Joshua Chapter 4 verse 13 Holy Bible
about forty thousand ready armed for war passed over before Jehovah unto battle, to the plains of Jericho.
read chapter 4 in ASV
About forty thousand armed for war went over before the Lord to the fight, to the lowlands of Jericho.
read chapter 4 in BBE
About forty thousand armed for military service passed over before Jehovah to the war, unto the plains of Jericho.
read chapter 4 in DARBY
About forty thousand prepared for war passed over before the LORD unto battle, to the plains of Jericho.
read chapter 4 in KJV
About forty thousand prepared for war passed over before the LORD to battle, to the plains of Jericho.
read chapter 4 in WBT
about forty thousand ready armed for war passed over before Yahweh to battle, to the plains of Jericho.
read chapter 4 in WEB
about forty thousand, armed ones of the host, passed over before Jehovah for battle, unto the plains of Jericho.
read chapter 4 in YLT
Pulpit Commentary
Pulpit CommentaryVerse 13. - Prepared for war. εὔζωνοι, LXX. Literally, disencumbered, like the Latin expeditus. Unlike Numbers 31:5, the Hebrew has the article here. The meaning therefore may be "equipped men of the host," i.e., the light armed and active among them. If we translate thus, it is clear that all their armed men did not go over Jordan. The impedimenta were left behind, under a strong guard (see notes on Joshua 1:14). The plains of Jericho. Here the LXX. and Theodotion have τὴν Ιερίχὼ πόλιν, Symmachus renders by ἀοίκητον, the Vulgate by cumpestria. The original is עַרְבות literally, the deserts or uncultivated lands (see note on Joshua 3:16). They formed a "low-lying plain about four hours' journey in breadth," at that time largely covered with palm trees and thorny acacias, but apparently not cultivated. Since that time, the palms having disappeared, the plain has become "a very picture of fertility," "covered with luxuriant vegetation" (Bartlett, 'From Egypt to Palestine,' p. 453. See also note on Joshua 3:16). The valley narrows to a gorge at Jericho, through which the Kelt, according to Robinson the ancient Cherith, flows, the source of all the verdure which once bloomed around the city. The gorge of the Kelt Canon Tristram describes as "tremendous," but he believes the Cherith to have been eastward of Jordan, following Mr. Grove, who is here disposed to accept the. tradition of Eusebius and Jerome.
Ellicott's Commentary
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(13) About forty thousand.--The totals of these three tribes at the last census (Numbers 26) were:--Reuben (Numbers 26:7), 43,730; Gad (Numbers 26:18), 40,500; Manasseh (Numbers 26:34), 52,700, or for the exact half, 26, 350. Thus the entire force of the two and a half tribes might amount to 110,580. They therefore left more than half their number to protect their families and their dwellings. This does not seem inconsistent with the spirit of their agreement with Moses, or with the interpretation of that agreement by Joshua and their fellow-Israelites. (See Numbers 32:16-17; Numbers 32:24; Numbers 32:26.) The permission to build cities implies the right to fortify and defend them. . . .
