SEV Biblia, Chapter 3:17
Mas los sacerdotes que llevaban el arca del pacto del SEÑOR, estuvieron en seco, firmes en medio del Jordán, hasta que todo el pueblo hubo acabado de pasar el Jordán; y todo Israel pasó en seco.
Clarke's Bible Commentary - Joshua 3:17
Verse 17. The priests-stood firm on dry ground] They stood in the mid channel, and shifted not their position till the camp, consisting of nearly 600, 000 effective men, besides women, children, &c., had passed over. 1. Is it not surprising that the Canaanites did not dispute this passage with the Israelites? It is likely they would, had they had any expectation that such a passage would have been attempted. They must have known that the Israelitish camp was on the other side of the Jordan, but could they have supposed that a passage for such a host was possible when the banks of the Jordan were quite overflowed? It was not merely because they were panic struck that they did not dispute this passage, but because they must have supposed it impossible; and when they found the attempt was made, the passage was effected before they could prepare to prevent it. 2. GOD now appears in such a way, and works in such a manner, as to leave no doubt concerning his presence or his power, or of his love to Israel. After this, was it possible for this people ever to doubt his being or his bounty? This, with the miraculous passage of the Red Sea, were well calculated to have established their faith for ever; and those who did not yield to the evidence afforded by these two miracles were incapable of rational conviction. 3. In some respects the passage of the Jordan was more strikingly miraculous than that even of the Red Sea. In the latter God was pleased to employ an agent; the sea went back by a strong east wind all that night, and made the sea dry land, Exod. xiv. 21. Nothing of this kind appeared in the passage of the Jordan; a very rapid river (for so all travelers allow it to be) went back to its source without any kind of agency but the invisible hand of the invisible God. 4. Through the whole period of the Jewish history these miracles, so circumstantially related, were never denied by any, but on the contrary conscientiously believed by all. Nor did any of them in their revolts from God, which were both foul and frequent, ever call these great facts in question, when even so full of enmity against God as to blaspheme his name, and give his glory to dumb idols! Is not this a manifest proof that these facts were incontestable? and that Jehovah had so done his marvellous works that they should be had in everlasting remembrance? Reader, the same God who is over all is rich in mercy to all that call upon him. HE changes not, neither is he weary: trust in the Lord for ever, for in the Lord Jehovah is everlasting strength; and HE ever saves his followers out of the hands of all their enemies, and, having guided them by his counsel, will receive them into his glory.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 17. And the priests that bare the ark of the Lord stood firm on dry ground in the midst of Jordan , etc.] Which for its breadth Mr. Maundrell, the above mentioned traveller, says might be about twenty yards over, and its depth exceeded his height; but Dr. Shaw f50 , a later traveller still, says, “the river Jordan is by far the most considerable river, excepting the Nile, either of the coast of Syria, or of Barbary. I computed it to be about thirty yards broad, but the depth I could not measure, except at the brink, where I found it to be three yards.”
Now in the midst of this river the priests bearing the ark stood firm on dry ground, the waters above being stopped and those below cut off. This perhaps might give rise to the fables among the Heathens of the river Scamander being swelled for the destruction of Achilles, and dried up by Vulcan, of which Homer makes mention; and of the river Inachus, dried up by Neptune, as the Grecians fable; however, if Heathens can credit these accounts, surely we Christians ought to believe this, attested by divine revelation. And this may denote the presence of Christ with his people in afflictions, who will not suffer those waters to overflow them, and in death itself, when the swellings of Jordan shall not come near them to distress them; and when the covenant of grace will appear firm and sure, and be their great support; and when also the feet of the ministers of Christ stand firm, and their faith fails not; which is of great use, and very encouraging to the spiritual Israel of God: and all the Israelites passed over on dry ground ; the waters being divided to a space large enough for such a body of people to pass over, and which continued until all the people were clean passed over Jordan ; perfectly and completely, not one being left behind, or lost in the passage through it; in the midst of which the priests stood until all were passed over. So the spiritual Israel of God must all go over Jordan’s river, or must all go through the valley of the shadow of death; and they will all go over safe to Canaan’s land, to the heavenly glory; their souls go immediately to heaven at death, and their bodies will be raised at the last day, and be reunited to them, and partake of happiness with them; nor will anyone of them be lost; they all clean pass over, and arrive safe; for they are the chosen of God, the care and charge of Christ, the purchase of his blood, partake of his grace, and have the earnest of his Spirit.
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
ויעמדו 5975 הכהנים 3548 נשׂאי 5375 הארון 727 ברית 1285 יהוה 3068 בחרבה 2724 בתוך 8432 הירדן 3383 הכן 3559 וכל 3605 ישׂראל 3478 עברים 5674 בחרבה 2724 עד 5704 אשׁר 834 תמו 8552 כל 3605 הגוי 1471 לעבר 5674 את 853 הירדן׃ 3383
