Joshua 3:16

From the city Adam. The original Hebrew text reads, “at” Adam. This the Masoretes changed to read “from Adam.” Their reason for doing so is not clear. The Septuagint reads, “There stood one solid heap very far off’ — with no mention of “Adam.” The intent of the original Hebrew text seems to be that the damming up of the waters took place near the city of Adam, “very far” from the place of crossing. This city has been identified with the modern Tell ed-Damiyeh. Nearby is the ford of Damieh, where the remains of a Roman bridge may still be seen. Here the Jordan valley is compressed within its narrowest limits, the rocks on both sides almost meeting. This is perhaps 20 miles (32 km.) from where Israel crossed over. There would thus be an ample distance on both sides of the ark for the people to cross on dry ground. As to the miracle aspect of the drying up of the river, see page 41.

Zaretan. A site in the Jordan Valley. Some locate this place near Beth Shean (1 Kings 4:12), others near Succoth (1 Kings 7:46). Some think it to be identical with Zereda, Jeroboam’s birthplace (1 Kings 11:26). Some identify it with Tell-es-Sa‘idiyeh, about 11 miles (18 km.) north of Adam.

The sea of the plain. Literally, “the sea of the Arabah,” that is, the Dead Sea. The Arabah was the great depression of the Jordan valley extending southward to the Gulf of Aqabah.

Against Jericho. It would have been difficult, if not impossible, for the whole camp to pass over at one spot. Indeed, they may have made use of several miles of the bed of the Jordan. The priests with the ark evidently crossed opposite Jericho, and the multitude passed over on both sides of the ark. It is likely that the Canaanites would have attempted to defend the fords of the Jordan if they had expected that such a passage would be attempted. They surely knew that the Israelite camp was on the other side of Jordan, but the crossing took them entirely by surprise.