1. Joshua 3:16 (ESV)
  2. Exposition

What exactly happened to the waters?

Joshua 3:16 (ESV)

16 the waters coming down from above stood and rose up in a heap very far away, at Adam, the city that is beside Zarethan, and those flowing down toward the Sea of the Arabah, the Salt Sea, were completely cut off. And the people passed over opposite Jericho.

In a very impressive way, the waters of the Jordan were stopped as soon as the priests carrying the ark stepped into the water. The water standing in a heap is similar to the exodus (Exodus 15:8; Psalm 33:7; Psalm 78:13).1 As a result, Israel could pass into the land of Canaan on dry ground.