JOS 3

Joshua 3:10

WEB

Joshua said, “By this you shall know that the living God is among you, and that he will without fail drive the Canaanite, the Hittite, the Hivite, the Perizzite, the Girgashite, the Amorite, and the Jebusite out from before you.

BSB

He continued, “This is how you will know that the living God is among you and that He will surely drive out before you the Canaanites, Hittites, Hivites, Perizzites, Girgashites, Amorites, and Jebusites.

KJV

And Joshua said, Hereby ye shall know that the living God is among you, and that he will without fail drive out from before you the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Hivites, and the Perizzites, and the Girgashites, and the Amorites, and the Jebusites.

Matthew Henry

Verses 7–13

Joshua 3:7–13

We may observe here how God honours Joshua, and by this wondrous work he is about to do designs to make Israel know that he is their governor, and then how Joshua honours God and endeavours by it to make Israel know that he is their God. Thus those that honour God he will honour, and those whom he has advanced should do what they can in their places to exalt him.

I. God speaks to Joshua to put honour upon him, v. 7, 8. 1. It was a great honour God id him that he spoke to him as he had done to Moses from off the mercy-seat, before the priests removed it with the ark. This would make Joshua easy in himself and great among the people, that God was pleased to speak so familiarly to him. 2. that he designed to magnify him in the sight of all Israel. He had told him before that he would be with him (Jos 1:5), and that comforted him, but now all Israel shall see it, and this would magnify him. Those are truly great with whom God is and whom he employs and owns in his service. God magnified him because he would have the people magnify him. Pious magistrates are to be highly honoured and esteemed as public blessings, and the more we see of God with them the more we should honour them. by the dividing of the red Sea Israel was convinced that God was with Moses in bringing them out of Egypt; therefore they are said to be baptized unto Moses in the sea, Co1 10:2. and upon that occasion they believed him, Exo 14:31. And now, by the dividing of Jordan, they shall be convinced that God is in like manner with Joshua in bringing them into Canaan. God had magnified Joshua before on several occasions, but now he began to magnify him as the successor of Moses in the government. Some have observed that it was at the banks of Jordan that God began to magnify Joshua, and at the same place he began to magnify our Lord Jesus as Mediator; for John was baptizing at Bethabara, the house of passage, and there it was that when our Saviour was baptized it was proclaimed concerning him, This is my beloved Son. 3. That by him he gave orders to the priests themselves, though they were his immediate attendants (Jos 3:8): Thou shalt command the priests, that is, "Thou shalt make known to them the divine command in this matter, and take care that they observe it, to stand still at the brink of Jordan while the waters part, that it may appear to be at the presence of the Lord, of the mighty God of Jacob, that Jordan is driven back," Psa 114:5, Psa 114:7. God could have divided the river without the priests, but they could not without him. The priests must herein set a good example to the people, and teach them to do their utmost in the service of God, and trust him for help in time of need.

II. Joshua speaks to the people, and therein honours God.

1. He demands attention (Jos 3:9): "Come hither to me, as many as can come within hearing, and, before you see the works, hear the words of the Lord your God, that you may compare them together and they may illustrate each other." He had commanded them to sanctify themselves, and therefore calls them to hear the word of God, for that is the ordinary means of sanctification, Joh 17:17.

2. He now tells them, at length, by what way they should pass over Jordan, by the stopping of its streams (Jos 3:13): The waters of Jordan shall be cut off. God could by a sudden and miraculous frost have congealed the surface, so that they might all have gone over upon the ice; but that being a thing sometimes done even in that country by the ordinary power of nature (Job 38:30), it would not have been such an honour to Israel's God, nor such a terror to Israel's enemies; it must therefore be done in such a way as had no precedent but the dividing of the Red Sea: and that miracle is here repeated, to show that God has the same power to finish the salvation of his people that he had to begin it, for he is the Alpha and the Omega; and that the word of the Lord (as the Chaldee reads it, Jos 3:7), the essential, eternal Word, was as truly with Joshua as he was with Moses. And by the dividing of the waters from the waters, and the making of the dry land to appear which had been covered, God would remind them of that in which Moses by revelation had instructed them concerning the work of creation (Gen 1:6, Gen 1:9), that by what they now saw their belief of that which they there read might be assisted, and they might know that the God whom they worshipped was the same God that made the world and that it was the same power that was engaged and employed for them.

