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Joshua 3 · a question people ask

"Sanctify yourselves" (3:5). What were they actually supposed to do?

In the text

This chapter doesn't say. It gives only the reason: "for tomorrow the LORD will do wonders among you" (3:5). The verb is qadash (tap Sanctify); for the reflexive form used here, Brown-Driver-Briggs lists senses including "consecrate oneself by purification". Other chapters show what it involved at other times. At Sinai, before "the LORD will come down in the sight of all the people" (Exodus 19:11), the LORD told Moses, "sanctify them today and tomorrow, and let them wash their garments" (Exodus 19:10), and "Moses… sanctified the people; and they washed their clothes" (Exodus 19:14). In Hebrew, Moses gave the same command, with the same "tomorrow", before the LORD sent meat: "Sanctify yourselves in preparation for tomorrow" (Numbers 11:18), and Joshua gives it again before the devoted thing is found: "Sanctify yourselves for tomorrow" (7:13). Each time, the people get ready for something the LORD is about to do. What they did before the Jordan, the text leaves unsaid.

The verses

“Joshua said to the people, “Sanctify yourselves; for tomorrow the LORD will do wonders among you.””
Joshua 3:5 · World English Bible
“The LORD said to Moses, “Go to the people, and sanctify them today and tomorrow, and let them wash their garments, and be ready for the third day; for on the third day the LORD will come down in the sight of all the people on Mount Sinai.”
Exodus 19:10-11 · World English Bible
“Moses went down from the mountain to the people, and sanctified the people; and they washed their clothes.”
Exodus 19:14 · World English Bible
““Say to the people, ‘Sanctify yourselves in preparation for tomorrow, and you will eat meat; for you have wept in the ears of the LORD, saying, “Who will give us meat to eat? For it was well with us in Egypt.” Therefore the LORD will give you meat, and you will eat.”
Numbers 11:18 · World English Bible

From Favor's study of Joshua 3

Joshua 3: The waters stood

Israel crossed the Jordan in flood (3:15). The waters stopped only when the priests' feet dipped into the edge, and they heaped up "a great way off, at Adam" (3:16). "Heap" is the Hebrew word of the song at the Red Sea (Exodus 15:8). And the people kept back from the ark "that you may know the way" (3:4).

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Scripture quotations are from the World English Bible, which is in the public domain. Every answer cites the verses it rests on. What we believe · All Bible questions