Crossing the Jordan

Crossing the Jordan (Joshua 3–4)

David A. Dorsey, The Literary Structure of the Old Testament

1. a
   in camp on east side of Jordan3:1–5Joshua promises that Yahweh will do great deed
2. b
   Joshua instructs the priests to carry ark down to Jordan3:6–8Joshua instructs priests to take up ark before people (3:6); Yahweh instructs Joshua that priests stand in Jordan, promises to magnify Joshua (3:7-8)
3. c
   Yahweh stops Jordan and people begin to cross3:9–17Levites, with ark, remain in middle of Jordan
4. d
   CENTER: erection of memorial stones4:1–9
5. c′
   people finish crossing and Jordan is stopped4:10–13Levites, with ark, remain in middle of Jordan
6. b′
   Joshua instructs the priests to carry ark up out of Jordan4:14–18Yahweh magnifies Joshua; instructs him to command priests to carry ark up out of the Jordan (4:14-16); Joshua instructs priests to come up out of the Jordan (4:17-18)
7. a′
   in camp on west side of Jordan4:19–24Joshua recounts mighty acts that Yahweh has done, memorialized by stones