SEV Biblia, Chapter 3:3
y mandaron al pueblo, diciendo: Cuando viereis el arca del pacto del SEÑOR vuestro Dios, y los sacerdotes y levitas que la llevan, vosotros partiréis de vuestro lugar, y marcharéis en pos de ella.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 3. And they commanded the people , etc.] In the name of Joshua, by whom they were sent: saying, when ye see the ark of the covenant of the Lord your God, and the priests the Levites bearing it : the Targum reads, the priests and Levites; so the Septuagint: it was the business of the Levites, particularly the Kohathites, to bear the ark in journeying, but here the priests, who also were Levites, were to carry it: it is remarked in the Talmud f39 , that there are three places in which the priests are said to bear the ark; here, and when they surrounded Jericho, ( Joshua 6:6); and when it was returned to its place in the times of David, ( 2 Samuel 15:29); and Kimchi and Abarbinel observe a fourth, when it was brought into Solomon’s temple, ( 1 Kings 8:6); then ye shall remove from your place, and go after it ; their usual signal for marching was the cloud, when that was taken up, ( Numbers 9:17), etc. but now the ark, the clouds of glory having removed at the death of Moses, and were seen no more, as Abarbinel and other Jewish writers observe; and therefore it was proper the Israelites should be made acquainted with this signal; for, as Jarchi says, this journey was different from all the journeys (though that of the three days journey from Sinai must be excepted, ( Numbers 10:33)), for all the time Moses was in being, the pillar of cloud marched first and showed them the way, and the ark moved after two of the standards (Judah and Reuben), and now the ark went first: the cloud was a figure of the dark and cloudy dispensation of the law, particularly the ceremonial law, the shadow of good things to come, and which continued only during the former state, and discontinued to be of any use when the Mosaic dispensation ceased, and when Joshua or Jesus was come: the ark was a type of Christ, the forerunner for us entered, and whom we are to follow whithersoever he goes or directs to, in the exercise of grace and performance of duty; and the ark being carried now by different persons, may denote that Christ was held forth in a weaker manner under the legal dispensation, and by his apostles and ministers under the Gospel dispensation in a clearer and stronger manner, and who are to be followed no further or longer than as they bear the ark or direct to Christ.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 1-6 - The Israelites came to Jordan in faith, having been told that the should pass it. In the way of duty, let us proceed as far as we can and depend on the Lord. Joshua led them. Particular notice is taken of his early rising, as afterwards upon other occasions, which shows ho little he sought his own ease. Those who would bring great things to pass, must rise early. Love not sleep, lest thou come to poverty. All in public stations should always attend to the duty of their place. The people were to follow the ark. Thus must we walk after the rule of the word, and the direction of the Spirit, in everything; so shall peace be upon us as upon the Israel of God; but we must follow our minister only as they follow Christ. All their way through the wilderness was a untrodden path, but most so this through Jordan. While we are here, we must expect and prepare to pass ways that we have not passed before but in the path of duty we may proceed with boldness and cheerfulness Whether we are called to suffer poverty, pain, labour, persecution reproach, or death, we are following the Author and Finisher of ou faith; nor can we set our feet in any dangerous or difficult spot through our whole journey, but faith will there see the prints of the Redeemer's feet, who trod that very path to glory above, and bids u follow him, that where he is, we may be also. They were to sanctif themselves. Would we experience the effects of God's love and power, we must put away sin, and be careful not to grieve the Holy Spirit of God.
Original Hebrew
ויצוו 6680 את 853 העם 5971 לאמר 559 כראותכם 7200 את 853 ארון 727 ברית 1285 יהוה 3068 אלהיכם 430 והכהנים 3548 הלוים 3881 נשׂאים 5375 אתו 853 ואתם 859 תסעו 5265 ממקומכם 4725 והלכתם 1980 אחריו׃ 310
