| 1And Joshua rose up early in the morning, and they moved from Shittim and came to the Jordan, he and all the people of Israel; and they lodged before they crossed over. |
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אוַיַּשְׁכֵּם֩ יְהוֹשֻׁ֨עַ בַּבֹּ֜קֶר וַיִּסְע֣וּ מֵֽהַשִּׁטִּ֗ים וַיָּבֹ֙אוּ֙ עַד־הַיַּרְדֵּ֔ן ה֖וּא וְכָל־בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל וַיָּלִ֥נוּ שָׁ֖ם טֶ֥רֶם יַֽעֲבֹֽרוּ: |
| 2And it was at the end of three days, that the officers went through the midst of the camp. |
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בוַיְהִ֕י מִקְצֵ֖ה שְׁל֣שֶׁת יָמִ֑ים וַיַּֽעַבְר֥וּ הַשֹּֽׁטְרִ֖ים בְּקֶ֥רֶב הַֽמַּֽחֲנֶֽה: |
| 3And they commanded the people, saying: When you see the Ark of the covenant of the Lord your God, and the priests the Levites bearing it, then you shall move from your place and go after it. |
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גוַיְצַוּוּ֘ אֶת־הָעָ֣ם לֵאמֹר֒ כִּרְאֽוֹתְכֶ֗ם אֵ֣ת אֲר֚וֹן בְּרִֽית־יְהֹוָה֙ אֱלֹ֣הֵיכֶ֔ם וְהַכֹּֽהֲנִים֙ הַֽלְוִיִּ֔ם נֹֽשְׂאִ֖ים אֹת֑וֹ וְאַתֶּ֗ם תִּסְעוּ֙ מִמְּק֣וֹמְכֶ֔ם וַֽהֲלַכְתֶּ֖ם אַֽחֲרָֽיו: |
| and go after it: This journey differs from other journeys, for whereas previously, in the days of Moses, the pillar of cloud would lead the way, the Ark following in the very middle of the camp after two divisions, [comprising the first six tribes, had passed], now the Ark would travel ahead. |
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וַהֲלַכְתֶּם אַחֲרָיו:
נִשְׁתַּנָּה הַמַּסָּע הַזֶּה מִשְּׁאָר מַסָּעוֹת, שֶׁכָּל זְמָן שֶׁמֹּשֶׁה הָיָה קַיָּים הָיָה עַמּוּד הֶעָנָן נוֹסֵעַ תְּחִלָּה, וּמַרְאֶה לָהֶם הַדֶּרֶךְ וְהָאָרוֹן נוֹסֵעַ אַחַר ב' דְּגָלִים, עַכְשָׁיו הָאָרוֹן נוֹסֵעַ תְּחִלָּה.
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| and the priests the Levites: [This is explained in inverted order.] Since they are all descended from Levi, Amram’s grandfather, they are called Levites, as our Sages explain in Gen. Rabbah.: in forty-eight places, the priests were called Levites, this being the reason for it. |
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וְהַכֹּהֲנִים הַלְוִיִּם:
לְפִי שֶׁיָּצְאוּ כּוּלָּם מִלֵּוִי (אֲבִי) אֲבִי עַמְרָם נִקְרְאוּ לְוִיּם, כְּמוֹ שֶׁפֵּרְשׁוּ רַבּוֹתֵינוּ בִּבְרֵאשִׁית רַבָּה: בְּמ"ח מְקוֹמוֹת נִקְרְאוּ הַכֹּהֲנִים לְוִיּם. וְזֶה טַעְמוֹ שֶׁל דָּבָר (מפּי רבּי).
