1 And Joshua rose early in the morning; and they removed from Shittim, and came to Jordan, he and all the children of Israel, and lodged there before they passed over.
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.
6 And Joshua spake unto the priests, saying, Take up the ark of the covenant, and pass over before the people. And they took up the ark of the covenant, and went before the people.
7 And the Lord said unto Joshua, This day will I begin to magnify thee in the sight of all Israel, that they may know that, as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee.
8 And thou shalt command the priests that bear the ark of the covenant, saying, When ye are come to the brink of the water of Jordan, ye shall stand still in Jordan.
9 And Joshua said unto the children of Israel, Come hither, and hear the words of the Lord your God.
10 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.
11 Behold, the ark of the covenant of the Lord of all the earth passeth over before you into Jordan.
12 Now therefore take you twelve men out of the tribes of Israel, out of every tribe a man.
13 And it shall come to pass, as soon as the soles of the feet of the priests that bear the ark of the Lord, the Lord of all the earth, shall rest in the waters of Jordan, that the waters of Jordan shall be cut off from the waters that come down from above; and they shall stand upon an heap.
14 And 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;
15 And as they that bare the ark were come unto Jordan, and the feet of the priests that bare the ark were dipped in the brim of the water, (for Jordan overfloweth all his banks all the time of harvest,)
16 That the waters which came down from above stood and rose up upon an heap very far from the city Adam, that is beside Zaretan: and those that came down toward the sea of the plain, even the salt sea, failed, and were cut off: and the people passed over right against Jericho.
17 And the priests that bare the ark of the covenant of the Lord stood firm on dry ground in the midst of Jordan, and all the Israelites passed over on dry ground, until all the people were passed clean over Jordan.
<html><b>And follow it.</b> This journey was different than other journeys. During Moshe’s lifetime, the Pillar of Clouds would head the procession, and show them the way, and the Ark1<i class=“footnote”>The ark is here referred to as the Ark of the <i>Bris</i> or Covenant but it is also referred to in Scripture as the אַרוֹן הָעֵדוּת, the Ark of Testimony (see Chapter 4:16) because of the Two Tablets inscribed with the Ten Commandments that were placed in the Ark.</i> would [first begin to] move after two divisions [lit. flags]2<i class=“footnote”>The twelve tribes of the Bnei Yisroel were divided into four divisions or units, three tribes to a unit. When they travelled in the wilderness, two divisions of six tribes would depart the camp, to be followed by the Ark: and the other two divisions would then follow the Ark. Thus the Ark was always amidst the Bnei Yisroel.</i> had left, but now the Ark would travel first.</html>
<html><b>But there must be a distance.</b> This was mandated out of respect for Hashem.</html>
<html><b>And it.</b> [Even though the word וּבֵינָו is read as וּבֵינָיו ] [which usually indicates the plural] nevertheless here, <i>it</i> refers to the Ark. Similarly, ‘Yisroel will rejoice in its Maker.’4<i class=“footnote”>Tehillim 149:2. In this verse too, the word בִעשָׂיו would seem to indicate a plural, yet it is singular, i.e., its Maker.</i> Another explanation: there were actually two Arks,5<i class=“footnote”>Accordingly the word וּבֵינָיו correctly indicated a plural, i.e., the two Arks.</i> there Ark of the Divine Presence, and the Ark containing the bones of Yosef, which travelled together.</html>
<html><b>Two thousand Amos.</b> To permit them to go and to pray before the Ark on Shabbos.6<i class=“footnote”>Two thousand <i>Amos</i> was the limit permitted for a Jew to walk outside his domain on Shabbos.</i> This is the explanation of Midrash Tanchumah, for Yehoshua knew that eventually they would beseige Yericho on Shabbos.</html>
<html><b>So that you will know</b>7<i class=“footnote”>Certainly this cannot be the reason why they were commanded them to keep a distance from the Ark.</i> This refers to the last words of verse 3, “and follow it.”</html>
