Crossing the Jordan

Joshua leads Israel from Shittim to the Jordan, which overflows all its banks at harvest time. Three days later, the officers give the order: follow the ark of the covenant, carried by the priests, at a distance of about two thousand cubits, “for ye have not passed this way heretofore.” Joshua announces, “Sanctify yourselves: for to morrow the LORD will do wonders among you.” The moment the priests’ feet touch the water, the river stops and stands in a heap, far upstream, near the city of Adam. The priests stand firm on dry ground in the middle of the Jordan while all Israel crosses over, opposite Jericho. Twelve men, one from each tribe, take twelve stones from the riverbed; set up at Gilgal, they will tell the children, “Israel came over this Jordan on dry land.”