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| 4But there shall be a distance between you and it, just two thousand cubits by measure; do not come near it, that you may know the way by which you will go; for you have not passed this way before. |
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דאַ֣ךְ | רָח֣וֹק יִֽהְיֶ֗ה בֵּֽינֵיכֶם֙ וּבֵינָ֔יו (כתיב וּבֵינָ֔ו) כְּאַלְפַּ֥יִם אַמָּ֖ה בַּמִּדָּ֑ה אַל־תִּקְרְב֣וּ אֵלָ֗יו לְמַ֚עַן אֲשֶׁר־תֵּֽדְעוּ֙ אֶת־הַדֶּ֙רֶךְ֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר תֵּֽלְכוּ־בָ֔הּ כִּ֣י לֹ֧א עֲבַרְתֶּ֛ם בַּדֶּ֖רֶךְ מִתְּמ֥וֹל שִׁלְשֽׁוֹם: |
| But there shall be a distance: This is respect for the Omnipresent. |
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אַךְ רָחוֹק יִהְיֶה:
כְּבוֹדוֹ שֶׁל מָקוֹם הוּא.
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| between (you and) it: The same as ובינו and between it, and similar to this: “Let Israel rejoice in his Maker” (בעשיו). Another explanation is: And between them, referring to the Holy Ark and the ark of Joseph’s remains, which were traveling together. |
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וּבֵינָיו:
כְּמוֹ וּבֵינוֹ, וְדוֹמֶה לוֹ (תהלים קמט ב): יִשְׂמַח יִשְׂרָאֵל בְּעוֹשָׂיו. דָּבָר אַחֵר: ב' אֲרוֹנוֹת הָיוּ, שֶׁל שְׁכִינָה וְשֶׁל יוֹסֵף מְהַלְּכִין יַחַד.
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| just two thousand cubits: so that you be permitted to go and pray before it on the Sabbath. Thus it is explained in M.T. for he knew that they would besiege Jericho on the Sabbath. |
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כְּאַלְפַּיִם אַמָּה:
כְּדֵי שֶׁתִּהְיוּ יְכוֹלִין לֵילֵךְ וּלְהִתְפַּלֵּל לְפָנָיו בְּשַׁבָּת, כָּךְ מְפוֹרָשׁ בְּמִדְרַשׁ תַּנְחוּמָא, לְפִי שֶׁיָּדַע שֶׁעֲתִידִין לִהְיוֹת צָרִים לִפְנֵי יְרִיחוֹ בַּשַּׁבָּת.
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| that you may know: This is connected with, “And go after it.” |
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לְמַעַן אֲשֶׁר תֵּדְעוּ:
מוּסָב עַל: וַהֲלַכְתֶּם אַחֲרָיו.
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| for you have not passed this way before: You have not gone in this manner until now. |
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כִּי לֹא עֲבַרְתֶּם בַּדֶּרֶךְ:
לֹא הֲלַכְתֶּם בְּעִנְיָן זֶה עַד הֵנָּה.
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| 5And Joshua said to the people; Prepare yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do wonders among you. |
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הוַיֹּ֧אמֶר יְהוֹשֻׁ֛עַ אֶל־הָעָ֖ם הִתְקַדָּ֑שׁוּ כִּ֣י מָחָ֗ר יַעֲשֶֹ֧ה יְהֹוָ֛ה בְּקִרְבְּכֶ֖ם נִפְלָאֽוֹת: |
| And Joshua said: On the third day. And the thirtieth day of Moses’ mourning period was the first of the three days. |
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וַיֹּאמֶר יְהוֹשֻׁעַ:
בַּיּוֹם הַשְּׁלִישִׁי, וְיוֹם ל' שֶׁל אֵבֶל הָיָה רִאשׁוֹן לְג' הַיָּמִים.
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| Prepare yourselves: Prepare yourselves. |
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הִתְקַדָּשׁוּ:
הִזְדַּמְּנוּ.
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| for tomorrow: when you cross the Jordan. |
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כִּי מָחָר:
בְּעָבְרְכֶם אֶת הַיַּרְדֵּן.
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| wonders: Jonathan renders: wonders. |
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נִפְלָאוֹת:
תִּירְגֵּם יוֹנָתָן: פְּרִישָׁן.
