The Israelites are preparing to cross the Jordan River into the Promised Land after forty years of wilderness wandering. God has instructed Joshua that the priests carrying the Ark of the Covenant will lead the crossing, and when their feet touch the water, the river will stop flowing. Joshua has commanded the people to consecrate themselves and follow the ark at a distance, explaining that God will perform a miracle to demonstrate His presence with Joshua as He was with Moses. The priests have taken up the ark and are moving toward the river, which is at flood stage during the harvest season. Twelve men, one from each tribe, have been selected for a special task that will be revealed during the crossing.
[14] So it was, when the people set out from their camp to cross over the Jordan, with the priests bearing the ark of the covenant before the people, [15] and as those who bore the ark came to the Jordan, and the feet of the priests who bore the ark dipped in the edge of the water (for the Jordan overflows all its banks during the whole time of harvest), [16] that the waters which came down from upstream stood still, and rose in a heap very far away at Adam, the city that is beside Zaretan. So the waters that went down into the Sea of the Arabah, the Salt Sea, failed, and were cut off; and the people crossed over opposite Jericho. [17] Then the priests who bore the ark of the covenant of the Lord stood firm on dry ground in the midst of the Jordan; and all Israel crossed over on dry ground, until all the people had crossed completely over the Jordan.
[1] And it came to pass, when all the people had completely crossed over the Jordan, that the Lord spoke to Joshua, saying: [2] “Take for yourselves twelve men from the people, one man from every tribe, [3] and command them, saying, ‘Take for yourselves twelve stones from here, out of the midst of the Jordan, from the place where the priests’ feet stood firm. You shall carry them over with you and leave them in the lodging place where you lodge tonight.’ ”
[4] Then Joshua called the twelve men whom he had appointed from the children of Israel, one man from every tribe; [5] and Joshua said to them: “Cross over before the ark of the Lord your God into the midst of the Jordan, and each one of you take up a stone on his shoulder, according to the number of the tribes of the children of Israel, [6] that this may be a sign among you when your children ask in time to come, saying, ‘What do these stones mean to you?’ [7] Then you shall answer them that the waters of the Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of the Lord; when it crossed over the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off. And these stones shall be for a memorial to the children of Israel forever.”
[8] And the children of Israel did so, just as Joshua commanded, and took up twelve stones from the midst of the Jordan, as the Lord had spoken to Joshua, according to the number of the tribes of the children of Israel, and carried them over with them to the place where they lodged, and laid them down there. [9] Then Joshua set up twelve stones in the midst of the Jordan, in the place where the feet of the priests who bore the ark of the covenant stood; and they are there to this day.
[10] So the priests who bore the ark stood in the midst of the Jordan until everything was finished that the Lord had commanded Joshua to speak to the people, according to all that Moses had commanded Joshua; and the people hurried and crossed over. [11] Then it came to pass, when all the people had completely crossed over, that the ark of the Lord and the priests crossed over in the presence of the people. [12] And the men of Reuben, the men of Gad, and half the tribe of Manasseh crossed over armed before the children of Israel, as Moses had spoken to them. [13] About forty thousand prepared for war crossed over before the Lord for battle, to the plains of Jericho. [14] On that day the Lord exalted Joshua in the sight of all Israel; and they feared him, as they had feared Moses, all the days of his life.
[15] Then the Lord spoke to Joshua, saying, [16] “Command the priests who bear the ark of the Testimony to come up from the Jordan.” [17] Joshua therefore commanded the priests, saying, “Come up from the Jordan.” [18] And it came to pass, when the priests who bore the ark of the covenant of the Lord had come from the midst of the Jordan, and the soles of the priests’ feet touched the dry land, that the waters of the Jordan returned to their place and overflowed all its banks as before.
The Israelites have arrived at Mount Sinai after their exodus from Egypt, and God has established a covenant with them, giving Moses the Ten Commandments and various laws. Moses ascended the mountain and entered God's presence in the cloud covering the summit, where he remained for forty days and forty nights. During this extended period on the mountain, God begins giving Moses detailed instructions for constructing the tabernacle, a portable sanctuary where God will dwell among His people. God has just finished describing the offerings the Israelites should bring for the tabernacle's construction, including gold, silver, bronze, fine linens, and acacia wood. Now God provides Moses with specific architectural plans, starting with the most sacred object. God is addressing Moses.
[10] “And they shall make an ark of acacia wood; two and a half cubits shall be its length, a cubit and a half its width, and a cubit and a half its height. [11] And you shall overlay it with pure gold, inside and out you shall overlay it, and shall make on it a molding of gold all around. [12] You shall cast four rings of gold for it, and put them in its four corners; two rings shall be on one side, and two rings on the other side. [13] And you shall make poles of acacia wood, and overlay them with gold. [14] You shall put the poles into the rings on the sides of the ark, that the ark may be carried by them.
The Philistines captured the ark of God after defeating Israel at Aphek and placed it in the temple of their god Dagon at Ashdod. The Lord afflicted the people of Ashdod with tumors, prompting them to send the ark to Gath, then to Ekron, where similar plagues occurred. After seven months of suffering, the Philistine priests and diviners advised returning the ark to Israel with a guilt offering of five golden tumors and five golden mice, corresponding to the five Philistine rulers. They placed the ark on a new cart pulled by two milk cows that had never been yoked, whose calves were penned up. The cows went straight toward Beth-shemesh in Israelite territory without turning, confirming that the Lord had brought the calamity upon Philistia. The men of Beth-shemesh rejoiced at the ark's return and offered the cows as burnt offerings to the Lord.
