## Rashi on Joshua Chapter 3

###### Rashi on Joshua 3:3:1
[Rashi on Joshua 3:3:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Joshua/r/3:3:1)

**וַהֲלַכְתֶּם אַחֲרָיו.** נִשְׁתַּנָּה הַמַּסָּע הַזֶּה מִשְּׁאָר מַסָּעוֹת, שֶׁכָּל זְמָן שֶׁמֹּשֶׁה הָיָה קַיָּים הָיָה עַמּוּד הֶעָנָן נוֹסֵעַ תְּחִלָּה, וּמַרְאֶה לָהֶם הַדֶּרֶךְ וְהָאָרוֹן נוֹסֵעַ אַחַר ב' דְּגָלִים, עַכְשָׁיו הָאָרוֹן נוֹסֵעַ תְּחִלָּה.

**The Book of Joshua, Metsudah Publications, 1997:**
**And follow it.** This journey was different than other journeys. During Moshe’s lifetime, the Pillar of Clouds would head the procession, and show them the way, and the Ark¹ or Covenant but it is also referred to in Scripture as the אַרוֹן הָעֵדוּת, the Ark of Testimony (see Chapter 4:16) because of the Two Tablets inscribed with the Ten Commandments that were placed in the Ark. would [first begin to] move after two divisions [lit. flags]² had left, but now the Ark would travel first.

footnotes:
¹ The ark is here referred to as the Ark of the Bris
² The twelve tribes of the Bnei Yisroel were divided into four divisions or units, three tribes to a unit. When they travelled in the wilderness, two divisions of six tribes would depart the camp, to be followed by the Ark: and the other two divisions would then follow the Ark. Thus the Ark was always amidst the Bnei Yisroel.


###### Rashi on Joshua 3:3:2
[Rashi on Joshua 3:3:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Joshua/r/3:3:2)

**וְהַכֹּהֲנִים הַלְוִיִּם** לְפִי שֶׁיָּצְאוּ כּוּלָּם מִלֵּוִי (אֲבִי) אֲבִי עַמְרָם נִקְרְאוּ לְוִיּם, כְּמוֹ שֶׁפֵּרְשׁוּ רַבּוֹתֵינוּ בִּבְרֵאשִׁית רַבָּה: בְּמ"ח מְקוֹמוֹת נִקְרְאוּ הַכֹּהֲנִים לְוִיּם. וְזֶה טַעְמוֹ שֶׁל דָּבָר (מפּי רבּי).

**The Book of Joshua, Metsudah Publications, 1997:**
**The *Kohanim,* the Levites.** Since they all descended from Levi who was the father of Amram, they [the *Kohanim*] are called Levites,³ were Levites, the Levites were not *Kohanim,* because the *Kehunah* was confined to the descendants of Aharon. as our Sages explain in *Breishis Rabbah,* ‘That there are forty eight places where the *Kohanim* are referred to as Levites.’

footnotes:
³ While it is true that all Kohanim


###### Rashi on Joshua 3:4:1
[Rashi on Joshua 3:4:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Joshua/r/3:4:1)

**אַךְ רָחוֹק יִהְיֶה** כְּבוֹדוֹ שֶׁל מָקוֹם הוּא.

**The Book of Joshua, Metsudah Publications, 1997:**
**But there must be a distance.** This was mandated out of respect for Hashem.


###### Rashi on Joshua 3:4:2
[Rashi on Joshua 3:4:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Joshua/r/3:4:2)

**וּבֵינָיו** כְּמוֹ וּבֵינוֹ, וְדוֹמֶה לוֹ (תהלים קמט ב): יִשְׂמַח יִשְׂרָאֵל בְּעוֹשָׂיו. דָּבָר אַחֵר: ב' אֲרוֹנוֹת הָיוּ, שֶׁל שְׁכִינָה וְשֶׁל יוֹסֵף מְהַלְּכִין יַחַד.

