Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible
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Joshua
Book: Joshua
Chapter: 3
Overview:
The Israelites come to
Jordan.
(1-6) The
Lord encourages
Joshua-
Joshua encourages the people.
(7-13) The Israelites pass
through
Jordan On dry land.
(14-17)
1-6 The Israelites came to
Jordan in
Faith, having been told
that they should pass it. In the way of duty, let us proceed as
far as we can, and depend
On the
Lord.
Joshua led them.
Particular notice is taken of his early rising, as afterwards
upon other occasions, which shows how little he sought his own
ease. Those who would bring great things to pass, must rise
early.
Love not sleep, lest thou come to poverty. All in public
stations should always attend to the duty of their place. The
people were to follow the
Ark. Thus must we walk after the rule
of the
Word, and the direction of the
Spirit, in everything;
So
shall peace be upon us as upon the
Israel of
God; but we must
follow our ministers only as they follow
Christ. All their way
through the
Wilderness was an untrodden path, but most
So this
through
Jordan. While we are here, we must expect and prepare to
pass ways that we have not passed before; but in the path of
duty we may proceed with boldness and cheerfulness. Whether we
are called to suffer poverty, pain, labour,
Persecution,
reproach, or
Death, we are following the Author and Finisher of
our
Faith; nor can we set our feet in any dangerous or difficult
spot, through our whole
Journey, but
Faith will there see the
prints of the
Redeemer's feet, who trod that very path to
Glory
above, and bids us follow him, that where he is, we may be also.
They were to sanctify themselves. Would we experience the
effects of
God's
Love and power, we must
Put away
Sin, and be
careful not to grieve the Holy
Spirit of
God.
7-13 The waters of
Jordan shall be cut off. This must be done
in such a way as never was done, but in the dividing of the Red
Sea. That
Miracle is here repeated;
God has the same power to
finish the
Salvation of his people, as to begin it; the
Word of
the
Lord was as truly with
Joshua as with
Moses.
God's
appearances for his people ought to encourage
Faith and
Hope.
God's work is perfect, he will keep his people.
Jordan's
Flood
cannot keep out
Israel,
Canaan's force cannot turn them out
again.
14-17 Jordan overflowed all its banks. This magnified the power
of
God, and his kindness to
Israel. Although those who oppose
the
Salvation of
God's people have all advantages, yet
God can
and will conquer. This
Passage over
Jordan, as an entrance to
Canaan, after their long, weary wanderings in the
Wilderness,
shadowed out the believer's
Passage through
Death to
Heaven,
after he has finished his wanderings in this sinful world.
Jesus, typified
By the
Ark, hath gone before, and he crossed the
River when it most flooded the country around. Let us treasure
up experiences of His
Faithful and tender care, that they may
help our
Faith and
Hope in the last conflict.