The Crossing Completed (Joshua 4:11-18)

I. The people cross (4:11–13).

11 Then it came to pass, when all the people had completely crossed over, that the ark of the LORD and the priests crossed over in the presence of the people. 12 And the men of Reuben, the men of Gad, and half the tribe of Manasseh crossed over armed before the children of Israel, as Moses had spoken to them. 13 About forty thousand prepared for war crossed over before the LORD for battle, to the plains of Jericho.

A. Obedience to God’s directives.

The obedience to God’s instruction, occurs in the repeated statements of Israel doing just what they were told to do. The verb finished in (v. 10) which was used of the whole nation crossing the Jordan described the complete fulfilment of the LORD’s commands .

The completion of the crossing of the people in (v. 11) emphasizes that Israel’s crossing was a complete response to God’s command. Israel ‘finished’ obeying the divine instructions when it ‘finished’ crossing the Jordan. This also explains the detail that the Israelites hurried over (v. 10). They eagerly obeyed God’s command.

B. Preparation for battle.

The preparation for war occurs in three separate notices. Firstly, the Transjordanian warriors cross. This begins the fulfilment of their oath to Joshua in 1:16–18, but it also confirms the promise they had made to Moses when he gave them allotments east of the Jordan. They cross armed for war. This signals their participation in all the battles in Palestine in the following narratives. It also confirms the unity of all the tribes of Israel in the crossing. All Israel sees them cross.

The notice of forty ‘armed groups’ clarifies the purpose of this crossing for all Israel. It is the beginning of their military venture in Canaan. In crossing the Jordan, Israel at last enters the land promised to their ancestors. At the same time, they enter enemy territory, with all the dangers and challenges that this might imply. Therefore, they appear armed and prepared for battle.

They crossed before the LORD. Therefore, they could expect his faithfulness to his promises that they would possess the land and that he would fight for them. They crossed to the plains of Jericho. Therefore, they established a strategic foothold in the lands west of the Jordan. Once on the plain, they could organize and defend themselves as they prepared for their movements to occupy Canaan. They crossed armed for battle. This demonstrates that here was not merely a religious ritual empty of significance. The crossing was the first part of the movement to occupy Canaan, and this was done with the necessary appearance of military preparedness.

II. Joshua is exalted (4:14).

14 On that day the LORD exalted Joshua in the sight of all Israel; and they feared him, as they had feared Moses, all the days of his life.

A. This fulfils a divine promise.

The LORD’s exaltation of Joshua caused Israel to respect him just as they had respected Moses. The crossing was the first of Joshua’s many responsibilities.

Israel recognized him as successor to Moses and as their leader. The succeeding events confirmed the role of Joshua in leading the people to obtain their covenant promises.

B. The people “revered” him all the days of his life, just as they had Moses.

The word “revered” is literally “feared”. When used of God, it denotes a holy fear, reverence, awe, or worship. When used of humans, the idea is similar. It can denote terror on the one extreme and respect or honor on the other extreme.

Joshua is now, in effect, the “new Moses.” After the great crossing of the Red Sea, “the people feared the LORD and put their trust in him and in Moses his servant”. Here, now, Joshua found himself in a remarkably similar position after a remarkably similar miracle. He was growing into Moses’ job as Israel’s leader.

III. Out of the Jordan (4:15–18).

15 Then the LORD spoke to Joshua, saying, 16 “Command the priests who bear the ark of the Testimony to come up from the Jordan.” 17 Joshua therefore commanded the priests, saying, “Come up from the Jordan.” 18 And it came to pass, when the priests who bore the ark of the covenant of the LORD had come from the midst of the Jordan, and the soles of the priests’ feet touched the dry land, that the waters of the Jordan returned to their place and overflowed all its banks as before.

A. The ark of the “Testimony” is mentioned here for the first time.

The word “testimony” is always used to refer to God’s testimony or covenant. It often describes the tabernacle, and the ark.

It sometimes stands alone referring to the ark. It also sometimes refers to the two tablets of stone that were in the ark.

The “Testimony” is even equated with the covenant itself. The written words of the law constitute the Testimony, and the use of this term here is appropriate in the context of command or promise and fulfillment. God’s word was to form the basis of everything Joshua and Israel did.

B. The final stage in the miracle.

The LORD speaks again to Joshua and instructs him to command the priests. This time, however, they are to bring the ark up from the Jordan on to the dry ground of Canaan. Again, Joshua instructs the priests in what the LORD has said. Again, they do exactly as instructed and move the ark.

The waters of the Jordan respond to their actions and return to run in flood as before. Religiously, this action places the entire crossing in the context of a divinely ordained ceremony. The priests initiate and complete it. The laity participate and bear witness.

Theologically, the text inspires a confession of the power of God to control natural forces. God chooses to use these forces through his chosen instruments (Joshua and the priests) to enable his people to attain his promises. For the Christian, this recalls the power of Jesus of whom the disciples testified: Even the winds and the waves obey him!