Joshua 3:8

“And thou shalt command the priests that bear the ark of the Lord, etc.] Who were subject to Joshua, the chief governor of the nation, and general of the army, as well as the common people; and whose commands they were to obey, and especially when they appeared to be from the Lord: saying, when ye come to the brink of the water of Jordan; not of the bank of it, but of the water, which had now overflowed its bank; that is, the brink or extremity of it, which was nearest to them, and to which they first came; though it is a notion of some Jewish commentators f41, and which some Christian interpreters f42 have given into, and both of considerable note, that this was the further extremity, or the…”

“The brink - Heb. to the extremity, so far as the river then spread itself, which was now more than ordinary, Jos 3:15. In Jordan - Within the waters of Jordan, in the first entrance into the river; Where they stood for a season, 'till the river was divided, and then they went into the midst of it, and there abode 'till all the people were passed over. Joshua 3:9”

“3:8 As they crossed the Jordan River, the Ark led the way until the feet of the priests entered the water; the priests were to stand in the Jordan, not on the dry land. By carrying the Ark into the water first, the obedient priests would show their faith (cp. Jas 2:18).”

“command: Jos 3:3; Ch1 15:11, Ch1 15:12; Ch2 17:8, Ch2 17:9, Ch2 29:4-11, Ch2 29:15, Ch2 29:27, Ch2 29:30, Ch2 30:12, Ch2 31:9, Ch2 31:10; Ch2 35:2-6; Neh 12:24-28, Neh 13:22, Neh 13:28 ye shall stand: Jos 3:17; Exo 14:13; Lam 3:26 Joshua 3:9”