Joshua 3:1Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

In many respects, Joshua foreshadows Christ. He took command of the people and initiated his journey from the Jordan River, where the baptized Christ began to proclaim the good news. The son of Nun appointed twelve men to distribute the land, just as Jesus selected twelve apostles to spread the truth throughout the world. Joshua, a forerunner of Christ, delivered the faith-filled Rahab, while our Lord declares, "Behold, the tax collectors and prostitutes go ahead of you into the kingdom of God" (Matt. 21:31). When the archetypal Joshua called out, the walls of Jericho crumbled; likewise, Jesus proclaimed about the temple, "No stone will be left upon a stone here" (Matt. 24:2), and it too fell. Yet, it wasn't merely the proclamation that led to its downfall, but the transgressions of those who broke the law that precipitated it.