V19 includes another one of those little details (like 3:15) that we could easily skip over: "The people came up out of the Jordan on the tenth day of the first month, and they encamped at Gilgal on the east border of Jericho". Now turn back in your Bibles and read Exodus 12:2-3. It was on the same day 40

Joshua 4 also emphasises that this momentous, memorable event in Israel's history was an occasion of great unity among the people of God. They were united behind their leader. V14 says: "On that day the LORD exalted Joshua in the sight of all Israel, and they stood in awe of him just as they had stood in awe of Moses, all

One of the biggest points emphasised in chapter 4 is remembering. The stone memorial spoken of in v1-10 dominates this chapter. Its purpose was to "be to the people of Israel a memorial forever" (v7). Future generations were to be taught why the stone memorial was there and reminded of what God had done (v6). V6 says: "that this may be

Look at the little bit of information that is given in brackets at the end of v15: "(now the Jordan overflows all its banks throughout the time of harvest)". This detail might seem a frustrating interruption in the middle of an exciting report about a miracle! V13 tells us that the waters of the river will stop when the priests' feet

Before the crossing Joshua had predicted: "Here is how you shall know that the living God is among you and that he will without fail drive out from before you the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Hivites, the Perizzites, the Girgashites, the Amorites, and the Jebusites" (v10). There is a certain logic behind this assurance. If the LORD can tame a

Before the crossing the LORD assured Joshua: "Today I will begin to exalt you in the sight of all Israel, that they may know that, as I was with Moses, so I will be with you" (v7). Later in the account the writer confirms for us that God was true to His promise: On that day the LORD exalted Joshua

As well as distance (v4 - as we saw yesterday), the attitude of the people was also important for spectating the LORD's work. In v5 we read: Then Joshua said to the people, "Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the LORD will do wonders among you." What did this command involve? From other occurrences in the Old Testament (look up, for example,

Chapters 3 and 4 describe Israel's preparations for crossing the Jordan (which lay between them and the Promised Land) and the completion of the task. The chapters describe the words and events that accompanied the crossing as well as how the memory of the crossing was to be preserved. Here in v1-6 the writer emphasises awareness of the LORD's work. First

The events of this chapter gave Israel encouragement in the faithfulness of the LORD. One of the benefits of the whole episode appears in the spies' report in v24: "Truly the LORD has given all the land into our hands. And also, all the inhabitants of the land melt away because of us." The land has continued to be the

In these verses, the spies promise that Rahab and anyone in her household on the day the Israelites attack Jericho will be spared. Here we see the beauty of the LORD's grace. Joshua 2 could easily have been left out by the writer in recording the account of Israel's entry into the land. Chapter 3 seems to follow more logically from