Clarke's Bible Commentary - Joshua 3:15
Verse 15. And the feet of the priests-were dipped in the brim of the water] Thus we find that every thing occurred exactly in the way in which Joshua had foretold it. This must have greatly increased his credit among the people. For Jordan overfloweth all his banks, &c.] It has often been remarked that there was no need of a miracle in crossing Jordan, as it is but an inconsiderable stream, easily fordable, being but about twenty yards in breadth. But the circumstance marked here by the sacred historian proves that there was a time in the year, viz., in the harvest, that this said river overflowed its banks; and this is confirmed by another place in Scripture, 1 Chronicles xii. 15. As the miracle reported here took place about the beginning of April, a time in which rivers in general are less than in winter, it may be asked how there could be such an increase of waters at this time? The simple fact is, that the Jordan, as we have already seen, has its origin at the foot of Mount Lebanon, which mountain is always covered with snow during the winter months; in those months therefore the river is low: but when the summer's sun has melted these snows, there is consequently a prodigious increase of waters, so that the old channel is not capable of containing them; this accounts for the statement in the text that the Jordan overfloweth his banks all the time of harvest; and this was the time which God chose they should pass over it, that a miraculous interposition might be necessary, and that by the miracle they should be convinced of his omnipotence, who was not only their guide, but had promised to put them in possession of this good land.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 15. And as they that bare the ark were come unto Jordan , etc.] Not to the bank, which was overflowed, but to the extremity of the water overflowing: and the feet of the priests that bare the ark were dipped in the brim of the water ; which was doubtless the first they came to, and not the brim or extremity of it on the other side: for Jordan overfloweth all its banks all the time of harvest ; that is, of barley harvest, as appears from the time of year; for it was in the first month, the month Nisan, or Abib, which answers to part of March, and April, it used to overflow, ( 1 Chronicles 12:15); and it was now the tenth day of that month, ( Joshua 4:19); on the sixteenth of which, at the time of the passover, the sheaf of the firstfruits of barley harvest was offered up, ( Leviticus 23:10,11); the inundation continued all the time of harvest; and so Aristeas testifies, that “the river being filled, it overflows as the Nile in the time of harvest, and waters much of the country:” it overflows its banks both on the one side and on the other, the eastern and western shores. This overflow is supposed to be occasioned either by the latter rains, which fell about this time; or rather by the snow on Mount Lebanon melting at this time of the year, when the sun has great strength in those parts, and which poured down in great quantities into this river, that took its rise from thence. Josephus speaks of Mount Lebanon and of the fountains of Jordan together; and says they have their rise from the mountain; and of the snow of Lebanon (see Jeremiah 18:14). This river continued to overflow at this season in the times of David, ( Chronicles 12:15); and in the times of Aristeas, who lived in the reign of Ptolemy Philadelphus, king of Egypt, as before observed; and some late travellers observe, “it generally happens in the month Nisan; that is, from the middle of March to the middle of April, the time of the first harvest;” but Mr. Maundrell f46 , who was upon the spot in 1697, and at the proper time of its overflowing, perceived nothing of it. He says, “there is a small descent, which you may fitly call the, first and outermost bank of Jordan, as far as which it may be supposed the river does, or at least did anciently, overflow; but at present (whether it was because the river has by its rapidity of current worn its channel deeper than it was formerly, or whether because its waters are diverted some other way) it seems to have forgot its ancient greatness; for we could discern no sign or probability of such overflowings when we were there, which was the thirtieth of March, being the proper time for these inundations; nay, so far was the river from overflowing, that it ran at least two yards below the brink of the channel.”
However, at this time of the passage of the children of Israel through it, it was overflowing; which made the miracle the greater.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 14-17 - Jordan overflowed all its banks. This magnified the power of God, an his kindness to Israel. Although those who oppose the salvation of God's people have all advantages, yet God can and will conquer. Thi passage over Jordan, as an entrance to Canaan, after their long, wear wanderings in the wilderness, shadowed out the believer's passag through death to heaven, after he has finished his wanderings in thi sinful world. Jesus, typified by the ark, hath gone before, and he crossed the river when it most flooded the country around. Let u treasure up experiences of His faithful and tender care, that they ma help our faith and hope in the last conflict __________________________________________________________________
Original Hebrew
וכבוא 935 נשׂאי 5375 הארון 727 עד 5704 הירדן 3383 ורגלי 7272 הכהנים 3548 נשׂאי 5375 הארון 727 נטבלו 2881 בקצה 7097 המים 4325 והירדן 3383 מלא 4390 על 5921 כל 3605 גדותיו 1415 כל 3605 ימי 3117 קציר׃ 7105
