Deuteronomy 11:31

Deu_11:31

Ye shall pass over Jordan.

Jordan and Canaan typical of death and heaven

I. The anticipated inheritance.

1. A land of promise.

2. A land of abundance.

3. A holy land.

4. A land of rest.

5. Permanence of residence.

6. A land freely given.

II. The manner of possession.

1. The streams of Jordan rolled between the desert and the land of Canaan. So does the river of death flow between earth and heaven.

2. Jordan separated the Israelites from the inhabitants of Canaan. Death separates the church militant and the church triumphant. On this side is a parent, on the other side a child.

3. Jordan was subject to the command of God. When He gave the word, the waters rose and stood up (Jos_3:16). Death, too, is under His control. Christ destroyed him who had the power of death (Heb_2:14-15).

4. Through Jordan was a necessary way to the laud of promise. So is death, however painful and affecting. It is necessary that the river of death should be dark and formidable to render us content with the present state of existence.

5. Jordan was the last river they had to pass. Death will be the last conflict--the last enemy with which the saint will have to struggle. Observe that when the children of Israel passed over Jordan the following things were observable.

(1) They were required to sanctify themselves previous to the passage (Jos_3:5). Before death Christ must be made unto the believer sanctification (1Co_1:30).

(2) The priests were to enter the river first. So Jesus entered the river before us--as our Forerunner. The eye of faith in the dying believer beholds His footprints at the bottom.

(3) The priests stood firm in the midst of Jordan until all the people passed over (Jos_3:17). Christ stands by His people in their dying moments, and they feel the bottom of the river, for it is good.

(4) When they had passed over, they erected memorials of praise (Jos_4:5; Jos_4:8; Jos_4:20). So when the Christian reaches heaven he shall utter a song of praise. We went through fire and through water, but Thou broughtest us out into a wealthy place (Psa_66:12). Unto Him that loved us (Rev_1:5-6).

Application:

1. The possession of the heavenly inheritance is certain: Ye shall possess it. Faithful is He who hath promised it, who also will do it.

2. Meditate much on heaven and Christ as an important means of inducing to preparation for the last conflict.

3. All sinners will be overwhelmed in the swellings of Jordan. (Helps for the Pulpit.)

The Biblical Illustrator, edited by Joseph S. Exell (c. 1880s–1900s) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

(31) For ye shall pass over Jordan.—In the place of Sichern, by the oak of Moreh, “the Lord appeared to Abram, and said, Unto thy seed will I give this land.” It is the first recorded promise given to the patriarch that his seed should inherit that particular country. He had gone out from his own country, “not knowing whither he went” (Gen_12:6-7).

Here ends the first portion of the exposition of the Decalogue—that which sets forth the relation of the people brought out of Egypt to Jehovah. The following chapters set forth the laws of the land of Israel—first, as the seat of worship of Jehovah; secondly, as the seat of His kingdom; thirdly, as the sphere of operation of certain rules of behaviour, intended to form a distinctive character for His people. For a complete analysis of this portion, see the Introduction to this Book. Some modern writers attribute these chapters to a later hand than that of Moses. It is therefore necessary to consider them carefully, not simply as chapters, but in their primary structure and according to their natural divisions.

The land is considered as the seat of Jehovah’s worship from Deu_12:1 to Deu_16:17 inclusive.

A Bible Commentary for English Readers, edited by Charles John Ellicott (1878–1897) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

31–32. Resumption of the Pl. form of address; either an editorial addition to mark the transition to the actual laws which begin with Deu_12:1, or the close of an original introduction, in the Pl., to the Code. The former is the more probable as the vv. are compounded of phrases characteristic both of the Sg. and the Pl. forms of address.

31. For ye are about to pass over Jordan] A Pl. phrase; see on Deu_4:14, Deu_6:1.

to go in to possess the land] Mainly a Sg. phrase; see on Deu_6:1.

which the Lord your God is about to give you.

32. and ye shall observe to do] Deu_5:32, etc.

all the statutes and the judgements] See on Deu_5:31.

The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

31, 32. Ye shall pass over Jordan — Moses gives a reason for these specific directions in the confident assurance he has that the people are to cross the Jordan and take possession of the land.

Daniel D. Whedon (gen. ed.), Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1874–1909) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Vers. 31, 32. The assurance that they should pass over Jordan and possess the land of Canaan, is assigned as a reason and motive why they should observe to do all that God had commanded them.

The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

General Information:

Moses continues speaking to the people of Israel.

all the statutes and the decrees

These are the statutes and decrees Moses will give in Deuteronomy 12-26.

I set before you today

This does not mean these are new. Moses is reviewing the same statutes and decrees that he gave 40 years earlier.

I set before you

God's statutes and decrees, which Moses is telling the people, are spoken of as if they were objects that Moses is setting before the people. AT: "I am giving to you" (See: Metaphor)

translationWords

statute

decree

unfoldingWord translationNotes — © Distant Shores Media and the Door43 World Missions Community, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: git.door43.org/Door43/en_tn.

כי אתם עברים את הירדן וגו׳ FOR YE SHALL PASS OVER THE JORDAN etc., — The miracles that will be wrought for you during your crossing of the Jordan shall be an omen for you that you will indeed come into and inherit the land (cf. Sifrei Devarim 57).

Rashi on the Tanakh — English translations: “The Judaica Press complete Tanach with Rashi, translated by A. J. Rosenberg” (CC BY 4.0); “Pentateuch with Rashi's commentary by M. Rosenbaum and A.M. Silbermann, 1929-1934” (public domain); “The Metsudah Tanach series, Lakewood, N.J” (CC BY 4.0); and “The Book of Joshua, Metsudah Publications, 1997” (CC BY 4.0). Text via Sefaria.