3. The people having been directed before to follow the ark are here told that it should pass before them into Jordan, v. 11. Observe, (1.) The ark of the covenant must be their guide. during the reign of Moses, the cloud was their guide, but now, in Joshua's reign, the ark; both were visible signs of God's presence and presidency, but divine grace under the Mosaic dispensation was wrapt up as in a cloud and covered with a veil, while by Christ, our Joshua, it is revealed in the ark of the covenant unveiled. (2.) It is called the ark of the covenant of the Lord of all the earth. "He that is your God (v. 9), in covenant with you, is the Lord of all the earth, has both right and power to command, control, use, and dispose of all nations and of all creatures. He is the Lord of all the earth, therefore he needs not you, nor can he be benefited by you; therefore it is your honour and happiness to have him in covenant with you: if he be yours, all the creatures are at your service, and when he pleases shall be employed for you." When we are praising and worshipping God as Israel's God, and ours through Christ, we must remember that he is the Lord of the whole earth, and reverence him and trust in him accordingly. Some observe an accent in the original, which they think directs us to translate it somewhat more emphatically, Behold the ark of the covenant, even the ark of the Lord, or even of the covenant of the Lord of all the earth. (3.) They are told that the ark should pass before them into Jordan. God would not appoint them to go any where but where he himself would go before them and go with them; and they might safely venture, even into Jordan itself, if the ark of the covenant led them. While we make God's precepts our rule, his promises our stay, and his providence our guide, we need not dread the greatest difficulties we may meet with in the way of duty. That promise is sure to all the seed (Isa 43:2), When thou passes through the waters I will be with thee, and through the rivers they shall not overflow thee.

4. From what God was now about to do for them he infers an assurance of what he would yet further do. This he mentions first, so much was his heart upon it, and so great a satisfaction did it give him (v. 10): "Hereby you shall know that the living God (the true God, and God of power, not one of the dead gods of the heathen) is among you, though you see him not, nor are to have any image of him, is among you to give you law, secure your welfare, and receive your homage, - is among you in this great undertaking now before you; and therefore you shall, nay, he himself will, without fail, drive out from before you the Canaanites." So that the dividing of Jordan was intended to be to them, (1.) A sure token of God's presence with them. By this they could not but know that God was among them, unless their unbelief was as obstinate against the most convincing evidence as that of their fathers was, who presently after God had divided the Red Sea before them, impudently asked, Is the Lord among us, or is he not? Exo 17:7. (2.) A sure pledge of the conquest of Canaan. "If the living God is among you, expelling he will expel (so the Hebrew phrase is) from before you the Canaanites." He will do it certainly, and do it effectually. What should hinder him? What can stand in his way before whom rivers are divided and dried up? The forcing of the lines was certain presage of the ruin of all their hosts: how could they stand their ground when Jordan itself was driven back? When they had not courage to dispute this pass, but trembled at the approach of the mighty God of Jacob (Psa 114:7), what opposition could they ever make after this? This assurance which Joshua here gives them was so well grounded that it would enable one Israelite to chase a thousand Canaanites, and two to put then thousand to flight; and it would be abundantly strengthened by remembering the song of Moses, dictated forty years before, which plainly foretold the dividing of Jordan and the influence it would have upon the driving out of the Canaanites. Exo 15:15-17, "The inhabitants of Canaan shall melt away, and so be effectually driven out; they shall be as still as a stone till thy people pass over, and then thou shalt bring them in and plant them." Note, God's glorious appearances for his church and people ought to be improved by us for the encouragement of our faith and hope for the future. As for God, his work is perfect. If Jordan's flood cannot keep them our, Canaan's force cannot turn them out again.

5. He directs them to get twelve men ready, one of each tribe, who must be within call to receive such orders as Joshua should afterwards give them, Jos 3:12. It does not appear that they were to attend the priests, and walk with them when they carried the ark, that they might more immediately be witnesses of the wonders done by it, as some think; but they were to be at hand for the service they were called to, Jos 4:4, etc.

Cross-references: Josh 1:5 · 1Cor 10:2 · Exod 14:31 · Josh 3:8 · Ps 114:5 · Ps 114:7 · Josh 3:9 · John 17:17 · Josh 3:13 · Job 38:30 · Josh 3:7 · Gen 1:6 · Gen 1:9 · Isa 43:2 · Exod 17:7 · Exod 15:15 · Josh 3:12 · Josh 4:4

Hebrew interlinear

H559

אָמַרʼâmar/aw-mar'/

v — say

Derivation: a primitive root;

to say (used with great latitude)

KJV: answer, appoint, avouch, bid, boast self, call, certify, challenge, charge, (at the, give) command(-ment), commune, consider, declare, demand, × desire, determine, × expressly, × indeed, × intend, name, × plainly, promise, publish, report, require, say, speak (against, of), × still, × suppose, talk, tell, term, × that is, × think, use (speech), utter, × verily, × yet.