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| 6And Joshua said to the priests, saying: Carry the Ark of the covenant, and pass before the people. And they carried the Ark of the covenant, and went before the people. |
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ווַיֹּ֚אמֶר יְהוֹשֻׁ֙עַ֙ אֶל־הַכֹּֽהֲנִ֣ים לֵאמֹ֔ר שְׂאוּ֙ אֶת־אֲר֣וֹן הַבְּרִ֔ית וְעִבְר֖וּ לִפְנֵ֣י הָעָ֑ם וַיִּשְׂאוּ֙ אֶת־אֲר֣וֹן הַבְּרִ֔ית וַיֵּֽלְכ֖וּ לִפְנֵ֥י הָעָֽם: |
| And Joshua said to the priests: on the morrow. |
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וַיֹּאמֶר יְהוֹשֻׁעַ אֶל הַכֹּהֲנִים:
בְּיוֹם הַמָּחֳרָת.
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| Carry the Ark of the Covenant: Until now the Levites carried it, but today the Priests. |
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שְׂאוּ אֶת אֲרוֹן הַבְּרִית:
עַד עַכְשָׁיו נָשְׂאוּ הַלְוִיִּם, וְהַיּוֹם הַכֹּהֲנִים.
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| 7And the Lord said to Joshua: This day I will begin to make you great in the sight of all Israel, that they may know that as I was with Moses, so will I be with you. |
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זוַיֹּ֚אמֶר יְהֹוָה֙ אֶל־יְהוֹשֻׁ֔עַ הַיּ֣וֹם הַזֶּ֗ה אָחֵל֙ גַּדֶּלְךָ֔ בְּעֵינֵ֖י כָּל־יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל אֲשֶׁר֙ יֵֽדְע֔וּן כִּ֗י כַּֽאֲשֶׁ֥ר הָיִ֛יתִי עִם־מֹשֶׁ֖ה אֶֽהְיֶ֥ה עִמָּֽךְ: |
| 8And you shall command the priests that bear the Ark of the covenant, saying, When you come to the edge of the waters of the Jordan, you shall stand still in the Jordan. |
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חוְאַתָּ֗ה תְּצַוֶּה֙ אֶת־הַכֹּ֣הֲנִ֔ים נֹֽשְׂאֵ֥י אֲרֽוֹן־הַבְּרִ֖ית לֵאמֹ֑ר כְּבֹֽאֲכֶ֗ם עַד־קְצֵה֙ מֵ֣י הַיַּרְדֵּ֔ן בַּיַּרְדֵּ֖ן תַּֽעֲמֹֽדוּ: |
| When you come to the edge of the waters of the Jordan: when you enter within its edge. |
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כְּבֹאֲכֶם עַד קְצֵה מֵי הַיַּרְדֵּן:
כְּשֶׁתִּכַּנְסוּ לִפְנִים מִשְּׂפָתוֹ.
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| you shall stand still in the Jordan: until all the people cross to the other side. |
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בַּיַּרְדֵּן תַּעֲמֹדוּ:
עַד אֲשֶׁר יַעַבְרוּ כָּל הָעָם אֶל הָעֵבֶר הַשֵּׁנִי.
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| 9And Joshua said to the children of Israel, Come here, and hear the words of the Lord your God. |
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טוַיֹּ֥אמֶר יְהוֹשֻׁ֖עַ אֶל־בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל גּ֣שׁוּ הֵ֔נָּה וְשִׁמְע֕וּ אֶת־דִּבְרֵ֖י יְהֹוָ֥ה אֱלֹֽהֵיכֶֽם: |
| Come here: He confined them all between the two staves of the Holy Ark. This is one of the instances wherein a small space contained a large quantity. |
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גְּשׁוּ הֵנָּה:
צִמְצֵם אֶת כּוּלָּם בֵּין שְׁנֵי בַּדֵּי אָרוֹן, זֶה אֶחָד מִן הַמְּקוֹמוֹת שֶׁהֶחֱזִיק מוּעָט אֶת הַמְרוּבֶּה.
