These are they that went over Jordan in the first month, when it had overflown all his banks; and they put to flight all them of the valleys, both toward the east, and toward the west.
These are they that went over Jordan in the first month - i:e., they swam the Jordan in spring, when the swollen river generally fills up the banks of its channel (see the notes at Joshua 3:15; Joshua 4:19; Joshua 5:10). They deserved to be honourably mentioned, and accordingly the names of each are recorded. They put to flight all them of the valleys. This was probably done at the time of their separating themselves; and their purpose being discovered, they had to cut their passage through the opposing adherents of Saul, both on the eastern and western banks. The impossibility of taking the fords at such a time, and the violent rapidity of the current at floodtime, make this crossing of the Jordan-in whatever way these Gadites accomplished it-a remarkable feat.