אָמַר

vb — utter

אָמַר 5287 vb. utter, say

Qal

1. Say

2. Say in the heart (= think)

3. Promise

4. Command (esp. late)

Niph. be said, told

Hiph. avow, avouch (lit. cause to declare)

Hithp. act proudly, boast

H3091

יְהוֹשׁוּעַYᵉhôwshûwaʻ/yeh-ho-shoo'-ah/

n-pr-m — Jehoshua

Derivation: or יְהוֹשֻׁעַ; from 3068 and 3467; Jehovah-saved;

Jehoshua (i.e. Joshua), the Jewish leader

KJV: Jehoshua, Jehoshuah, Joshua. Compare 1954, 3442.

יְהוֹשׁוּעַ

n.pr.m — Jehoshua

יְהוֹשׁוּעַ, יְהוֹשֻׁעַ, and (later) יֵשׁוּעַ, n.pr.m. (& loc., v. 9 infr.) (י׳ is salvation or י׳ is opulence)

1. Moses’ successor, son of Nun

2. a Bethshemite

3. h.p. after the restoration, son of Jehozadak

4. governor of Jerusalem under Josiah

5. head of one of the classes of priests

6. a Levitical family-name of frequent occurrence

7. father of a builder at the wall

8. a Judaite family-name

9. n.pr.loc. in south of Judah

H2063

זֹאתzôʼth/zothe'/

d — this

Derivation: irregular feminine of 2088;

this (often used adverb)

KJV: hereby (-in, -with), it, likewise, the one (other, same), she, so (much), such (deed), that, therefore, these, this (thing), thus.

זֶה

demonstr.pron — this

זֶה demonstr.pron. and adv.; fem. זֹאת, once זֹאתָה; this, here

1. standing alone

2. In appos. to subst.

3. More oft. as pred.

4. It is attached enclitically, almost as an adv., to certain words, esp. interrog. pronouns, to impart, in a manner often not reproducible in Engl. idiom, directness and force, bringing the question or statement made into close relation with the speaker.

5. In poetry, as a relative pron. (rare)

6. With prefixes (in special senses)

H3045

יָדַעyâdaʻ/yaw-dah'/

v — know, seeing, observation, care, recognition, instruction, designation, punishment

Derivation: a primitive root;

to know (properly, to ascertain by seeing); used in a great variety of senses, figuratively, literally, euphemistically and inferentially (including observation, care, recognition; and causatively, instruction, designation, punishment, etc.)

KJV: acknowledge, acquaintance(-ted with), advise, answer, appoint, assuredly, be aware, (un-) awares, can(-not), certainly, comprehend, consider, × could they, cunning, declare, be diligent, (can, cause to) discern, discover, endued with, familiar friend, famous, feel, can have, be (ig-) norant, instruct, kinsfolk, kinsman, (cause to let, make) know, (come to give, have, take) knowledge, have (knowledge), (be, make, make to be, make self) known, be learned, lie by man, mark, perceive, privy to, × prognosticator, regard, have respect, skilful, shew, can (man of) skill, be sure, of a surety, teach, (can) tell, understand, have (understanding), × will be, wist, wit, wot.

יָדַע

vb — know

יָדַע 943 vb. know

Qal

1.

a. know, learn to know

b. perceive

c. perceive and see; find out and discern

d. discriminate, distinguish

e. know by experience

f. recognize, admit, acknowledge, confess

g. consider

h. not know = not expect

2. know a person, be acquainted with

3. know a person carnally, of sexual intercourse

4.

a. know how, to do a thing, be able to do it

b. be skilful in

5. abs. have knowledge, be wise

Niph.

1. be made known, be or become known, of things

2. make oneself known of pers.

3. be perceived

4. be instructed

Pi. cause to know

Pu. known

Hiph. make known, declare

Hoph. made known

Hithp. make oneself known

H3588

כִּיkîy/kee/

conj — relative conjunction

Derivation: a primitive particle (the full form of the prepositional prefix) indicating causal relations of all kinds, antecedent or consequent;

(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed

KJV: and, (forasmuch, inasmuch, where-) as, assured(-ly), but, certainly, doubtless, else, even, except, for, how, (because, in, so, than) that, nevertheless, now, rightly, seeing, since, surely, then, therefore, (al-) though, till, truly, until, when, whether, while, whom, yea, yet.