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| 10And Joshua said, By this you shall know that the living God is in your midst, and He will certainly drive out the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Hivites, and the Perizzites and the Girgashites, and the Amorites, and the Jebusites from before you. |
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יוַיֹּ֣אמֶר יְהוֹשֻׁ֔עַ בְּזֹאת֙ תֵּֽדְע֔וּן כִּ֛י אֵ֥ל חַ֖י בְּקִרְבְּכֶ֑ם וְהוֹרֵ֣שׁ יוֹרִ֣ישׁ מִ֠פְּנֵיכֶ֠ם אֶת־הַכְּנַֽעֲנִ֨י וְאֶת־הַֽחִתִּ֜י וְאֶת־הַֽחִוִּ֗י וְאֶת־הַפְּרִזִּי֙ וְאֶת־הַגִּרְגָּשִׁ֔י וְהָֽאֱמֹרִ֖י וְהַיְבוּסִֽי: |
| By this you shall know: Since you see that all of you are confined here. |
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בְּזֹאת תֵּדְעוּן:
בְּמַה שֶּׁאַתֶּם רוֹאִים שֶׁכֻּלְּכֶם מְצוּמְצָמִין כָּאן.
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| 11Behold, the Ark of the covenant of the Lord of all the earth is crossing ahead of you in the Jordan. |
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יאהִנֵּה֙ אֲר֣וֹן הַבְּרִ֔ית אֲד֖וֹן כָּל־הָאָ֑רֶץ עֹבֵ֥ר לִפְנֵיכֶ֖ם בַּיַּרְדֵּֽן: |
| the covenant of the Lord of all the earth: The covenant of the Holy One, Blessed be He, Who is the Lord of all the earth. Now, do not wonder about the ‘he’ of הברית [the covenant which should read ארון ברית] for many Scriptural passages are worded in this manner, such as המסגרות המכונות the borders of the bases, and העמק הפגרים the valley of the corpses. |
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הַבְּרִית אֲדוֹן כָּל הָאָרֶץ:
בְּרִית שֶׁל הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא, שֶׁהוּא אֲדוֹן כָּל הָאָרֶץ. וְאַל תִּתְמַהּ עַל הַהֵ"א שֶׁל הַבְּרִית, שֶׁהַרְבֵּה מִקְרָאוֹת מְדַבְּרִים כָּךְ, כְּמוֹ: (מלכים ב טז יז) הַמִּסְגְּרוֹת הַמְּכוֹנֹת: (ירמיהו לא לט) הָעֵמֶק הַפְּגָרִים.
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| is crossing ahead of you: [עובר is interpreted in the sense of] preceding you to enter into the Jordan. |
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עֹבֵר לִפְנֵיכֶם:
מַקְדִּים לִפְנֵיכֶם לִיכָּנֵס לְתוֹךְ הַיַּרְדֵּן.
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| 12And now take for yourselves twelve men from the tribes of Israel, a man for every tribe. |
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יבוְעַתָּ֗ה קְח֚וּ לָכֶם֙ שְׁנֵ֣י עָשָֹ֣ר אִ֔ישׁ מִשִּׁבְטֵ֖י יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל אִֽישׁ־אֶחָ֥ד אִֽישׁ־אֶחָ֖ד לַשָּֽׁבֶט: |
| take for yourselves twelve men: Prepare them to be ready for that which I shall command them when you will cross the Jordan. |
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קְחוּ לָכֶם שְׁנֵי עָשָׂר אִישׁ:
הָכִינוּ אוֹתָם לִהְיוֹת נְכוֹנִים לְמַה שֶּׁאֲצַוֶּה אוֹתָם כְּשֶׁתַּעַבְרוּ אֶת הַיַּרְדֵּן.
