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Joshua 3:2-5

King James Version (KJV)

“In our prayers we talk to God, in our Bible study God talks to us, and we had better let God do most of the talking.”
— D.L. Moody

Scripture focus

2. And it came to pass after three days, that the officers went through the host; 3. And they commanded the people, saying, When ye see the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God, and the priests the Levites bearing it, then ye shall remove from your place, and go after it. 4. Yet there shall be a space between you and it, about two thousand cubits by measure: come not near unto it, that ye may know the way by which ye must go: for ye have not passed [this] way heretofore. 5. And Joshua said unto the people, Sanctify yourselves: for to morrow the LORD will do wonders among you.

Joshua 3:2-5 — KJV

Commentary

Commentary on Joshua 3:2

Theological / Devotional

After three days. At the close of the three days Joshua sent officers through the camp with a second proclamation. According to Joshua 4:19, the people crossed the Jordan on the 10th day of Abib, the 1st month. This was in the 41st year of the Exodus. The proclamation was therefore issued on the day preceding (Joshua 3:5), the 9th. The 9th was, in turn, the 3rd day after their march from Shittim to the Jordan (verse 2). According to Oriental reckoning (see page 136), that would place the arrival at Jordan on the 7th of the month, that is, the day after the spies returned to Shittim, the 6th of Abib (chapters 2:22, 23; 3:1).

Inasmuch as the spies returned 3 days after entering Jericho (chapter 2:2, 16, 22, 23), they had probably been sent out by Joshua on the 4th of the month, Oriental reckoning. But according to Patriarchs and Prophets 483, the instructions of chapter 1:10, 11, were issued upon the return of the spies, probably on the morning of the 7th (chapter 3:1). Chronologically, the account of the 2 spies in chapter 2 thus precedes the command of chapter 1:10, 11. The command of chapter 1:10, 11, was therefore given on either the 7th or the 8th, and that of chapter 3:2-5 on the 9th.

By SdaBc