MPV Commentary

The Waters of Jordan Are Divided.

When the people moved from their camps, they witnessed an extraordinary sight. The priests carrying the ark stood at the edge of the riverbed, while the rest of the people were about a mile away. Suddenly, the entire riverbed dried up. This was all the more remarkable since it occurred during harvest time, when the Jordan River typically overflows its banks.

The original words can be translated as "fills all its banks," which accurately describes the state of the Jordan in autumn, when snow from Lebanon feeds into its channel and swells its waters to a brimful level. At Jericho, the river's width is around 50-60 yards, but during harvest it doubles in size. In ancient times, with more rainfall and snow on the surrounding hills, the river must have been even broader.

The waters that flowed from above (the Sea of Galilee) stood still and formed a compact barrier high up the stream. This was near the city of Adam, located beside Zaretan, about 30 miles from the Israelite encampment. The waters flowing towards the Dead Sea were cut off, leaving the river dry as far as the eye could see.

This was an incredible miracle, given the Jordan's reputation for its powerful current, which becomes even stronger after passing the Sea of Galilee and plunging through numerous rapids and cascades. When swollen during harvest time, it flows at a greatly accelerated pace.

The people crossed over on dry ground opposite Jericho. The exact spot is unknown, but it cannot be the location traditionally identified by Greek pilgrims, as it lies too far north and has steep cliffs along its eastern banks.

The priests carrying the ark, along with all the Israelites, passed over on dry land. The riverbed near Jericho had a firm pebbly bottom that allowed them to cross without difficulty once the water was cleared off.