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| 13And it shall be, when the soles of the feet of the priests that bear the Ark of the Lord, Lord of all the earth, rest in the waters of the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan shall be cut off, the waters that come down from above, shall stand in one heap. |
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יגוְהָיָ֡ה כְּנ֣וֹחַ כַּפּ֣וֹת רַגְלֵ֣י הַכֹּֽהֲנִ֡ים נֹֽשְׂאֵי֩ אֲר֨וֹן יְהֹוָ֜ה אֲד֚וֹן כָּל־הָאָ֙רֶץ֙ בְּמֵ֣י הַיַּרְדֵּ֔ן מֵ֚י הַיַּרְדֵּן֙ יִכָּ֣רֵת֔וּן הַמַּ֥יִם הַֽיֹּרְדִ֖ים מִלְמָ֑עְלָה וְיַֽעַמְד֖וּ נֵ֥ד אֶחָֽד: |
| the waters that come down from above: downstream, as is the manner of all flowing rivers. |
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הַמַּיִם הַיֹּרְדִים מִלְמָעְלָה:
לְמַטָּה, כְּדֶרֶךְ כָּל הַנְּהָרוֹת הַמּוֹשְׁכִים.
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| shall stand in one heap: When the water flows downstream to the place where it will be cut off, it will not flow down farther, but will be gathered and heaped and will ascend to form stacks upon stacks. |
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וְיַעַמְדוּ נֵד אֶחָד:
כְּשֶׁיֵּרְדוּ הַמַּיִם עַד מָקוֹם שֶׁנִּכְרְתוּ שָׁם וְאֵינָם יוֹרְדִים מִשָּׁם וּלְמַטָּה, אֶלָּא הֵם מִתְקַבְּצִים וְנִגְדָּשִׁין וְעוֹלִין לְמַעְלָה, כִּיפִּין עַל גַּבֵּי כִּיפִּין.
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| heap: נד, Like: He gathers like a heap (כנד), A heap of harvest (נד), an expression of height. In this manner Menahem (the grammarian) joined them together. |
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נֵד:
כְּמוֹ (תהלים לג ז): כּוֹנֵס כַּנֵּד: (ישעיהו יז יא), נֵד קָצִיר, לְשׁוֹן גּוֹבַהּ, וְכֵן חִבְּרָם מְנַחֵם.*
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| 14And it was, when the people moved from their tents, to cross the Jordan, and the priests bearing the Ark of the covenant were before the people. |
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ידוַיְהִ֗י בִּנְסֹ֚עַ הָעָם֙ מֵאָ֣הֳלֵיהֶ֔ם לַֽעֲבֹ֖ר אֶת־הַיַּרְדֵּ֑ן וְהַכֹּֽהֲנִ֗ים נֹֽשְׂאֵ֛י הָֽאָר֥וֹן הַבְּרִ֖ית לִפְנֵ֥י הָעָֽם: |
| 15And when the bearers of the Ark came to the Jordan, and the feet of the priests that bore the Ark were dipped in the edge of the water, and the Jordan overflows all its banks all the time of harvest. |
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טווּכְב֞וֹא נֹֽשְׂאֵ֚י הָֽאָרוֹן֙ עַד־הַיַּרְדֵּ֔ן וְרַגְלֵ֚י הַכֹּֽהֲנִים֙ נֹֽשְׂאֵ֣י הָֽאָר֔וֹן נִטְבְּל֖וּ בִּקְצֵ֣ה הַמָּ֑יִם וְהַיַּרְדֵּ֗ן מָלֵא֙ עַל־כָּל־גְּדוֹתָ֔יו כֹּ֖ל יְמֵ֥י קָצִֽיר: |
| its banks: גדותיו, an expression of a high bank. |
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גְּדוֹתָיו:
לְשׁוֹן שָׂפָה גְּבֹהָה.
