The Miraculous Crossing of the Jordan River in Joshua 3-4 (Sotah 33b-34a)

This sugya offers a close and imaginative reading of the narrative of the Israelites’ miraculous crossing of the Jordan River in Joshua 3–4, blending scriptural detail with rabbinic interpretation to unpack its significance.

The sugya emphasizes not just the miracle itself—waters piling up in a supernatural heap—but also the symbolic role of the Ark of the Covenant, the shift in priestly function, the psychological impact on Canaanite observers, and the importance of commemorative practices like the twelve memorial stones.

See the outline of this biblical story in Wikipedia, “Joshua 4”, section “Analysis”, sub-section “C - Crossing the Jordan (3:1–4:24)”:

1. Initial Preparations for Crossing (3:1–6)

2. Directives for Crossing (3:7–13)

3. A Miraculous Crossing: Part 1 (3:14–17)

4. Twelve-Stone Memorial: Part 1 (4:1–10a)

5. A Miraculous Crossing: Part 2 (4:10b–18)

6. Twelve-Stone Memorial: Part 2 (4:19–24)

Outline

Intro

The Passage - The Miraculous Crossing of the Jordan River in Joshua 3-4 (Sotah 33b-34a)

1. Baraita - The Ark’s Unique Role in Crossing the Jordan (Joshua 3:11,13): The Ark’s Usual Position; The Ark’s Position on This Day; Who Carried the Ark

2. R’ Yosei - The Three Times the Priests Carried the Ark

3. The Miraculous Backflow of the Jordan River (Joshua 3:15–16)

   1. R’ Yehuda: The Waters of the Jordan reached a height of 12 mil

   2. R’ Elazar ben Shimon: The Waters of the Jordan reached a height of over 300 mil (Joshua 5:1); Visible to Distant Kings; Effect on the Canaanites

   3. … Rahab’s Testimony Re the Fear of the Canaanites (Joshua 2:10-11)

4. Joshua’s Instructions and the Memorial Stones

5. The Purpose of Crossing the Jordan and the Threat of Water (Numbers 33:52): Joshua’s Warning; The Consequence of Failure

6. Stones as a Memorial of Crossing the Jordan (Joshua 4:5-6): Command to Collect Stones; Memorializing the Crossing

7. The Placement of the Twelve Stones (Joshua 4:3)

The Passage

Sotah.33b.11-34a.7

Baraita - The Ark’s Unique Role in Crossing the Jordan (Joshua 3:11,13): The Ark’s Usual Position; The Ark’s Position on This Day; Who Carried the Ark

On a typical day, the Ark traveled behind “two flags” (i.e. of Judah and Reuben). When crossing the Jordan, the Ark led the people, as indicated in Joshua 3:11.

Ordinarily, the Levites carried the Ark, but during the crossing, the priests bore it, as specified in Joshua 3:13.

תנו רבנן:

כיצד עברו ישראל את הירדן?

1. 1. בכל יום --

      1. ארון נוסע אחר שני דגלים,

   2. והיום --

      1. נסע תחילה,

      2. שנאמר: ״הנה ארון הברית אדון כל הארץ עבר לפניכם״.

2. 1. בכל יום ויום --

      1. לוים נושאין את הארון,

   2. והיום --

      1. נשאוהו כהנים,

      2. שנאמר: ״והיה כנוח כפות רגלי הכהנים נושאי ארון ה׳ וגו׳״.

The Sages taught (Tosefta 8:1):

How did the Jewish people cross the Jordan?

1. 1. Every day

      1. the Ark would travel behind the two flags of Judah and Reuben,

   2. but on that day

      1. the Ark traveled in front,

      2. as it is stated: “Behold, the Ark of the Covenant of YHWH of all the earth is passing before you” (Joshua 3:11).

2. 1. On every other day,

      1. the Levites would carry the Ark,

   2. but on this day

      1. the priests carried it,

      2. as is stated: “And when the soles of the feet of the priests that bear the Ark of YHWH, YHWH of all the earth, shall rest” (Joshua 3:13).

R’ Yosei - The Three Times the Priests Carried the Ark

R’ Yosei identifies three occasions when the priests carried the Ark instead of the Levites:

1. Crossing the Jordan

2. Encircling (הסיבו) Jericho (Joshua 6:6; during the siege)

3. “When they returned it to its place”¹

תניא,

רבי יוסי אומר:

בשלשה מקומות נשאו כהנים את הארון:

1. כשעברו את הירדן,

2. וכשהסיבו את יריחו,

3. וכשהחזירוהו למקומו.

