The National tribune., 1888-10-11
SUNDAY MEDITATION.

study the paragraph from the Holy Scriptures as
indicated above.l
SUBJECT: THE PASSAGE OF THE. JORDAN BY
THE IsRAELITEs AND THE MEMORIAL Con-
sTRUcTED OF TWELVE STONES AT GILGAL.
1. Time.
The Israelites crossed the bed of the Jordan
in the year 2553 or the 10th day of the first
month, to wit, the month Abb, or Nisan. a 49,
Probably one-half of the day was required for
the passage, the time depending on the width
of the procession. It is certain they all cross
ed on single day. 1t demanded some portion
of tho morning to get the columns ready Tor
movement. Then they had considerable spare
time before evening, after completing the pas
sage. 1t would seem the 12 stones taken from
the bed of the river were set up in the latter
part of the same day in which the crossing was
made, and yet Gilgsl was six miles west of the
Jordan. We may say the stones were arranged
at Glgal at about o'clock p. m.
2. Place.
We are interested first in the Jordan. The
children of Israel were, in the morning, on the
east side of the river, camping upon the plains
of Moab. The early hour was busily employed.
1t was to be a great day. The people, before
evening, were to be on the other side of the
wide, rapid stream. Various estimates are
given of the width of the river. Kitto puts it at
1,200 feet, with depth of IA feet
The priests approached the stream, where
upon it divided, leaving the channel dry for
several miles north and some distance south.
The priests bearing the ark went northeast
into the channel until they reached the mid
de- where they took their stand at such dis
tance up to the right hand that the nearest
point of the procession as it crossed was 3648
feet from the ark. (3:4l After the people
had all crossed, but not until ordered by Joshua,
the priests with the ark set out for the west
side. AS soon as they had passed the western
line of the channel the waters again joined and
the great river rolled on maestieally to the
Dead Sea- 1t is probable the reunion Of the
divided stream was not accomplished by
mighty, confusing, dreadful crash, but rather
by gradual oncoming of the waters from the
north.
The place made headquarters by the Israel
ties after crossing the Jordan was Gilgal. The
name was not given the spot until after the
events which occurred there when the Israel
ties had crossed the Jordan, the events giving
the name. The word Gilgal means circle.
Some think the stones were set up circulsrly,
forming a place for worship. The Druds
built such structures, aud certain writers on
the parallels between the Hebrew religion and
that of the Druids notice the similarity in
shape of the structure at Gilgal and the
Druidic mounds.
But the account itself as given in 5: 9 of the
book of Joshua explains the name Gilgal,
and probably states the real reason for the
name. The reproach of the Israelites was their
discontinuance Of national and ecclesastic rites,
ceremonies and ordinances. Their resumption
of said duties would be restoration from such
disgrace Hence when Joshua renewed the
rite of circumcision, which had been discOn-
tnued for 40 years, be rolled away the
proach hitherto heaped upon the Israeites.
The word Gilgal is from a Hebrew root, which
means to roll. The derived noun means a
wheel or q circle. The Egyptians could not
any longer ridicule the exodus as failure.
The arrival at Gilgal and the renewing of re-
ligions services meant the final success of the
Israeltes in their efforts to escape Egypt and
reach Canaan. Gilgal was about one and one
fourth miles from the Jordan, and a little over
six miles from Jericho At Gilgal the Israel
ties rested for their first night west of the Jor
dan. There circumcision and the passover
we're revived. Probably the wives and chill
dren of the Israelites remained there during
the wars with the Canaanites. There the sup
ply of mamma ceased. The ark and tabernacle
remained there till removed to Shiloh. Saul
was there proclaimed King.
3. Analysis.
1. The Crossing.
2 The Memorial
g. The Object of the Memorial.
4. Discussion.
l. The Crossing. The river channel opened
for several miles at the moment the ark, borne
by the priests, reached the stream, the waters
piling up north and south leaving dry high
way. The priests took position in the middle
of the channel, constantly bearing in their
hands the ark. The procession began to move
| on east, stepped into the channel and advanced
toward the plains of Jericho. The regular
| order of march is given in chapter 10 of the
book Of Numbers. Judah was always first in
line. There is some reason, from JOSH, 4 II,
and Nu., 81: IL, to think that in crossing the
Jordan the tribes of Reuben, Cad and Half
Manasseh preceded. 1t is said 10000 of these
| last crossed over. The question may rise as to
the fitness of leaving the wives and children on
| the east side of the Jordan while the 10000
| armed men crossed to the west side. But we
| see from Nu., 26:7, 18. 81, that there were in
| said two and one-half tribes 110,530 armed
men. Hence 0,580 remained on the east side
| full enough to protect all the families and prop
| erty. 1t is said the people hasted." (Y. TO-
| WhyP We're they afraidp One good reason
| may be that they realized the situation of the
priests who stood still out in the channel bear
| ing the ark, which was by no means light load
/ to hold so long and steadily. Then, if too
/ slow, night would como on and add to the al
/ ready fearful surroundings, also the apprehen-
sions of darkness Then they had waited 40
| years for this very triumph, and it is no won
| der they were eager TO see the other side. God
| probably did not indicate how long be would
1
thing being ready it was safest and best to avail
| themselves at once Of the open and dry chan
mel. The waters were held in position till
all the people were clean passed over" (V
! H. We do not read that single life was lost
| We admire the spirit of faith and obedience oil
| the priests. They stood between apparent OF
possible danger and their people They were
| not hirelngs to run when danger threatened
| And we notice that after all the people had
passed over there was pause. Even then the
| priests maintained their position, not movins
an inch till Joshua gave the order. ". IL.
| One great purpose served was the elevation o.
| Joshua in the confidence of the people. 1t wa:
clear to the people their new leader had God
| on his side. (V. Ia
2. The Memorial. (4:7.) The crossing Of
the Jordan was a grand event. In some re
| spects it was greater miracle than the division
of the Red Sea. One, any way, suggests the
other, and hence naturally the Psalmist con
meets the two in thought. FPS, ia: 81 Il
was well the people keep always in mind this
interpositien of Providence in their favor
Hence Joshua directed IL men, one from eact
tribe, to take each stone from the middle o
the channel and carry it to Gilgal for the con
construction of a mound which, being singular
and conspicuous, might keep the memory fresl
with the events of that wonderful day. Tht
stones from the river would be worn, showins
water had rolled over them. The question
would rise, how were these stones gotten from
| ~ -,koV t.al0 rsxyx hOEk