כִּי

conj — that

כִּי conj. that, for, when

1. that

2.

a. Of time, when, of the past

b. elsewhere כִּי has a force approximating to if, though it usu. represents a case as more likely to occur than אִם

c. when or if, with a concessive force, i.e. though

3. Because, since

כִּי אם־

relative conjunction

כִּי אם־

1. each part. retaining its independent force, and relating to a different clause:

a. that if

b. for if

2. (About 140 t.) the two particles being closely conjoined, and relating to the same clause—

a. limiting the prec. clause, except

b. the if being neglected, and treated as pleonastic, so that the clause is no longer a limitation of the preceding clause but a contradiction of it: but rather, but

c. after an oath, surely

כִּי עַל כֵּן

forasmuch as

כִּי עַל כֵּן forasmuch as

H410

אֵלʼêl/ale/

n-m — strength, mighty, Almighty, deity

Derivation: shortened from 352;

strength; as adjective, mighty; especially the Almighty (but used also of any deity)

KJV: God (god), × goodly, × great, idol, might(-y one), power, strong. Compare names in '-el.'

אֵל

n.m — god

אֵל n.m. god, but with various subordinate applications to express the idea of might

1. applied to men of might and rank

2. angels

3. gods of the nations

4. Ēl

5. as characterizing mighty things in nature

6. God, the one only and true God of Israel

7. אֵל strength, power

H2416

חַיchay/khah'-ee/

a n-m n-f — alive, raw, fresh, strong, life

Derivation: from 2421;

alive; hence, raw (flesh); fresh (plant, water, year), strong; also (as noun, especially in the feminine singular and masculine plural) life (or living thing), whether literally or figuratively

KJV: age, alive, appetite, (wild) beast, company, congregation, life(-time), live(-ly), living (creature, thing), maintenance, merry, multitude, (be) old, quick, raw, running, springing, troop.

חַי

n.[m.] — kinsfolk

[חַי] n.[m.] kinsfolk, pl. sf. 1 S 18:18

חַי

adj — alive

חַי adj. alive, living

1.

a. of God, as the living one, the fountain of life

b. of man

c. of animals, alive, living

d. animals and man

e. (dub.) of vegetation, as thorns, green

f. of water, fresh

2. (dub.) lively, active

3. reviving

חַיָּה

n.f — living thing

חַיָּה n.f. living thing, animal

1. animal

a. in general

b. wild animals, on account of their vital energy and activity

c. living beings, of the cherubic chariot

2. life, only in late poetry

3. appetite, activity of hunger

4. revival, renewal

חַיָּה

n.f — community

חַיָּה n.f. community

חַיִּים

n.m — life

חַיִּים n.m. pl. abstr. emph. life

1. life: physical

2. life: as welfare and happiness in king's presence

3. sustenance, maintenance

H7130

קֶרֶבqereb/keh'-reb/

n-m — nearest, center

Derivation: from 7126;

properly, the nearest part, i.e. the center, whether literal, figurative or adverbial (especially with preposition)

KJV: × among, × before, bowels, × unto charge, eat (up), × heart, × him, × in, inward (× -ly, part, -s, thought), midst, out of, purtenance, × therein, × through, × within self.

קֶ֫רֶב

n.[m.] — inward part

קֶ֫רֶב 227 n.[m.] inward part, midst

H3423

יָרַשׁyârash/yaw-rash'/

v — occupy, driving, possessing, seize, rob, inherit, expel, impoverish, ruin

Derivation: or יָרֵשׁ; a primitive root;

to occupy (by driving out previous tenants, and possessing in their place); by implication, to seize, to rob, to inherit; also to expel, to impoverish, to ruin

KJV: cast out, consume, destroy, disinherit, dispossess, drive(-ing) out, enjoy, expel, × without fail, (give to, leave for) inherit(-ance, -or) magistrate, be (make) poor, come to poverty, (give to, make to) possess, get (have) in (take) possession, seize upon, succeed, × utterly.

יָרַשׁ

vb — take possession of

יָרַשׁ 229 vb. take possession of, inherit, dispossess

Qal

1. take possession of, esp. bu force, have as a possession, often with collat. idea of taking in place of others, succeeding to, inheriting

2. inherit, sq. acc. pers. = be one's heir

3. = impoverish

Niph. be (dispossessed =) impoverished, come to poverty

Pi. the fruit of thy ground shall the cricket get full possession

Hiph.