<html><b>For you have never travelled this route.</b> You have never travelled in this fashion until now.</html>
<html><b>And Yehoshua said.</b> This was on the third day, and the thirtieth day of mourning [for Moshe] was on the first of the three days. h.הִתְקַדָשׁוּ usually means sanctify yourselves, but here it means prepare yourselves.</html>
<html><b>For tomorrow</b> when you cross the Jordan.</html>
<html><b>Wonders.</b> This translation follows that of <i>Targum Yonasan.</i></html>
<html><b>And Yehoshu said to the Kohanim.</b> He said this on the next day.<br><br> <b>Carry the Ark of the Covenant.</b> Until now it was carried by the Levites, but today it was to be carried by the <i>Kohanim.</i></html>
<html><b>When you reach the edge of the waters of the Jordan.</b> When you enter within its edge.<br><br> <b>Remain standing in the Jordan.</b> Until all the people cross over to the other side [of the river.]</html>
<html><b>Move closer.</b> He compressed all of them between the two poles of the Ark. This is one of the places where a small space was able to hold8<i class=“footnote”>This was obviously a Divine miracle.</i> a large amount [of people.]</html>
<html><b>With this you will know.</b> By virtue of actually seeing that all of you are compressed here.</html>
<html><b>The covenant of the Master of all the earth.</b> The covenant of the Holy One, blessed is He, Who is the Master of all the earth. Do not wonder about the letter ה of the word הַבְּרִית9<i class=“footnote”>It should have been written בְּרִית אָדוֹן, without the ה.</i> for there are many Scriptual words that are so constructed, such as: ‘הַמִסְגְּרוֹת הַמְכוֹנוֹת, the borders of the foundation.’10<i class=“footnote”>II Malachim 16:17. It should have been written מִסְגְרוֹת הַמְכוֹנוֹת without the ה'.</i> הָעֵמֶק הַפְּגָרִים, the valley of the corpses.11<i class=“footnote”>Yirmeyahu 31:39. It should have been written עֵמֶק הַפְגָרִים without the ה.</i></html>
<html><b>Will cross over before You.</b> It will go before you to enter into the Jordan.</html>
<html><b>Take for yourselves twelve men.</b> Prepare them to be available to fulfill that which I will command them when you finally cross the Jordan.</html>
<html><b>The waters that descend from above.</b> Coming down from the heights which is the way of all flowing rivers.</html>
<html><b>And will stand in one massive mound.</b> As the water flows down to the place where it will be cut off, it will be unable to flow further downstream, but will be gathered and piled up, and grow higher, layer upon layer.</html>
<html><b>Mound.</b> Similar to: ‘He gathers like a mound,’12<i class=“footnote”>Tehillim 33:7.</i> ‘a mound of harvest.’13<i class=“footnote”>Yeshayahu 17:11.</i> These are expressions of height, and so did Menachem connect them.14<i class=“footnote”>Menachem was an authority on Grammar often quoted by Rashi.</i></html>
<html><b>Its banks.</b> This is an expression of a high edge.</html>
<html><b>During the entire harvest time.</b> The days of Nissan coincide with the harvest.15<i class=“footnote”>The crossing of the Jordan took place during the month of Nissan. <i>Metsudas Dovid</i> says this increase of the flood level of the Jordan naturally increased the magnitude of the miracle of its waters being cut off.</i></html>
<html><b>A great distance</b> from the place they stood. There the waters were cut off.</html>
<html><b>From Odom.</b> [Adom] was the name of the city.</html>
<html><b>Descended.</b> Those waters that had descended from above that had previously flowed downstream.</html>
<html><b>Were completely cut off.</b> They continued flowing on their course16<i class=“footnote”>This refers to those waters that had flowed toward the Salt Sea before the cut off of the upper waters.</i> as do all the streams that flow into the sea, which ended their course.</html>
<html><b>And the Kohanim remained standing.</b> They remained standing at the edge of the Jordan.</html>
<html><b>In the midst of the Jordan.</b> So long as they remained standing, the upper waters did not descend below, and during this time all the people were crossing on dry land.</html>
<html><b>Firmly</b> They were placed firmly, exactly opposite each other.</html>