Crossing the Jordan

Overview

• Testament: Old
• Book: Joshua
• Chapters: Joshua 3-4
• Summary: Israel crosses the flooded Jordan River on dry ground as the ark of the covenant goes before them.

Details

The priests step into the river carrying the ark, and the waters stop upstream. Israel passes over, and twelve stones are set up as a memorial so future generations will remember the LORD’s mighty work.

Key People Involved

• Joshua (Son of Nun) — Leads the people
• Eleazar — High priestly representative in the conquest generation

Key Places

• Jordan River — Miraculously parted
• Gilgal — Memorial stones set up after the crossing

Important Verses

“That all the people of the earth might know the hand of the LORD, that it is mighty…” — Joshua 4:24

Cross-References

• Related events: Red Sea Crossing, Commissioning of Joshua
• Foreshadowed in: Death of Moses

Notes

The crossing publicly confirms Joshua’s leadership and connects the conquest generation to the Exodus generation.