יהושע, פרק ד׳, פסוק כ״ד

The miraculous splitting of the Jordan River served a dual historical and educational purpose, aimed at two distinct audiences. A phenomenon mirroring the splitting of the Red Sea was necessary because both the current generation of Israelites and the surrounding Canaanite nations had not personally witnessed the miracles of the Exodus from Egypt. By experiencing this event firsthand, they were able to witness God's immense power directly.

The first objective of this miracle was directed outward, toward the surrounding nations. The highly public nature of the event, where the flowing waters suddenly stood upright like a solid wall, vividly illustrated God's active and ongoing involvement in the world [ביאור שטיינזלץ]. Witnessing this undeniable display of divine control forced the nations to recognize His might, instilling within them a deep fear of His judgment and punishment [מלבי״ם].

The second objective was directed inward, specifically toward the Israelites. For the nation, the miracle was intended to inspire a profound sense of awe and wonder at God's deeds. This experience was meant to elevate the people, ensuring that the spiritual magnitude of the moment would remain permanently engraved in the collective memory of the nation for all generations [מלבי״ם, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. Ultimately, this guaranteed that the Israelites would continue to revere God for all time [רד״ק, מלבי״ם].