18 And it came to pass, when the priests H3548 that bare H5375 the ark H727 of the covenant H1285 of the LORD H3068 were come up H5927 out of the midst H8432 of Jordan, H3383 and the soles H3709 of the priests' H3548 feet H7272 were lifted up H5423 unto the dry land, H2724 that the waters H4325 of Jordan H3383 returned H7725 unto their place, H4725 and flowed H3212 over all his banks, H1415 as H8543 they did before. H8032
And as they that bare H5375 the ark H727 were come H935 unto Jordan, H3383 and the feet H7272 of the priests H3548 that bare H5375 the ark H727 were dipped H2881 in the brim H7097 of the water, H4325 (for Jordan H3383 overfloweth H4390 all his banks H1415 all the time H3117 of harvest,) H7105
And the LORD H3068 said H559 unto Moses, H4872 Stretch out H5186 thine hand H3027 over the sea, H3220 that the waters H4325 may come again H7725 upon the Egyptians, H4714 upon their chariots, H7393 and upon their horsemen. H6571 And Moses H4872 stretched forth H5186 his hand H3027 over the sea, H3220 and the sea H3220 returned H7725 to his strength H386 when the morning H1242 appeared; H6437 and the Egyptians H4714 fled H5127 against H7125 it; and the LORD H3068 overthrew H5287 the Egyptians H4714 in the midst H8432 of the sea. H3220 And the waters H4325 returned, H7725 and covered H3680 the chariots, H7393 and the horsemen, H6571 and all the host H2428 of Pharaoh H6547 that came H935 into the sea H3220 after H310 them; there remained H7604 not so much as H5704 one H259 of them.
And it shall come to pass, as soon as the soles H3709 of the feet H7272 of the priests H3548 that bear H5375 the ark H727 of the LORD, H3068 the Lord H113 of all the earth, H776 shall rest H5117 in the waters H4325 of Jordan, H3383 that the waters H4325 of Jordan H3383 shall be cut off H3772 from the waters H4325 that come down H3381 from above; H4605 and they shall stand H5975 upon an H259 heap. H5067
These are they that went over H5674 Jordan H3383 in the first H7223 month, H2320 when it had overflown H4390 all his banks; H1415 H1428 and they put to flight H1272 all them of the valleys, H6010 both toward the east, H4217 and toward the west. H4628
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Matthew Henry Commentary » Commentary on Joshua 4
Commentary on Joshua 4 Matthew Henry Commentary
Chapter 4
This chapter gives a further account of the miraculous passage of Israel through Jordan.
Jos 4:1-9
We may well imagine how busy Joshua and all the men of war were while they were passing over Jordan, when besides their own marching into an enemy's country, and in the face of the enemy, which could not but occasion them many thoughts of hear, they had their wives, and children, and families, their cattle, and tents, and all their effects, bag and baggage, to convey by this strange and untrodden path, which we must suppose either very muddy or very stony, troublesome to the weak and frightful to the timorous, the descent to the bottom of the river and the ascent out of it steep, so that every man must needs have his head full of care and his hands full of business, and Joshua more than any of them. And yet, in the midst of all his hurry, care must be taken to perpetuate the memorial of this wonderous work of God, and this care might not be adjourned to a time of greater leisure. Note, How much soever we have to do of business for ourselves and our families, we must not neglect nor omit what we have to do for the glory of God and the serving of his honour, for that is our best business. Now,
Jos 4:10-19
The inspired historian seems to be so well pleased with his subject here that he is loth to quit it, and is therefore very particular in his narrative, especially in observing how closely Joshua pursued the orders God gave him, and that he did nothing without divine direction, finishing all that the Lord had commanded him (v. 10), which is also said to be what Moses commanded. We read not of any particular commands that Moses gave to Joshua about this matter: the thing was altogether new to him. It must therefore be understood of the general instructions Moses had given him to follow the divine direction, to deliver that to the people which he received of the Lord, and to take all occasions to remind them of their duty to God, as the best return for his favours to them. This which Moses, who was now dead and gone, had said to him, he had in mind at this time, and did accordingly. It is well for us to have the good instructions that have been given us ready to us when we have occasion for them.
Jos 4:20-24
The twelve stones which were laid down in Gilgal (v. 8) are here set up either one upon another, yet so as that they might be distinctly counted, or one by another in rows; for after they were fixed they ar not call a heap of stones, but these stones.