Read Joshua 3 here (text coming …) or at Bible Gateway.
The Hebrew paragraph divisions:
3:1-4 {p} Preparation to cross the Jordan
3:5-6 {s} Sanctify yourselves for YHVH will do wonders
3:7-8 {p} YHVH to exalt Joshua in Israel’s eyes/ the ark to stop in the Jordan
3:9-4:1a {p} The waters cut off, the people cross on dry ground
Joshua 3:1-4 Chiastic Structure:
Joshua 3:5-17 Chiastic Structure:
Just as the people crossed over the Red Sea on dry ground when Moses was their leader, now they are crossing over the Jordan on dry ground (and when the Jordan was swollen with spring runoff, and overflowing its banks, no less) on dry ground, when Joshua is their leader. Truly YHVH is telling Israel, that as He was with Moses, so He is with Joshua, so fear not to cross the Jordan, and possess the land of their possession, Canaanites and giants not withstanding.
Moses was the first person in the Bible to perform miraculous signs by the power of the Spirit, to show that his authority and his message was from YHVH. Now Joshua is the second to do so (and we have seen in the Gospels, that Jesus also did so). A Repeating Pattern is being established.
Leave a Reply