About forty thousand prepared for war passed over before the LORD unto battle, to the plains of Jericho.
About forty thousand soldiers, ready for battle, crossed over in the presence of the LORD to fight on the plains near Jericho.
This verse describes how around forty thousand armed Israelite warriors crossed the Jordan River under God's watch, heading toward their first battle in the Promised Land at Jericho.
📚 Historical Context
This occurred when the Israelites first entered the Promised Land after 40 years in the wilderness. They had just miraculously crossed the Jordan River on dry ground, similar to how their parents crossed the Red Sea. The 40,000 warriors were primarily from the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and half of Manasseh, who had already received their inheritance on the east side of the Jordan but had promised to help their fellow Israelites conquer the land.
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