[18] and the golden rats, according to the number of all the cities of the Philistines belonging to the five lords, both fortified cities and country villages, even as far as the large stone of Abel on which they set the ark of the Lord, which stone remains to this day in the field of Joshua of Beth Shemesh.
[19] Then He struck the men of Beth Shemesh, because they had looked into the ark of the Lord. He struck fifty thousand and seventy men of the people, and the people lamented because the Lord had struck the people with a great slaughter.
[20] And the men of Beth Shemesh said, “Who is able to stand before this holy Lord God? And to whom shall it go up from us?” [21] So they sent messengers to the inhabitants of Kirjath Jearim, saying, “The Philistines have brought back the ark of the Lord; come down and take it up with you.”
[1] Then the men of Kirjath Jearim came and took the ark of the Lord, and brought it into the house of Abinadab on the hill, and consecrated Eleazar his son to keep the ark of the Lord.
[2] So it was that the ark remained in Kirjath Jearim a long time; it was there twenty years. And all the house of Israel lamented after the Lord.
King David has left the Ark of the Covenant at the house of Obed-edom the Gittite for three months after Uzzah's death, which occurred when Uzzah touched the Ark to steady it during its transport to Jerusalem. During this time, the Lord blessed Obed-edom's household abundantly. When David hears of these blessings, he becomes encouraged to resume bringing the Ark to Jerusalem. The passage describes David's second attempt to transport the Ark to the City of David, this time with proper reverence, sacrifices, and celebration. David dances before the Lord wearing a linen ephod while leading the procession with shouting and trumpet sounds, successfully bringing the Ark into Jerusalem and placing it in a tent he prepared.
[12] Now it was told King David, saying, “The Lord has blessed the house of Obed-Edom and all that belongs to him, because of the ark of God.” So David went and brought up the ark of God from the house of Obed-Edom to the City of David with gladness. [13] And so it was, when those bearing the ark of the Lord had gone six paces, that he sacrificed oxen and fatted sheep. [14] Then David danced before the Lord with all his might; and David was wearing a linen ephod. [15] So David and all the house of Israel brought up the ark of the Lord with shouting and with the sound of the trumpet.
[16] Now as the ark of the Lord came into the City of David, Michal, Saul’s daughter, looked through a window and saw King David leaping and whirling before the Lord; and she despised him in her heart. [17] So they brought the ark of the Lord, and set it in its place in the midst of the tabernacle that David had erected for it. Then David offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the Lord. [18] And when David had finished offering burnt offerings and peace offerings, he blessed the people in the name of the Lord of hosts. [19] Then he distributed among all the people, among the whole multitude of Israel, both the women and the men, to everyone a loaf of bread, a piece of meat, and a cake of raisins. So all the people departed, everyone to his house.
The author has been explaining how Jesus serves as the superior high priest of a better covenant, contrasting the old Mosaic system with the new covenant established through Christ. He has emphasized that Jesus, unlike the Levitical priests who served in an earthly sanctuary, ministers in the true heavenly tabernacle. The discussion has focused on how Christ's priesthood surpasses the Aaronic priesthood because He mediates a covenant founded on better promises. The author has quoted Jeremiah's prophecy about God establishing a new covenant with Israel, one that would be written on hearts rather than stone tablets. This new covenant renders the first one obsolete, setting the stage for a detailed comparison between the earthly tabernacle's regulations and the superior ministry of Christ.
[1] Then indeed, even the first covenant had ordinances of divine service and the earthly sanctuary. [2] For a tabernacle was prepared: the first part, in which was the lampstand, the table, and the showbread, which is called the sanctuary; [3] and behind the second veil, the part of the tabernacle which is called the Holiest of All, [4] which had the golden censer and the ark of the covenant overlaid on all sides with gold, in which were the golden pot that had the manna, Aaron’s rod that budded, and the tablets of the covenant; [5] and above it were the cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy seat. Of these things we cannot now speak in detail.
[6] Now when these things had been thus prepared, the priests always went into the first part of the tabernacle, performing the services. [7] But into the second part the high priest went alone once a year, not without blood, which he offered for himself and for the people’s sins committed in ignorance; [8] the Holy Spirit indicating this, that the way into the Holiest of All was not yet made manifest while the first tabernacle was still standing. [9] It was symbolic for the present time in which both gifts and sacrifices are offered which cannot make him who performed the service perfect in regard to the conscience— [10] concerned only with foods and drinks, various washings, and fleshly ordinances imposed until the time of reformation.
Jesus has begun His public ministry in Galilee after His baptism and temptation in the wilderness. He has called His first disciples—Peter, Andrew, James, and John—and has been teaching in synagogues, proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom, and healing various diseases among the people. Large crowds from Galilee, the Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea, and beyond the Jordan have begun following Him. Seeing the multitudes, Jesus went up on a mountainside, sat down, and began teaching His disciples. He has just delivered the Beatitudes, describing the character and blessings of kingdom citizens, and has told His followers they are the salt of the earth and the light of the world, calling them to let their light shine before others. Jesus is addressing His disciples and the crowds gathered on the mountain.
[17] “Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. [18] For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled. [19] Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. [20] For I say to you, that unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.