Crossing the Jordan
The priests stepped into a flooded river with the ark, and the Jordan stood still so Israel could walk into the promised land.
After the death of Moses, Joshua led Israel from Shittim to the banks of the Jordan, which overflowed all its banks at the time of harvest. As soon as the feet of the priests bearing the ark of the covenant were dipped in the brim of the water, the river stopped and rose up in a heap far upstream at the city of Adam, and the people passed over on dry ground right against Jericho. The priests stood firm in the midst of the riverbed until the whole nation had crossed. At God's command, twelve men took twelve stones out of the Jordan, and Joshua set them up at Gilgal as a memorial so that future children would ask what the stones meant. The crossing echoed the Red Sea and confirmed God's word to Joshua: 'as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee.'
Did You Know?
Israel crossed on the tenth day of the first month, the day Passover lambs were chosen, and kept the Passover at Gilgal four days later.
The waters rose up in a heap 'very far from the city Adam, that is beside Zaretan.'
The memorial stones were meant to answer a child's question: 'What mean ye by these stones?'
Key Passage
Crossing the Jordan
Joshua 3:14-17
14nd 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;
Meanwhile in the World
Egypt is at the height of its New Kingdom power under pharaohs like Thutmose III and Ramesses II. The Hittite Empire controls Anatolia. The Late Bronze Age collapse is approaching. Troy exists as a real city. This is the time of the Amarna letters and international diplomacy.
