About 40,000 ready for war passed over before the LORD for battle, to the plains of Jericho.
Joshua kept every detail of what Moses had taught him close at hand, and when the moment came to lead God's people, he neither added to his orders nor forgot them. We must do the same: hold fast the good instructions given us, ready to pull them out when we need them most.
AI summary
Commenting on Joshua 4:10-19
About forty thousand prepared for war,.... Accoutred with proper armour to defend themselves, and their brethren, and annoy their enemies: this is to be understood of such a number of the above mentioned tribes; otherwise the number of all Israel that went over Jordan, even armed or fighting men, besides women and children, were five hundred thousand or more.
THE PEOPLE PASS OVER. (Jos 4:10-13) the priests which bare the ark stood in the midst of Jordan--This position was well calculated to animate the people, who probably crossed below the ark, as well as to facilitate Joshua's execution of the minutest instructions respecting the passage (Num 27:21-23).
Commenting on Joshua 4:10-13