Chapter 3
Themes, discussion questions, Christ connections, and denomination lenses.
Just read this chapter →Scripture
KJV1And Joshua rose early in the morning; and they removed from Shittim, and came to Jordan, he and all the children of Israel, and lodged there before they passed over.
2And it came to pass after three days, that the officers went through the host;
3And they commanded the people, saying, When ye see the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God, and the priests the Levites bearing it, then ye shall remove from your place, and go after it.
4Yet there shall be a space between you and it, about two thousand cubits by measure: come not near unto it, that ye may know the way by which ye must go: for ye have not passed this way heretofore.
5And Joshua said unto the people, Sanctify yourselves: for to morrow the LORD will do wonders among you.
6And Joshua spake unto the priests, saying, Take up the ark of the covenant, and pass over before the people. And they took up the ark of the covenant, and went before the people.
7And the LORD said unto Joshua, This day will I begin to magnify thee in the sight of all Israel, that they may know that, as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee.
8And thou shalt command the priests that bear the ark of the covenant, saying, When ye are come to the brink of the water of Jordan, ye shall stand still in Jordan.
9And Joshua said unto the children of Israel, Come hither, and hear the words of the LORD your God.
10And Joshua said, Hereby ye shall know that the living God is among you, and that he will without fail drive out from before you the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Hivites, and the Perizzites, and the Girgashites, and the Amorites, and the Jebusites.
11Behold, the ark of the covenant of the LORD of all the earth passeth over before you into Jordan.
12Now therefore take you twelve men out of the tribes of Israel, out of every tribe a man.
13And it shall come to pass, as soon as the soles of the feet of the priests that bear the ark of the LORD, the LORD of all the earth, shall rest in the waters of Jordan, that the waters of Jordan shall be cut off from the waters that come down from above; and they shall stand upon an heap.
14And it came to pass, when the people removed from their tents, to pass over Jordan, and the priests bearing the ark of the covenant before the people;
15And as they that bare the ark were come unto Jordan, and the feet of the priests that bare the ark were dipped in the brim of the water, (for Jordan overfloweth all his banks all the time of harvest,)
16That the waters which came down from above stood and rose up upon an heap very far from the city Adam, that is beside Zaretan: and those that came down toward the sea of the plain, even the salt sea, failed, and were cut off: and the people passed over right against Jericho.
17And 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.
“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.”
Overview
Israel prepares to cross the Jordan River as God instructs the priests carrying the ark of the covenant to step into the water. When their feet touch the Jordan, the waters are cut off and stand in a heap, allowing all Israel to pass over on dry ground. This miraculous crossing echoes the Red Sea crossing and confirms Joshua's authority as God's chosen leader.
Key Themes
The Ark Leading the Way
The ark of the covenant goes before the people into the Jordan, symbolizing God's presence leading His people into every new chapter of His purposes.
Faith That Steps Into the Water
The priests had to step into the flooded Jordan before God parted the waters — a picture of faith that acts on God's word before seeing the result.
God's Confirmation of Leadership
God tells Joshua that this miracle will magnify him in the eyes of all Israel, confirming that God's hand is upon him as it was upon Moses.
Study Questions
Why did God require the priests to step into the Jordan before He stopped the waters (v. 13), and what does this teach about the relationship between faith and action?
How does this crossing parallel the crossing of the Red Sea, and what does this continuity reveal about God's character?
What is the significance of the ark of the covenant going ahead of the people into the river?
Why does God say He will 'magnify' Joshua in the sight of Israel (v. 7), and how does this serve God's purposes?
What does the Jordan crossing teach about entering new seasons of life that require trusting God's promises?
Connection to Christ
As the ark of God's presence led Israel through the Jordan into the Promised Land, so Christ goes before His people through death into resurrection life. The Jordan, often a symbol of death in Scripture, is conquered by God's power — foreshadowing Christ's victory over death that opens the way for all believers to enter God's promised inheritance.
Personal Reflection
Take time to journal or meditate on what God is teaching you through Joshua 3. How can these truths transform your thinking and actions today?