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Prepare you victuals; for although manna was given them to supply their want of ordinary provisions in the wilderness; yet they were allowed, when they had opportunity, to purchase other provisions, and did so, Deu_2:6,28. And now having been some time in the land of the Amorites, and together with manna used themselves to other food which that country plentifully supplied them with, they are warned to furnish themselves therewith for their approaching march.
Within three days.
Quest. How can this be, when the spies, who were not yet sent away, continued three days hid in the mountains, Jos_2:22, and the people passed not over till three days after the spies returned? Jos_3:2.
Answ. These words, though placed here, seem not to have been delivered by Joshua till after the return of the spies; such transpositions being so frequent in Scripture, that interpreters have formed this general rule, that there is no certain order, no former nor latter, in the histories of the Scripture. And hence it comes that these three days mentioned here below, after the history of the spies, are again repeated, Jos_3:2. Besides, the Septuagint render the words yet three days; and the Chaldee, in the end of three days; others, after three days, as it is Jos_3:2. Or these three days may be the same with those Jos_2:22, and the matter may be conceived thus: Joshua gives the people notice of their passage over Jordan within three days here, and at the same time sends away the spies, who return ere those three days be ended. For the three days, Jos_2:22, may be understood of one whole day, and part of two other days, as it is in that famous instance, Mat_27:63, of which see more on that place, and on Mat_12:40. The spies came to Jericho in the evening of the first day, and intended to lie there, Jos_2:8; but being disturbed and affrighted by the search made after them, they go away that night into the mountains, and there abide the time mentioned. Joshua having delivered this message from God to the Israelites, and sent away the spies, removes from Shittim to Jordan, Jos_3:1, being sufficiently assured of his safe passage over Jordan, whatsoever became of the spies; and after those three days mentioned here were past, Jos_3:2, he sends the officers to the people with a second message about the manner of their actual passing over.