Joshua 3:15-17

3:15 When the ones carrying the ark reached the Jordan and the feet of the priests carrying the ark touched the surface ¹  of the water – (the Jordan is at flood stage all during harvest time) ²  – 3:16 the water coming downstream toward them stopped flowing. ³  It piled up far upstream ⁴  at Adam (the city near Zarethan); there was no water at all flowing to the sea of the Arabah (the Salt Sea). ⁵  The people crossed the river opposite Jericho. ⁶  3:17 The priests carrying the ark of the covenant of the Lord stood firmly on dry ground in the middle of the Jordan. All Israel crossed over on dry ground until the entire nation was on the other side. ⁷ 

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¹ tn Heb “dipped into the edge.”

² tn Heb “and the Jordan overflows all its banks all the days of harvest.”

sn The lengthy description of the priests’ arrival at the Jordan and the parenthetical reminder that the Jordan was at flood stage delay the climax of the story and add to its dramatic buildup.

³ tn Heb “the waters descending from above stood still.”

⁴ tn Heb “they stood in one pile very far away.”

⁵ tn Heb “the [waters] descending toward the sea of the Arabah (the Salt Sea) were completely cut off.”

sn The Salt Sea is an ancient name for the Dead Sea.

⁶ map For the location of Jericho see Map5-B2; Map6-E1; Map7-E1; Map8-E3; Map10-A2; Map11-A1.

⁷ tn Heb “and all Israel was crossing over on dry ground until all the nation had finished crossing the Jordan.”