It is taught in a baraita (Tosefta 8:2) that

R’ Yosei says: In three different places the priests carried the Ark:

1. They carried it when the Jewish people crossed the Jordan,

2. and when they surrounded (הסיבו) Jericho (Joshua 6:6),

3. and when they returned it to its proper place in the Holy of Holies during the reign of King Solomon (I Kings 8:6).

The Miraculous Backflow of the Jordan River (Joshua 3:15–16)

R’ Yehuda: The Waters of the Jordan reached a height of 12 mil

R’ Yehuda states as follows:

As soon as the priests carrying the Ark stepped into the Jordan River, the waters miraculously flowed backward.

This event is described in Joshua 3:15–16, which notes that the Jordan was at flood stage during the harvest season when the waters stopped and rose in a heap (נד).

The water reached a height of 12 mil by 12 mil, corresponding to the size of the Israelite camp crossing the river.

וכיון שניטבלו רגלי כהנים במים,

חזרו המים לאחוריהם,

שנאמר:

״וכבוא נושאי הארון עד הירדן וגו׳

ויעמדו המים הירדים מלמעלה קמו נד אחד״.

וכמה גובהן של מים?

שנים עשר מיל על שנים עשר מיל,

כנגד מחנה ישראל.

דברי רבי יהודה.

And once the feet of the priests were immersed in the water of the Jordan River,

the water flowed backward,

as it is stated:

“And when those carrying the Ark came to the Jordan and the feet of the priests that bore the ark were dipped in the brink of the water, for the Jordan overflows all its banks all the time of harvest;

and the waters that came down from above stood, and rose up in one heap” (Joshua 3:15–16).

And what was the height of the water?

12 mil by 12 mil,

parallel to the size of the camp of the Jewish people who were passing through the Jordan.

This is the statement of R’ Yehuda.

R’ Elazar ben Shimon: The Waters of the Jordan reached a height of over 300 mil (Joshua 5:1); Visible to Distant Kings; Effect on the Canaanites

R’ Elazar ben Shimon states that the accumulation of water reached a height of over 300 mil, making it visible to the kings of all countries.²

As a result, the Canaanite and Amorite kings, witnessing this miracle, were overcome with fear and lost their resolve, as described in Joshua 5:1.

אמר לו רבי אלעזר ברבי שמעון:

[...]

אלא מלמד ש

היו מים נגדשין ועולין כיפין על גבי כיפין,

יתר משלש מאות מיל,

עד שראו אותן כל מלכי מזרח ומערב,

שנאמר:

״ויהי כשמע כל מלכי האמרי אשר בעבר הירדן ימה

וכל מלכי הכנעני אשר על הים

את אשר הוביש ה׳ את מי הירדן מפני בני ישראל עד עברם

וימס לבבם

ולא היה בם עוד רוח מפני בני ישראל״.

R’ Elazar, son of R’ Shimon, said to him:

[...]

Rather, this teaches that

the water gathered (נגדשין) and rose in heaps (כיפין) upon heaps

to a height of more than 300 mil,

until all the kings of the East and West saw it,

as it is stated:

“And it came to pass, when all the kings of the Amorites, that were beyond the Jordan westward,

and all the kings of the Canaanites, that were by the sea,

heard that YHWH had dried up the waters of the Jordan from before the children of Israel, until they were passed over,

that their heart melted,

neither was there spirit in them anymore, because of the children of Israel” (Joshua 5:1).

... Rahab’s Testimony Re the Fear of the Canaanites (Joshua 2:10-11)

Rahab tells Joshua’s messengers that the Canaanites had heard of God’s miracle in drying up the Red Sea, demonstrating the major impact of this event.

Upon hearing about the miracle, the Canaanites’ “hearts melted (ימס)”, and they lost all spirit, showing their fear and psychological defeat.³

ואף רחב הזונה אמרה לשלוחי יהושע:

״כי שמענו את אשר הוביש ה׳ את מי ים סוף וגו׳״,

וכתיב: ״ונשמע וימס לבבנו ולא קמה עוד וגו׳״.

And even Rahab the prostitute said to Joshua’s messengers:

“For we have heard how YHWH dried up the water of the Red Sea before you” (Joshua 2:10).

And it is written: “And as soon as we had heard it, our hearts melted, neither did there remain any more spirit in any man, because of you” (Joshua 2:11).