**The Book of Joshua, Metsudah Publications, 1997:**
**And it.** [Even though the word וּבֵינָו is read as וּבֵינָיו ] [which usually indicates the plural] nevertheless here, *it* refers to the Ark. Similarly, ‘Yisroel will rejoice in its Maker.’⁴ Another explanation: there were actually two Arks,⁵ there Ark of the Divine Presence, and the Ark containing the bones of Yosef, which travelled together.

footnotes:
⁴ Tehillim 149:2. In this verse too, the word בִעשָׂיו would seem to indicate a plural, yet it is singular, i.e., its Maker.
⁵ Accordingly the word וּבֵינָיו  correctly indicated a plural, i.e., the two Arks.


###### Rashi on Joshua 3:4:3
[Rashi on Joshua 3:4:3](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Joshua/r/3:4:3)

**כְּאַלְפַּיִם אַמָּה** כְּדֵי שֶׁתִּהְיוּ יְכוֹלִין לֵילֵךְ וּלְהִתְפַּלֵּל לְפָנָיו בְּשַׁבָּת, כָּךְ מְפוֹרָשׁ בְּמִדְרַשׁ תַּנְחוּמָא, לְפִי שֶׁיָּדַע שֶׁעֲתִידִין לִהְיוֹת צָרִים לִפְנֵי יְרִיחוֹ בַּשַּׁבָּת.

**The Book of Joshua, Metsudah Publications, 1997:**
**Two thousand Amos.** To permit them to go and to pray before the Ark on Shabbos.⁶ was the limit permitted for a Jew to walk outside his domain on Shabbos. This is the explanation of Midrash Tanchumah, for Yehoshua knew that eventually they would beseige Yericho on Shabbos.

footnotes:
⁶ Two thousand Amos


###### Rashi on Joshua 3:4:4
[Rashi on Joshua 3:4:4](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Joshua/r/3:4:4)

**לְמַעַן אֲשֶׁר תֵּדְעוּ** מוּסָב עַל: וַהֲלַכְתֶּם אַחֲרָיו.

**The Book of Joshua, Metsudah Publications, 1997:**
**So that you will know**⁷ This refers to the last words of verse 3, “and follow it.”

footnotes:
⁷ Certainly this cannot be the reason why they were commanded them to keep a distance from the Ark.


###### Rashi on Joshua 3:4:5
[Rashi on Joshua 3:4:5](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Joshua/r/3:4:5)

**כִּי לֹא עֲבַרְתֶּם בַּדֶּרֶךְ** לֹא הֲלַכְתֶּם בְּעִנְיָן זֶה עַד הֵנָּה.

**The Book of Joshua, Metsudah Publications, 1997:**
**For you have never travelled this route.** You have never travelled in this fashion until now.


###### Rashi on Joshua 3:5:1
[Rashi on Joshua 3:5:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Joshua/r/3:5:1)

**וַיֹּאמֶר יְהוֹשֻׁעַ** בַּיּוֹם הַשְּׁלִישִׁי, וְיוֹם ל' שֶׁל אֵבֶל הָיָה רִאשׁוֹן לְג' הַיָּמִים.

**The Book of Joshua, Metsudah Publications, 1997:**
**And Yehoshua said.** This was on the third day, and the thirtieth day of mourning [for Moshe] was on the first of the three days.


###### Rashi on Joshua 3:5:2
[Rashi on Joshua 3:5:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Joshua/r/3:5:2)

**הִתְקַדָּשׁוּ** הִזְדַּמְּנוּ.

**The Book of Joshua, Metsudah Publications, 1997:**
הִתְקַדָשׁוּ usually means sanctify yourselves, but here it means prepare yourselves.


