March 23: Joshua 3:1 – Joshua 6:27

Israel Crosses the Jordan – Joshua 3

• Joshua and the Israelites set out from Shittim. They reach the Jordan, and after three days officers go through the camp and instruct the people that when the ark of the covenant is taken up by the Levites and carried, they are to follow, but they must stay 2000 cubits back from it.
• Joshua tells the people to consecrate themselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do wonders among them.
• God tells Joshua that He will exalt him in the sight of Israel, so they will know God is with him, just as He was with Moses. Joshua explains to the people that when feet of the Levites carrying the ark rest in the waters of the Jordan (which has overflowed its banks due to the rainy season), the river will stop flowing. This happens as proclaimed, and the people cross the Jordan on dry land.

Twelve Memorial Stones from the Jordan – Joshua 4

• God tells Joshua to pick twelve men, one from each tribe, and have them each gather a stone from the Jordan River bed. They are then to lay the stones down where they lodge that night, and the stones are to be a memorial to the Hebrew people forever.
• The men do as instructed, and the Israelite people pass over. The tribes of Gad and Reuben and the half-tribe of Manasseh are all armed and ready for battle. The people stand in awe of Joshua, just as they did with Moses. The people cross the river bed in haste (on the tenth day of the first month), while the priests remain in the river bed.
• God commands Joshua to have the priests bearing the ark to come up out of the Jordan, and when they do, the waters again flow. The twelve stones are set up at Gilgal as a memorial.

The New Generation Circumcised – Joshua 5

• When the kings of the Amorites and the Canaanites hear about how the waters dried up so the Israelites could cross the Jordan, they lose their will to fight them.
• God instructs Joshua to make flint knives and circumcise all the men of Israel (all the males who had come out of Egypt had been circumcised, but their sons had not). God is raising up their children to take the place of their parents, who didn't obey God, so He wants them circumcised. The people remain encamped until all the men have healed, and God tells Joshua that He has rolled away the reproach of Egypt from them.

The Commander of the Lord's Arm

• When Joshua is passing by Jericho, he sees a man standing before him with a sword drawn. Joshua asks him if he is for Israel or for their enemies. The man claims he is the commander of the Lord's army, and Joshua falls on his face before him and asks the man what he says to his servant (Joshua), The man tells him to take off his sandals, for he is standing on holy ground. Joshua removes his sandals.

The Fall of Jericho – Joshua 6

• Jericho is shut up inside and outside because of the Israelites. God points out to Joshua that He has given Jericho over to him. All the men of war are to march around the city once a day for six days, and priests are to bear the ark of the covenant and ram horn trumpets. On the seventh day, they are to march around the city seven times, and on the seventh time, the priests will blow the trumpets. The people are to all shout, and the wall of the city will fall down flat.
• Joshua instructs the people what to do, and they do it. Jericho is destroyed by the Israelites, and only Rahab and her family within her house are spared (and taken in by Israel). Except for the silver and gold, the entire city is burned.
• Joshua informs that people that if anyone tries to rebuild Jericho, they will be curse. The Lord is with Joshua, and his fame is in all the land.