Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Joshua 4:18
And it came to pass, when the priests that bore the ark of the covenant of the LORD were come up out of the midst of Jordan, [and] the soles of the priests’ feet were lifted up unto the dry land, that the waters of Jordan returned unto their place, and flowed over all his banks, as [they did] before.
18. the waters of Jordan returned ] Thus the history of the crossing is related in sections: ( a) first briefly, Jos 3:14-17; ( b) then more completely, Jos 4:1-11; ( c) some supplementary notices, Jos 4:12-17; ( d) finally, the conclusion, concerning the return of the water, till Jordan “flowed over all his banks,” as it did before.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Verse 18. The waters of Jordan returned unto their place] It is particularly remarked by the sacred historian, that as soon as the soles of the priests’ feet touched the water, the stream of the Jordan was cut off, Jos 3:15, and the course of the river continued to be inverted all the time they continued in its channel; and that as soon as the soles of their feet had touched the dry land, on their return from the bed of the river, the waters immediately resumed their natural course. All this was done by the sovereign influence of that God whose presence was represented by the ark of the covenant.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
The waters came down from their heaps, and returned with all convenient speed into their proper channel, according to their natural and usual course.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
18. it came to pass, when thepriests that bare the ark . . . were come out of the midst of Jordan. . . that the waters of Jordan returned unto their placeTheircrossing, which was the final act, completed the evidence of themiracle; for then, and not till then, the suspended laws of naturewere restored, the waters returned to their place, and the riverflowed with as full a current as before.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
And it came to pass, when the priests that bare the ark of the covenant of the Lord were come up out of the midst of Jordan,…. According to the command of Joshua in the name of the Lord:
[and] the soles of the priests’ feet were lift up upon the dry land; and set upon it, on the bank of Jordan, and shores of the land of Canaan:
that the waters of Jordan returned unto their place; those that came from above, and had stood on an heap, gradually came down into the channel, and those below that were cut off returned:
and flowed over all his banks, as [they did] before; and usually did at this time of the year, see Jos 3:15; so that there was no decrease or loss of the waters by their failing, and being cut off.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
18. The soles of the priests’ feet were lifted up unto the dry land Hebrew, plucked up, that is, from the miry bed of the river, which was dry only in the sense of being drained of water.
The waters of Jordan returned As the waters suddenly stopped when the ark was borne into them, and flowed onward again when the ark left the bed of the river, the wonderful miracle must be ascribed to the ark as the instrument, and to God as the efficient cause.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
‘ And so it was that when the priests who bore the Ark of the covenant of YHWH came up from the middle of Jordan, and the soles of the priest’s feet were lifted up to the dry ground, the waters of Jordan returned to their place and went over all its banks as previously.’
The removal from the middle of the Jordan, of the Ark with its attendant priests, produced a remarkable effect. For immediately waters began to come down the river bed from the north, steadily increasing until once again they became a river in flood, overflowing its banks. Even the release of the waters were under YHWH’s control. Notice the mention of dry ground. That means completely dry rather than being simply not covered by water.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
Jos 4:18 And it came to pass, when the priests that bare the ark of the covenant of the LORD were come up out of the midst of Jordan, [and] the soles of the priests’ feet were lifted up unto the dry land, that the waters of Jordan returned unto their place, and flowed over all his banks, as [they did] before.
Ver. 18. And it came to pass, when the priests, &c. ] Not till then: as till Methuselah was deceased, the flood could not come; till Lot was housed in Zoar, Sodom could not be overthrown, &c. “He that walketh uprightly, walketh safely.”
And flowed over.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
the soles: Jos 3:13, Jos 3:15
lifted up: Heb. plucked up
that the waters: As soon as the priests and the ark were come up out of Jordan, the waters of the river, which had stood on a heap, flowed down according to their natural and usual course, and again soon filled the channel. This make it abundantly evident, that the miraculous change which had been given to the river was not from any secret natural cause, but solely by the power of God, and for the sake of his chosen people; for when Israel’s host had passed through, and the token of his presence was removed, immediately the waters went forward again, so that if it be asked, “What aileth thee, O Jordan, that thou wast driven back?” it must be answered, it was in obedience to the God of Israel, and in kindness to the Israel of God. Exo 14:26-28
and flowed: Heb. went, Jos 3:15, 1Ch 12:15, Isa 8:8
Reciprocal: Exo 14:27 – and the sea Jos 4:11 – that the ark Jos 8:33 – priests Hab 3:10 – the overflowing Mat 2:13 – until
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Jos 4:18. The waters of Jordan returned They had stood on a heap while the ark was in the river, but came tumbling down when it was removed, which showed to a demonstration that it was to Gods presence with them, and to this only, that they owed this miraculous mercy. Some have observed here, by way of allusion, says Henry, that when the ark, and the priests that bear it, (the word and ordinance of God and his ministers,) are removed from any place, the flood-gates are drawn up, the defence is departed, and an inundation of judgments is to be expected. Those that are unchurched will soon be undone: the glory is departed if the ark be taken.