###### Rashi on Joshua 3:5:3
[Rashi on Joshua 3:5:3](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Joshua/r/3:5:3)

**כִּי מָחָר** בְּעָבְרְכֶם אֶת הַיַּרְדֵּן.

**The Book of Joshua, Metsudah Publications, 1997:**
**For tomorrow** when you cross the Jordan.


###### Rashi on Joshua 3:5:4
[Rashi on Joshua 3:5:4](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Joshua/r/3:5:4)

**נִפְלָאוֹת** תִּירְגֵּם יוֹנָתָן: פְּרִישָׁן.

**The Book of Joshua, Metsudah Publications, 1997:**
**Wonders.** This translation follows that of *Targum Yonasan.*


###### Rashi on Joshua 3:6:1
[Rashi on Joshua 3:6:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Joshua/r/3:6:1)

**וַיֹּאמֶר יְהוֹשֻׁעַ אֶל הַכֹּהֲנִים** בְּיוֹם הַמָּחֳרָת.

**The Book of Joshua, Metsudah Publications, 1997:**
**And Yehoshua said to the Kohanim.** He said this on the next day.


###### Rashi on Joshua 3:6:2
[Rashi on Joshua 3:6:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Joshua/r/3:6:2)

**שְׂאוּ אֶת אֲרוֹן הַבְּרִית** עַד עַכְשָׁיו נָשְׂאוּ הַלְוִיִּם, וְהַיּוֹם הַכֹּהֲנִים.

**The Book of Joshua, Metsudah Publications, 1997:**
**Carry the Ark of the Covenant.** Until now it was carried by the Levites, but today it was to be carried by the *Kohanim.*


###### Rashi on Joshua 3:8:1
[Rashi on Joshua 3:8:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Joshua/r/3:8:1)

**כְּבֹאֲכֶם עַד קְצֵה מֵי הַיַּרְדֵּן** כְּשֶׁתִּכַּנְסוּ לִפְנִים מִשְּׂפָתוֹ.

**The Book of Joshua, Metsudah Publications, 1997:**
**When you reach the edge of the waters of the Jordan.** When you enter within its edge.


###### Rashi on Joshua 3:8:2
[Rashi on Joshua 3:8:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Joshua/r/3:8:2)

**בַּיַּרְדֵּן תַּעֲמֹדוּ** עַד אֲשֶׁר יַעַבְרוּ כָּל הָעָם אֶל הָעֵבֶר הַשֵּׁנִי.

**The Book of Joshua, Metsudah Publications, 1997:**
**Remain standing in the Jordan.** Until all the people cross over to the other side [of the river.]


###### Rashi on Joshua 3:9:1
[Rashi on Joshua 3:9:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Joshua/r/3:9:1)

**גְּשׁוּ הֵנָּה** צִמְצֵם אֶת כּוּלָּם בֵּין שְׁנֵי בַּדֵּי אָרוֹן, זֶה אֶחָד מִן הַמְּקוֹמוֹת שֶׁהֶחֱזִיק מוּעָט אֶת הַמְרוּבֶּה.

**The Book of Joshua, Metsudah Publications, 1997:**
**Move closer.** He compressed all of them between the two poles of the Ark. This is one of the places where a small space was able to hold⁸ a large amount [of people.]

footnotes:
⁸ This was obviously a Divine miracle.


###### Rashi on Joshua 3:10:1
[Rashi on Joshua 3:10:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Joshua/r/3:10:1)

**בְּזֹאת תֵּדְעוּן** בְּמַה שֶּׁאַתֶּם רוֹאִים שֶׁכֻּלְּכֶם מְצוּמְצָמִין כָּאן.

**The Book of Joshua, Metsudah Publications, 1997:**
**With this you will know.** By virtue of actually seeing that all of you are compressed here.


###### Rashi on Joshua 3:11:1
[Rashi on Joshua 3:11:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Joshua/r/3:11:1)

**הַבְּרִית אֲדוֹן כָּל הָאָרֶץ** בְּרִית שֶׁל הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא, שֶׁהוּא אֲדוֹן כָּל הָאָרֶץ. וְאַל תִּתְמַהּ עַל הַהֵ"א שֶׁל הַבְּרִית, שֶׁהַרְבֵּה מִקְרָאוֹת מְדַבְּרִים כָּךְ, כְּמוֹ: (מלכים ב טז יז) הַמִּסְגְּרוֹת הַמְּכוֹנֹת: (ירמיהו לא לט) הָעֵמֶק הַפְּגָרִים.

