CHAP. III.
AND Joshuah rose early in the morning, and they returned from Shittim, and * 1.1 came to Jordan, &c.
For [early in the morning] the Vulgar Latine hath, [in the night,] but against both the Hebrew, Septuagint, and Chaldee, all which have it in the morning. It sheweth Joshuah his diligence and forwardnesse in the execution of his office. At what time this remove to Jordan was made, I have shewed upon Ch. 1. 11.
And after three dayes, the officers went through the Host, and commanded the people, * 1.2 saying, When ye see the Arke, &c.
Hereby it is not meant three dayes after they came to Iordan, but after the warning given before, Ch. 1. 11. and therefore it is to be understood, that in one of those dayes they came to Jordan, and so went over in the time before limited by Joshua. The Vulgar Latine, for these words, they lodged there, v. 1. hath these, they tarryed there three dayes, and of this stay, saith Lyra, some yeeld this reason, * 1.3 because the waters did then overflow, that they might be somewhat abated, be∣fore they passed; but he rejecteth this, and yeeldeth another, because God had not yet revealed to Joshuah, how they should passe over, but this was done after 3 days. But there being no mention of three dayes stay in the Hebrew, but onely that they lodged there, it is rather to be held, that they passed over the next day, even when the waters of Iordan were at the highest, as is shewed, v. 15. which served the more to magnifie the miracle here following. The Officers that had before, Ch. 1. 11. warned them of this passage within three days, the time being now come, direct them in their marching, to goe after the Arke carryed by the Priests, keeping yet a distance of 2000 Cubits from it, that seeing it a∣farre * 1.4 off, they might hereby be directed in the way. This marching on, as Lyra noteth, was different from others in former times, because then some of the Tribes went before, and some followed after, the Arke going in the midst; but * 1.5 now all must follow after it: whereby it seemeth that the cloud went before them no more, as in times past to direct them, Exod. 13. but the Arke supplyed that office; and it is generally held, that the cloud vanished at the death of Mo∣ses, * 1.6 so Augustine, Tostatus, Masius, Ferus, &c. But why do the Priests carry the Ark, when as that Office was before assigned to the Cohathites, Levites, Numb. [Qu.] 4. 15? Answ. Because of the miracle that was now to be wrought: Ordinarily the Levites carryed it, but when any thing extraordinary was to bee done, the Priests, as more holy and nearer to God, bare it themselves, and thus the peo∣ples eyes were drawn to be more attent to some great worke to bee wrought. So likewise at the destruction of Jericho the Priests againe bare it, Ch. 6. and into Solomons Temple, 1 Kings 8. The distance of 2000 Cubits was, as to bee the better directed in the way, so for reverence to the Arke, the signe of Gods presence; thus also it was appointed, Numb. 2. 2. that they should keepe farre off from the Tabernacle, which most probably was the distance here named, 2000 Cubits, that is, a mile, v. 5. Some hold this distance mystically to set forth 2000 years to the time of Christ. Calvin, besides the reverence for which this di∣stance was set, will have another end to be, that they might hereby understand that Gods presence is not limited within such strait bounds, but that it is with