יהושע, פרק ג׳, פסוק ז׳

The transition of leadership from a legendary figure requires undeniable, public validation from God. As a new era begins, a miraculous event is promised to establish the new leader's authority in the eyes of the entire nation, creating a direct parallel to the founding miracles of his predecessor. God promises to begin elevating Joshua, ensuring the people recognize his greatness through the upcoming wonders [מצודת ציון, מצודת דוד].

The primary approach among commentators is that the main purpose of this miracle is not practical, but rather to elevate Joshua's name and prove he is a true prophet [ביאור שטיינזלץ, צאינה וראינה]. After all, the Jordan River is not so massive that it cannot be crossed naturally; figures in the past had crossed it without supernatural intervention. Therefore, this miracle is orchestrated specifically to demonstrate the great merit of the new leader [מלבי״ם].

By comparing His presence with Joshua to His presence with Moses, God creates a direct link between the splitting of the Red Sea and the upcoming splitting of the Jordan [רד״ק]. Even after forty years, the impression of Moses' miracles remains deeply etched in the nation's memory. Replicating a wonder of this magnitude grants Joshua the exact same validity [ביאור שטיינזלץ]. From God's words, Joshua immediately understands the nature of the event. He realizes that a simple crossing would not bring special glory, and that achieving greatness similar to Moses requires the waters of the Jordan to be completely cut off. Furthermore, the waters are destined to retreat before the people even approach, yielding purely to the presence of the Ark of the Covenant and Joshua himself [מלבי״ם, אברבנאל].

While the conventional understanding focuses on the splitting of the water, an alternative approach points to a completely different type of miracle. Because Joshua humbles himself, directing honor toward the Ark and the people, God rewards him with a miracle that defies physical space. Joshua gathers the entire nation of Israel into the narrow area between the poles of the Ark, just as Moses once gathered the people before the rock. This spatial miracle allows the entire nation to witness the event simultaneously, which is the true nature of his elevation [אלשיך]. Beyond magnifying Joshua's status, the miraculous crossing serves several other vital purposes: it strikes fear into the hearts of the nations currently inhabiting the land, provides a safe and comfortable passage for women, children, and flocks, and acts as a definitive sign that the Israelites are destined to inherit the land [אברבנאל].