Bible Strands
Joshua 4:13
About 40,000 troops armed for battle crossed over before the LORD into the plains of Jericho.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — Joshua 4:13 records the Transjordanian tribes (Reubenites, Gadites, and half-Manasseh) crossing ahead of the main Israelite host into the plains of Jericho. This movement fulfills Moses' earlier command and positions the armed vanguard before the rest of the camp enters the land.
The words — The Hebrew כְּאַרְבָּעִים אֶלֶף (k'arba'im elef) literally renders "about forty thousand," using a preposition of approximation rather than a precise tally. The phrase חֲלוּצֵי הַצְבָא (chalu'tzei ha-tzva') denotes "armed men of the war/host," emphasizing their prepared military state.
The thread — The plains of Jericho reappear in 2 Kings 25:5 and Jeremiah 39:5 as the location where Chaldean forces overtook King Zedekiah's fleeing army. The posture of armed readiness anticipates Ephesians 6:11's instruction to stand against spiritual opposition in full armor.
Why it lands — The text states that a specific, counted group crossed in military order before the LORD, establishing Joshua's authority through visible obedience. It requires the reader to recognize that covenant advancement depends on disciplined preparedness under divine command, not on unsanctioned initiative.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
About forty thousand prepared for war passed over before the Lord unto battle, to the plains of Jericho.
Cross-references
- Ephesians 6:11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you can make your stand against the devil’s schemes.
- 2 Kings 25:5 but the army of the Chaldeans pursued the king and overtook him in the plains of Jericho, and his whole army deserted him.
- Jeremiah 39:5 But the army of the Chaldeans pursued them and overtook Zedekiah in the plains of Jericho. They seized him and brought him up to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon at Riblah in the land of Hamath, where he pronounced judgment on him.
- Jeremiah 52:8 but the army of the Chaldeans pursued the king and overtook Zedekiah in the plains of Jericho, and his whole army deserted him.
- Joshua 5:10 On the evening of the fourteenth day of the month, while the Israelites were camped at Gilgal on the plains of Jericho, they kept the Passover.