The word “from” is not in the original. Hence, “the waters that come down from above” is in apposition to, and explanatory of, “the waters of Jordan shall be cut off.” In other words, the waters from above were “cut off” and heaped up. The waters below that point flowed on down to the Dead Sea, leaving the river bed dry. The miracle of the Red Sea, the opening of a path through the waters, is here repeated as evidence that God has the same power to complete the salvation of His people that He had to begin it (see Heb. 12:2). Why did the Lord have Israel wait until Jordan was in flood stage before crossing? A month earlier or a month later this would not have been so, and they had been encamped at Shittim for two months. There were probably two reasons:

 (1) God’s power would be more evident (see on Ex. 9:16; see also 2 Cor. 12:9).

 (2) The people in Jericho would not be expecting them, and would not have guards at the river.

 Being fearful and intending to resist, the people of Jericho could be expected to guard the fords of Jordan, where it would have been easy to resist the Israelites. The people of Jericho remembered well the report of Israel crossing the Red Sea 40 years previously, and this even yet struck terror to their hearts (Joshua 2:9, 10); a repetition of that miracle, close at hand, could be counted on to intensify their fear. For God, the volume of water in the Jordan made no difference.

Literally, “Jehovah, Lord.”

 The priests carrying the ark were to manifest their faith in God’s word by stepping into the water. God ever calls upon His people not only to face difficulties but to march boldly forward in faith, at His command, confident that He will open a way. He has promised to turn the waters aside and to overcome all obstacles (Isa. 43:2).