The moment the Israelites crossed the Jordan River marked a dramatic turning point in their entry into the Promised Land. The natural flow of the river came to a sudden halt, giving way to a safe, dry path through a multi-dimensional miracle that suspended the laws of nature.
The central wonder involved the precise splitting of the river. The waters flowing down from the north stopped their descent, pooling together and rising upward to form a towering, sheer wall [רד"ק, אלשיך]. Meanwhile, the lower waters continued their natural course south toward the Dead Sea until the riverbed was completely empty [רש"י, רד"ק, ביאור שטיינזלץ, מלבי"ם]. This stoppage was absolute. It was not merely that the current ceased; even the lingering puddles and the moisture trapped in the cracks of the earth dried up entirely, creating perfectly solid ground for the crossing [אלשיך, מצודת ציון].
The massive wall of water did not form right next to the crossing point. Instead, it was held back at a great distance to create a vast expanse capable of holding the enormous Israelite camp as they moved across [אלשיך]. This towering barrier of water stopped near a city named Adam, located beside the settlement of Zarethan [רש"י, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. A dual miracle occurred here: the waters not only stopped flowing forward but also refrained from spreading outward. Had the river spilled over its banks, it would have flooded the city of Adam, yet the wall of water stood firmly in place without causing any harm to the local inhabitants [מלבי"ם].
The location of this event carries deep physical and spiritual significance. Physically, the miracle kept the danger of a catastrophic flood far away from the city of Adam [רד"ק]. On a spiritual level, the river retreated out of sheer awe of God. Witnessing such a supernatural retreat was meant to stir a profound sense of reverence and spiritual awakening within any person watching. Furthermore, this monumental event was brought about in the merit of the patriarch Abraham, who is historically recognized as a spiritually great man [חומת אנך, מנחת שי].
The crossing itself took place directly opposite Jericho, south of the city of Adam, as this was the exact starting point God chose for the conquest of the land [ביאור שטיינזלץ, אלשיך]. Throughout the entire event, the priests carrying the Ark stood with unwavering confidence in the dry riverbed, inspiring courage within the nation. They waited patiently until the very last person, including the foreigners who had joined the Israelites, completed their journey safely to the other side [אלשיך].