Of this time [there] is some indication in the Hebrew text, in which [it is] thus: “And all Israel [was] crossing over through the dry [ground], until the whole nation had made an end of crossing.” Likewise in the Greek: “And all the sons of Israel were advancing through the dry [ground], until all the people who were crossing the Jordan had finished.” Where the Israelites are compared with a certain other nation and people also crossing — [it] being said [that] they crossed for so long, until this [other] had at the same time crossed. And therefore [there] is here a twofold little question. The former: what [is] that other nation? I answer [that it] is those who went up together with the Israelites out of Egypt, and their sons, who up to this time had clung to those same Israelites in the wilderness. And of them the number was very great; and this [is] goi [גּוֹי — here of the “mixed” people; cf. עֵרֶב, Exod. ch. 12 v. 38], where [it] is called “a promiscuous crowd” — as also [in] Nehemiah ch. 13; but by the 70, ἐπίμικτος [epimiktos], that is, “a mixed and varied multitude of men.” Of which Philo makes three kinds. The first, of those who had indeed Hebrew fathers, but Egyptian mothers. The second, [of those] who had already before, of their own accord — namely, from the very custom of the Jews — embraced the true religion and worship of God. The third, [of those] who, terrified by the plagues of the Egyptians, and roused by such great miracles to God and to a better fruit [manner] of life, had [joined them] — when they saw the God of Israel triumph so splendidly and so magnificently over the many gods of the Egyptians. For this it was that the Lord had said, in that same [chapter] (ch. 12 v. 12): “Upon all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgments” — that is, “upon the idols,” says the Chaldee — which, with a kind of sad utterance—
(col. 443)
—with grief and disgrace, the Lord then afflicted [them]. And perhaps not all those [proselytes] were from Egypt, but [some] were also from the neighbouring peoples and lands, to which the report of such great things had come; [these] were certain proselytes. Inasmuch, then, as all these had crossed over, the Israelites [likewise] crossed; nor was anyone of their number left behind or shut out. And therefore the Latin joined those [proselytes] with the Israelites, and of them, thus joined together, said: “all the people was passing over through the dry channel.” The second little question. How much definite time [was it], in which both the Israelites and those proselytes crossed? [It is] nowhere defined; but [that it] was some hours can be estimated: first, from the multitude; second, from the breadth of the space which they were crossing; third, from the very manner of advancing. Concerning the first, Abulensis reckons (on Joshua ch. 1 quest. 67) [that there] were more than three thousand thousand [3,000,000] persons. And although, of the tribes to which I said (ch. 1) the trans-Jordan land was given, only forty thousand now crossed the Jordan (as will be said in the following chapter), yet from the sum already stated scarcely a little can be deducted. Concerning the second: since this space [was] opposite Jericho, [it] did not open, I think, beyond a thousand paces — if indeed it opened even that much. Concerning the third, I hold [that they] did not run, nor employ greater speeds than the advance of a heavily-drawn-up line, marching under the standards, would require — such [an advance] as so many thousands of women and little ones, so many flocks too, and herds, [and] the impedimenta of so great a multitude, would allow; as daily experience teaches, and as [did] Jacob of old, when to Esau his brother—
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—[Jacob] explained [that he had] to advance rather slowly (Gen. 33 v. 13 & 14). Yet neither is [it] to be thought [that they] marched, like litters, quite slowly and tardily; but rather [with] the utmost eagerness — and, in that gravity of which I spoke, [that they] employed as great a speed as [those] who are most glad and most ready, and most desirous of some thing, can conveniently [use]. For this [is what] the following chapter [says] (v. 10): “and the people hastened and crossed over.” And therefore, when they had begun to cross before noon, at the morning hour — perhaps the first or second after sunrise, that is, our morning 7 or 8 — they crossed [i.e. finished] after noon, about the first or second hour [our 1 or 2], as can be gathered from the following chapter (v. 3), where [it] is said: “in the place of the camp, where you shall pitch [your] tents this night.” But this crossing had to be made in clear light, so that the marvellous cessions and masses of the waters might be seen clearly and plainly by all. Abulensis (ch. 4, [quest.] 23) says: “In crossing the Jordan, the Israelites delayed enough: since all waited until the whole people had fully crossed the channel; then they stood on the bank until the 12 stones were set up in the Jordan, and others were brought out, to be placed in Gilgal. In this some part of the day passed.” And (on ch. 8) Masius (fol. 151): “Who could doubt,” he says, “[that] a great part of the day was consumed in the crossing of the river? — especially since the multitude of men was very great, and the stones twice-twelve [were], some to be taken up, [and] others to be set up in the channel of the river.” Of the priests’ station in the middle of the Jordan [it] is spoken here (v. 17); but [it has] already [been] treated above (p. 1 q. 13), and will be treated in the following chapter — where [I shall explain] in what manner they are here called “girded” [accincti], which seems to be absent from the Hebrew; [this] I shall set forth [in] quest. 2.