**The Book of Joshua, Metsudah Publications, 1997:**
**The covenant of the Master of all the earth.** The covenant of the Holy One, blessed is He, Who is the Master of all the earth. Do not wonder about the letter ה of the word הַבְּרִית⁹ for there are many Scriptual words that are so constructed, such as: ‘הַמִסְגְּרוֹת הַמְכוֹנוֹת, the borders of the foundation.’¹⁰ הָעֵמֶק הַפְּגָרִים, the valley of the corpses.¹¹

footnotes:
⁹ It should have been written בְּרִית אָדוֹן, without the ה.
¹⁰ II Malachim 16:17. It should have been written מִסְגְרוֹת הַמְכוֹנוֹת without the ה'.
¹¹ Yirmeyahu 31:39. It should have been written עֵמֶק הַפְגָרִים without the ה.


###### Rashi on Joshua 3:11:2
[Rashi on Joshua 3:11:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Joshua/r/3:11:2)

**עֹבֵר לִפְנֵיכֶם** מַקְדִּים לִפְנֵיכֶם לִיכָּנֵס לְתוֹךְ הַיַּרְדֵּן.

**The Book of Joshua, Metsudah Publications, 1997:**
**Will cross over before You.** It will go before you to enter into the Jordan.


###### Rashi on Joshua 3:12:1
[Rashi on Joshua 3:12:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Joshua/r/3:12:1)

**קְחוּ לָכֶם שְׁנֵי עָשָׂר אִישׁ** הָכִינוּ אוֹתָם לִהְיוֹת נְכוֹנִים לְמַה שֶּׁאֲצַוֶּה אוֹתָם כְּשֶׁתַּעַבְרוּ אֶת הַיַּרְדֵּן.

**The Book of Joshua, Metsudah Publications, 1997:**
**Take for yourselves twelve men.** Prepare them to be available to fulfil that which I will command them when you finally cross the Jordan.


###### Rashi on Joshua 3:13:1
[Rashi on Joshua 3:13:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Joshua/r/3:13:1)

**הַמַּיִם הַיֹּרְדִים מִלְמָעְלָה** לְמַטָּה, כְּדֶרֶךְ כָּל הַנְּהָרוֹת הַמּוֹשְׁכִים.

**The Book of Joshua, Metsudah Publications, 1997:**
**The waters that descend from above.** Coming down from the heights which is the way of all flowing rivers.


###### Rashi on Joshua 3:13:2
[Rashi on Joshua 3:13:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Joshua/r/3:13:2)

**וְיַעַמְדוּ נֵד אֶחָד** כְּשֶׁיֵּרְדוּ הַמַּיִם עַד מָקוֹם שֶׁנִּכְרְתוּ שָׁם וְאֵינָם יוֹרְדִים מִשָּׁם וּלְמַטָּה, אֶלָּא הֵם מִתְקַבְּצִים וְנִגְדָּשִׁין וְעוֹלִין לְמַעְלָה, כִּיפִּין עַל גַּבֵּי כִּיפִּין.

**The Book of Joshua, Metsudah Publications, 1997:**
**And will stand in one massive mound.** As the water flows down to the place where it will be cut off, it will be unable to flow further downstream, but will be gathered and piled up, and grow higher, layer upon layer.


###### Rashi on Joshua 3:13:3
[Rashi on Joshua 3:13:3](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Joshua/r/3:13:3)

**נֵד** כְּמוֹ (תהלים לג ז): כּוֹנֵס כַּנֵּד: (ישעיהו יז יא), נֵד קָצִיר, לְשׁוֹן גּוֹבַהּ, וְכֵן חִבְּרָם מְנַחֵם.*

**The Book of Joshua, Metsudah Publications, 1997:**
**Mound.** Similar to: ‘He gathers like a mound,’¹² ‘a mound of harvest.’¹³ These are expressions of height, and so did Menachem connect them.¹⁴

footnotes:
¹² Tehillim 33:7.
¹³ Yeshayahu 17:11.
¹⁴ Menachem was an authority on Grammar often quoted by Rashi.