Evidently, the Canaanites were still terrified due to the splitting of the Red Sea, although that had taken place years earlier and in a distant location. It is understood from here how terrified they became when a similar miracle occurred close to where they lived.

Joshua’s Instructions and the Memorial Stones

The Purpose of Crossing the Jordan and the Threat of Water (Numbers 33:52): Joshua’s Warning; The Consequence of Failure

Joshua reminds the Jewish people that they are crossing the Jordan to drive out the land’s inhabitants, as commanded in Numbers 33:52. Their success depends on fulfilling this obligation.

If they fail to expel the inhabitants, water will come and drown them.

The Talmud questions the meaning of the unusual word “otikhem” (אותיכם) and explains that it is a combination of oti (”me”) and etkhem (”you” - possibly suggesting a collective responsibility shared by both Joshua and the people).

עודם בירדן,

אמר להם יהושע:

דעו על מה אתם עוברים את הירדן —

על מנת שתורישו את יושבי הארץ מפניכם,

שנאמר: ״והורשתם את כל יושבי הארץ מפניכם וגו׳״.

• אם אתם עושין כן —

  • מוטב.

• ואם לאו —

  • באין מים ושוטפין אותיכם.

מאי ״אותיכם״?

אותי ואתכם.

While the Jewish people were still in the Jordan,

Joshua said to them:

Know for what purpose you are crossing the Jordan.

It is in order to drive out (תורישו) the inhabitants of the land from before you,

as it is stated: “And you shall drive out all the inhabitants of the land from before you” (Numbers 33:52).

• If you will do so —

  • then all is well,

• but if not —

  • water will come and drown otikhem.

The Talmud asks: What is the meaning of the word otikhem?

The Talmud explains: It is a combination of the words me [oti] and you [etkhem].

Stones as a Memorial of Crossing the Jordan (Joshua 4:5-6): Command to Collect Stones; Memorializing the Crossing

While still in the Jordan, Joshua instructs each man to pick up a stone on his shoulder, corresponding to the number of Israelite tribes.

The stones will serve as a sign for future generations, prompting children to ask about their meaning.

The stones will remind the Israelites that their ancestors miraculously crossed the Jordan.

עודם בירדן

אמר להן יהושע:

״הרימו לכם איש אבן אחת על שכמו

למספר שבטי ישראל וגו׳״,

וכתיב:

״למען תהיה זאת אות בקרבכם

כי ישאלון בניכם מחר לאמר:

מה האבנים האלה לכם וגו׳״,

סימן לבנים שעברו אבות את הירדן.

While they were still in the Jordan,

Joshua said to them:

“Pick up every man of you a stone upon his shoulder,

according to the number of the tribes of the children of Israel” (Joshua 4:5).

And it is written:

“That this may be a sign among you,

that when your children ask in time to come, saying:

What do you mean by these stones?” (Joshua 4:6).

This will be a sign for the children that their ancestors crossed the Jordan.

The Placement of the Twelve Stones (Joshua 4:3)

While still in the Jordan, Joshua commanded the people to take twelve stones from the riverbed, specifically from the spot where the priests had stood, and carry them to their lodging place.

One might have assumed that these stones needed to be placed at every location where the Israelites camped. However, the verse specifies “where you shall lodge this night,” indicating that the stones were to be set only at that first night’s lodging, not at every stop.

עודם בירדן

אמר להן יהושע:

״שאו לכם מזה מתוך הירדן

ממצב רגלי הכהנים

הכין שתים עשרה אבנים

והעברתם אותם עמכם

והנחתם אותם במלון אשר תלינו בו הלילה וגו׳״.

יכול בכל מלון ומלון?

תלמוד לומר: ״אשר תלינו בו הלילה״.

While they were still in the Jordan,

Joshua said to them:

“Take out of the midst of the Jordan,

out of the place where the priests’ feet stood,

12 stones made ready,

and carry them over with you,

and lay them down in the lodging place, where you shall lodge this night” (Joshua 4:3).

One might have thought that they were required to place these stones at each and every lodging place (מלון) where they stayed.

Therefore, the verse states: “Where you shall lodge this night,” meaning only on that night.

1. Understood to refer to King Solomon’s time, when the priests returned the Ark to its place in the Holy of Holies in I Kings 8:6.

2. “all the kings of the East and West” - called a “merism” in linguistics, see my previous note on this term.

3. Even though the splitting of the Red Sea occurred years earlier and far from Canaan, it still instilled fear. This suggests that when a similar miracle happened near them, their terror would have been even greater.