicates the miracle's duration; waters remained stopped until every last person safely crossed. This demonstrates God's patience and care for His people, holding back the waters supernaturally for the hours or days required.
Historical Context
Crossing 2-3 million people plus livestock through the Jordan riverbed required significant time, yet the miracle persisted throughout. Ancient military forces would have been vulnerable during such a crossing, but God's supernatural intervention protected Israel from attack. The priests' courage in stepping into flood-stage waters before seeing the miracle demonstrates faith—they had to get their feet wet before waters parted. This contrasts with the Red Sea where Moses stretched out his rod first; here, priestly obedience precedes visible miracle. The crossing occurred during Passover season (Joshua 4:19), connecting Israel's entrance into Canaan with their deliverance from Egypt 40 years earlier. This timing emphasizes the unity of God's redemptive acts—the same God who delivered from slavery now brings into inheritance. The generation that witnessed this miracle would remember it as undeniable proof of God's power and faithfulness, strengthening their courage for the conquest ahead. Caleb and Joshua, the only adults who saw both the Red Sea and Jordan crossings, witnessed God's bookend miracles framing the wilderness period.
Questions for Reflection
What does the priests' courage to step into flood waters before seeing the miracle teach about the relationship between obedience and experiencing God's power?
How should God's care in keeping the waters back 'until all the people were passed clean over' encourage you about His patience and attention to every believer's needs?
In what ways does the dry ground through Jordan foreshadow believers' passage through death into resurrection life?
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Analysis & Commentary
This verse describes the fulfillment of God's promise—the miracle occurred exactly as predicted. The phrase 'stood firm' (amad nakon, עָמַד נָכוֹן) emphasizes stability and security; the priests weren't tentatively balanced but firmly established on dry ground. Their position 'in the midst of Jordan' (betok hayarden, בְּתוֹךְ הַיַּרְדֵּן) meant they stood in the riverbed's center while waters were supernaturally held back upstream and downstream. The repeated phrase 'on dry ground' (becharavah, בֶּחָרָבָה) echoes Exodus 14:22, 29, deliberately connecting this miracle with the Red Sea crossing. God doesn't provide merely damp or muddy ground but completely dry passage. The phrase 'all the Israelites' (kol-Yisrael, כָּל־יִשְׂרָאֵל) stresses corporate participation—the entire nation, perhaps 2-3 million people, crossed. The final phrase 'until all the people were passed clean over' (ad asher-tamu kol-hagoy lavor, עַד אֲשֶׁר־תַּמּוּ כָל־הַגּוֹי לַעֲבֹר) indicates the miracle's duration; waters remained stopped until every last person safely crossed. This demonstrates God's patience and care for His people, holding back the waters supernaturally for the hours or days required.