Reflections
the Crossing of the Jordan River
Many miracles took place during the crossing of the Jordan River for the benefit of the Israelites arriving in Israel with the Holy Ark.
After three days, early in the morning of the day when the People of Israel were about to cross the Jordan River, Joshua commanded the leaders of the tribes to order the people to prepare for crossing the river with the Holy Ark. During the period after Moses' passing, the Clouds of Glory no longer encircled the People of Israel to show them the way. Therefore, Joshua ordered the priests to carry the Holy Ark on their shoulders and lead the way for the People of Israel, who would follow them from a distance of 2,000 Amah.
G-d then revealed Himself to Joshua in a prophecy and commanded him to order the priests to stand in the river and not continue crossing it until all of the people had crossed. Immediately after being commanded by G-d, Joshua gathered the whole people and told them: "You should hereby know that G-d lives in your midst and He will conquer for you the Canaanites". Joshua continued to speak and said that when the feet of the priests will step into the water of the Jordan River, carrying the Holy Ark, the water in the river will dry out and the People of Israel will be able to cross the river on dry land.
This all took place during the spring, when the waters of Jordan River would naturally rise and flood over from the rainfalls of the preceding winter and the melting snow.
However, as the priests approached the river carrying the Holy Ark and their feet touched upon the water, the stormy river was split. The water in the river then flowed to the Dead Sea and no new waters flowed in. That is how, on the 10th of Nissan, 2479 years after the creation of the world, the Jordan River dried out and the People of Israel crossed on dry land.
After the whole people had crossed over to the other side, Joshua ordered each one of the twelve tribe leaders to take one stone from the bottom of the dried up Jordan River, from under the feet of the priests who carried the Holy Ark, and keep it for the construction of the altar. Joshua proceeded to place twelve other stones under the feet of the priests standing in the dry Jordan River, which still stand there to this very day.
After the whole people had crossed to the other side, G-d commanded Joshua to order the priests to exit the river. Their feet had barely touched the ground when the waters of the river returned and flowed as usual.
After crossing the Jordan River, the People of Israel continued their journey, while being led by Joshua, and arrived at Mount Ebal where Joshua built an altar from the twelve stones that were taken from the Jordan River by the tribe leaders. The priests then fulfilled the commandment of Moses and read out the Blessings and the Curses to the people who, divided in half, stood on Mount Ebal and Mount Gerizim. Thereafter, the People of Israel disassembled the altar and took the stones with them to their resting place in Gilgal, where Joshua built a monument with the stones to serve as an eternal testimony to the miracle which G-d had done for the People of Israel when He led them through the Jordan River on dry land.