###### Rashi on Joshua 3:15:1
[Rashi on Joshua 3:15:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Joshua/r/3:15:1)

**גְּדוֹתָיו** לְשׁוֹן שָׂפָה גְּבֹהָה.

**The Book of Joshua, Metsudah Publications, 1997:**
**Its banks.** This is an expression of a high edge.


###### Rashi on Joshua 3:15:2
[Rashi on Joshua 3:15:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Joshua/r/3:15:2)

**כָּל יְמֵי קָצִיר** שֶׁיְּמֵי נִיסָן יְמֵי קָצִיר הֵם.

**The Book of Joshua, Metsudah Publications, 1997:**
**During the entire harvest time.** The days of Nissan coincide with the harvest.¹⁵ says this increase of the flood level of the Jordan naturally increased the magnitude of the miracle of its waters being cut off.

footnotes:
¹⁵ The crossing of the Jordan took place during the month of Nissan. Metsudas Dovid


###### Rashi on Joshua 3:16:1
[Rashi on Joshua 3:16:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Joshua/r/3:16:1)

**הַרְחֵק מְאֹד** מִמָּקוֹם שֶׁעָמְדוּ שָׁם נִפְסְקוּ.

**The Book of Joshua, Metsudah Publications, 1997:**
**A great distance** from the place they stood. There the waters were cut off.


###### Rashi on Joshua 3:16:2
[Rashi on Joshua 3:16:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Joshua/r/3:16:2)

**מֵאָדָם הָעִיר** כָּךְ שְׁמָהּ.

**The Book of Joshua, Metsudah Publications, 1997:**
**From Odom.** [Adom] was the name of the city.


###### Rashi on Joshua 3:16:3
[Rashi on Joshua 3:16:3](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Joshua/r/3:16:3)

**וְהַיֹּרְדִים** אוֹתָם שֶׁהָיוּ יוֹרְדִים מִשָּׁם וּלְמַטָּה תְּחִלָּה.

**The Book of Joshua, Metsudah Publications, 1997:**
**Descended.** Those waters that had descended from above that had previously flowed downstream.


###### Rashi on Joshua 3:16:4
[Rashi on Joshua 3:16:4](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Joshua/r/3:16:4)

**תַּמּוּ נִכְרָתוּ** עָבְרוּ כְּדֶרֶךְ הֲלִיכָתָן כְּכָל הַנְּחָלִים הַהוֹלְכִים אֶל הַיָּם עַד אֲשֶׁר תַּמּוּ.

**The Book of Joshua, Metsudah Publications, 1997:**
**Were completely cut off.** They continued flowing on their course¹⁶ as do all the streams that flow into the sea, which ended their course.

footnotes:
¹⁶ This refers to those waters that had flowed toward the Salt Sea before the cut off of the upper waters.


###### Rashi on Joshua 3:17:1
[Rashi on Joshua 3:17:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Joshua/r/3:17:1)

**וַיַּעַמְדוּ הַכֹּהֲנִים** אֵצֶל שְׂפַת הַיַּרְדֵּן.

**The Book of Joshua, Metsudah Publications, 1997:**
**And the Kohanim remained standing.** They remained standing at the edge of the Jordan.


###### Rashi on Joshua 3:17:2
[Rashi on Joshua 3:17:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Joshua/r/3:17:2)

**בְּתוֹךְ הַיַּרְדֵּן** וְכָל זְמָן שֶׁעָמְדוּ לֹא יָרְדוּ הַמַּיִם הָעֶלְיוֹנִים לְמַטָּה, וּבְתוֹךְ כָּךְ כָּל הָעָם עוֹבְרִים בְּחָרָבָה.

**The Book of Joshua, Metsudah Publications, 1997:**
**In the midst of the Jordan.** So long as they remained standing, the upper waters did not descend below, and during this time all the people were crossing on dry land.


###### Rashi on Joshua 3:17:3
[Rashi on Joshua 3:17:3](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Joshua/r/3:17:3)

**הָכֵן** מְכוּוָּנִים וְנִצָּבִים זֶה כְּנֶגֶד זֶה.

**The Book of Joshua, Metsudah Publications, 1997:**
**Firmly** They were placed firmly, exactly opposite each other.