10 For the priests who took up the ark kept there in the middle of Jordan till all the orders given to Joshua by Moses from the Lord had been done: then the people went over quickly. 11 And when all the people had come to the other side, the ark of the Lord went over, and the priests, before the eyes of the people. 12 And the children of Reuben and the children of Gad and the half-tribe of Manasseh went over armed before the children of Israel as Moses had said to them: 13 About forty thousand armed for war went over before the Lord to the fight, to the lowlands of Jericho. 14 That day the Lord made Joshua great in the eyes of all Israel; and all the days of his life they went in fear of him, as they had gone in fear of Moses. 15 Then the Lord said to Joshua, 16 Give orders to the priests who take up the ark of witness, to come up out of Jordan. 17 So Joshua gave orders to the priests, saying, Come up now out of Jordan. 18 And when the priests who took up the ark of the Lord's agreement came up out of Jordan and their feet came out on to dry land, the waters of Jordan went back to their place, overflowing its edges as before. 19 So on the tenth day of the first month the people came up out of Jordan, and put up their tents in Gilgal, on the east side of Jericho.

Matthew Henry's Commentary on Joshua 4:10-19

Commentary on Joshua 4:10-19

(Read Joshua 4:10-19)

The priests with the ark did not stir till ordered to move. Let none be weary of waiting, while they have the tokens of God's presence with them, even the ark of the covenant, though it be in the depths of adversity. Notice is taken of the honour put upon Joshua. Those are feared in the best manner, and to the best purpose, who make it appear that God is with them, and that they set him before them.