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none, at least of the laity,^69 had been grown up at the time, and seen it, when the Lord
parted the waters of the Red Sea at the Exodus. Then it had been the uplifted wonder-
working rod of Moses by which the waters were parted. But now it was the Ark at
whose advance they were stayed. And the difference of the means was quite in
accordance with that of the circumstances. For now the Ark of the Covenant was the
ordinary symbol of the Divine Presence among Israel; and God commonly employs the
ordinary means of grace for the accomplishment of His marvelous purposes of mercy.
It was early spring, in that tropical district the time of early harvest (Joshua 3:15), and
the Jordan had overflown its lowest banks. As at a distance of about half a mile the
Israelites looked down, they saw that, when the feet of those who bore the Ark touched
the waters, they were arrested."^70 Far up "beyond where they stood, at the city of
Adam that is beside Zarethan,"^71 did the Divine Hand draw up the waters of Jordan,
while the waters below that point were speedily drained into the Dead Sea. In the
middle of the river-bed the priests with the Ark^72 halted till the whole people had passed
over dryshod. Then twelve men, who had previously been detailed for the purpose,^73
took up twelve large stones from where the priests had stood in the river-bed, to erect
them a solemn memorial to all times of that wondrous event.
Only after that did the priests come up from Jordan. And when "the soles of the priests'
feet were lifted up unto the dry land" (literally, were detached, viz., from the clogging
mud, "upon the dry"), "the waters of Jordan returned unto their place, and flowed over
all his banks, as before." It must have been towards evening when the rest of the march
was accomplished - a distance of about five miles - and Israel's camp was pitched at
what afterwards became Gilgal, "in the east border of Jericho," about two miles from
the latter city.^74
The object and meaning of this "notable miracle" are clearly indicated in the sacred text.
We know that it was as absolutely necessary in the circumstances as formerly the
cleaving of the Red Sea had been. For, at that season of the year, and with the means at
their disposal, it would have been absolutely impossible for a large host with women
and children to cross the Jordan. But, besides, it was fitting that a miracle similar to that
of the Exodus from Egypt should mark the entrance into the Land of Promise; fitting
also, that the commencement of Joshua's ministry should be thus Divinely attested like
that of Moses (Joshua 3:7). Finally, it would be to Israel a glorious pledge of future
victory in the might of their God (ver. 10), while to their enemies it was a sure token of
the judgment about to overtake them (Joshua 5:1).
Two things yet remained to be done, before Israel could enter upon the war with
Canaan. Although the people of God, Israel had been under judgment for nearly forty
years, and those born in the wilderness bore not the covenant mark of circumcision. To
(^)