1. cause to possess or inherit

2. cause (others) to possess or inherit, then gen. dispossess

3. = impoverish

4. nearly = bring to ruin, destroy

5. take possession of a land

H6440

פָּנִיםpânîym/paw-neem'/

n-m — face, before

Derivation: plural (but always as singular) of an unused noun פָּנֶה; from 6437);

the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a preposition (before, etc.)

KJV: accept, a-(be-) fore(-time), against, anger, × as (long as), at, battle, because (of), beseech, countenance, edge, employ, endure, enquire, face, favour, fear of, for, forefront(-part), form(-er time, -ward), from, front, heaviness, × him(-self), honourable, impudent, in, it, look(-eth) (-s), × me, meet, × more than, mouth, of, off, (of) old (time), × on, open, out of, over against, the partial, person, please, presence, propect, was purposed, by reason of, regard, right forth, serve, × shewbread, sight, state, straight, street, × thee, × them(-selves), through ( -out), till, time(-s) past, (un-) to(-ward), upon, upside ( down), with(-in, -stand), × ye, × you.

פָּנֶה

n.m — face

[פָּנֶה], pl. פָּנִים 2123 n.m. face, also faces

I.

1. face, faces

2.

a. presence, person

b. technically, see one's face, i.e. appear before one, in one's presence

3. face of seraphim

4. face of animals

5. face (= surface) of ground

6. as adv.loc. before

7. for other phrases

II. with prepositions

H853

אֵתʼêth/ayth/

prt — self, even, namely

Derivation: apparent contracted from 226 in the demonstrative sense of entity;

properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)

KJV: [as such unrepresented in English].

אֵת

mark of the accusative

אֵת the mark of the accusative, prefixed as a rule only to nouns that are definite

H3669

כְּנַעַנִיKᵉnaʻanîy/ken-ah-an-ee'/

n-m — Kenaanite, pedlar

Derivation: patrial from 3667;

a Kenaanite or inhabitant of Kenaan; by implication, a pedlar (the Canaanites standing for their neighbors the Ishmaelites, who conducted mercantile caravans)

KJV: Canaanite, merchant, trafficker.

כְּנַעֲנִי

adj — Kenaanite

כְּנַעֲנִי adj. et nom.gent.

כְּנַעֲנִי

n.m — trader

כְּנַעֲנִי n.m. trader, merchant

H2850

חִתִּיChittîy/khit-tee'/

n-m — Chittite

Derivation: patronymically from 2845;

a Chittite, or descendant of Cheth

KJV: Hittite, Hittities.

חִתִּי

adj — Hittite

חִתִּי adj. et n.gent. Hittite(s)

H2340

חִוִּיChivvîy/khiv-vee'/

n-m — Chivvite

Derivation: perhaps from 2333; a villager;

a Chivvite, one of the aboriginal tribes of Palestine

KJV: Hivite.

חִוִּי

adj.gent — Hivite

חִוִּי adj.gent. (= villagers?)

H6522

פְּרִזִּיPᵉrizzîy/per-iz-zee'/

a — Perizzite

Derivation: for 6521; inhabitant of the open country;

a Perizzite, one of the Canaanitish tribes

KJV: Perizzite.

פְּרִזִּי

adj.gent — Perizzite

פְּרִזִּי 23 adj.gent. Perizzite

H1622

גִּרְגָּשִׁיGirgâshîy/ghir-gaw-shee'/

a — Girgashite

Derivation: patrial from an unused name (of uncertain derivation);

a Girgashite, one of the native tribes of Canaan

KJV: Girgashite, Girgasite.

גִּרְגָּשִׁי

adj.gent — Girgashite

גִּרְגָּשִׁי adj.gent. ‘begotten’ by Canaan

H567

אֱמֹרִיʼĔmôrîy/em-o-ree'/

n-m — Emorite

Derivation: probably a patronymic from an unused name derived from 559 in the sense of publicity, i.e. prominence; thus, a mountaineer;

an Emorite, one of the Canaanitish tribes

KJV: Amorite.

אֱמֹרִי

n.pr.m.coll — Amorite

אֱמֹרִי n.pr.m.coll. Amorites (perh. = mountain-dwellers)

1. called son of Canaan

2. a chief people dispossessed by Hebrews

3. adj.gent.

H2983

יְבוּסִיYᵉbûwçîy/yeb-oo-see'/

n-m — Jebusite

Derivation: patrial from 2982;

a Jebusite or inhabitant of Jebus

KJV: Jebusite(-s).

יְבוּסִי

adj. gent — Jebusite

יְבוּסִי, יְבֻסִי

1. adj. gent. Jebusite, Jebusites

2. Jerusalem

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