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| all the time of harvest: for the days of Nissan are the harvest season. |
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כָּל יְמֵי קָצִיר:
שֶׁיְּמֵי נִיסָן יְמֵי קָצִיר הֵם.
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| 16And the waters which came down from above stood and rose up in one column, very far from Adam, the city which is beside Zarethan; and those that descended to the sea of the plain, the Salt Sea (Dead Sea), were completely cut off, and the people passed over opposite Jericho. |
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טזוַיַּֽעַמְד֡וּ הַמַּ֩יִם֩ הַֽיֹּרְדִ֨ים מִלְמַ֜עְלָה קָ֣מוּ נֵֽד־אֶחָ֗ד הַרְחֵ֨ק מְאֹ֜ד מֵֽאָדָ֚ם (כתיב בֵֽאָדָ֚ם) הָעִיר֙ אֲשֶׁר֙ מִצַּ֣ד צָֽרְתָ֔ן וְהַֽיֹּרְדִ֗ים עַ֣ל יָ֧ם הָֽעֲרָבָ֛ה יָֽם־הַמֶּ֖לַח תַּ֣מּוּ נִכְרָ֑תוּ וְהָעָ֥ם עָֽבְר֖וּ נֶ֥גֶד יְרִיחֽוֹ: |
| very far: From the place where they [the Israelites] stood, they [the waters] were cut off. |
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הַרְחֵק מְאֹד:
מִמָּקוֹם שֶׁעָמְדוּ שָׁם נִפְסְקוּ.
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| from Adam the city: So was its name. |
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מֵאָדָם הָעִיר:
כָּךְ שְׁמָהּ.
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| and those that descended: Those that had previonsly flowed downstream from there. |
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וְהַיֹּרְדִים:
אוֹתָם שֶׁהָיוּ יוֹרְדִים מִשָּׁם וּלְמַטָּה תְּחִלָּה.
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| were completely cut off: They flowed on their course like all streams that flow into the sea, until they were completed. |
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תַּמּוּ נִכְרָתוּ:
עָבְרוּ כְּדֶרֶךְ הֲלִיכָתָן כְּכָל הַנְּחָלִים הַהוֹלְכִים אֶל הַיָּם עַד אֲשֶׁר תַּמּוּ.
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| 17And the priests that bore the Ark of the covenant of the Lord stood firm arranged on the dry land in the midst of the Jordan, and all Israel passed over on dry ground, until the whole nation had completely passed over the Jordan. |
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יזוַיַּֽעַמְד֣וּ הַכֹּֽהֲנִ֡ים נֹֽ֠שְׂאֵ֠י הָֽאָר֨וֹן בְּרִֽית־יְהֹוָ֜ה בֶּחָֽרָבָ֛ה בְּת֥וֹךְ הַיַּרְדֵּ֖ן הָכֵ֑ן וְכָל־יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל עֹֽבְרִים֙ בֶּחָ֣רָבָ֔ה עַ֚ד אֲשֶׁר־תַּ֙מּוּ֙ כָּל־הַגּ֔וֹי לַֽעֲבֹ֖ר אֶת־הַיַּרְדֵּֽן: |
| and the priests: stood by the bank of the Jordan. |
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וַיַּעַמְדוּ הַכֹּהֲנִים:
אֵצֶל שְׂפַת הַיַּרְדֵּן.
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| in the midst of the Jordan: and as long as they stood, the upper waters did not flow downstream, and during this time, all the people were crossing on the dry ground. |
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בְּתוֹךְ הַיַּרְדֵּן:
וְכָל זְמָן שֶׁעָמְדוּ לֹא יָרְדוּ הַמַּיִם הָעֶלְיוֹנִים לְמַטָּה, וּבְתוֹךְ כָּךְ כָּל הָעָם עוֹבְרִים בְּחָרָבָה.
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| firm arranged: standing precisely opposite one another. |
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הָכֵן:
מְכוּוָּנִים וְנִצָּבִים זֶה כְּנֶגֶד זֶה.
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