Joshua 4

The Memorial Stones

1 After the entire nation had finished crossing the Jordan, the Lord spoke to Joshua,

2 "Choose 12 men from the people, one man for each tribe,

3 and command them, 'Take 12 stones from this place in the middle of the Jordan where the priests' feet are standing, carry them with you, and set them down at the place where you spend the night.' "

4 So Joshua summoned the 12 men selected from the Israelites, one man for each tribe,

5 and said to them, "Go across to the ark of the Lord your God in the middle of the Jordan. Each of you lift a stone onto his shoulder, one for each^[a] of the Israelite tribes,

6 so that this will be a sign among you. In the future, when your children ask you, 'What do these stones mean to you?'

7 you should tell them, 'The waters of the Jordan were cut off in front of the ark of the Lord's covenant. When it crossed the Jordan, the Jordan's waters were cut off.' Therefore these stones will always be a memorial for the Israelites."

8 The Israelites did just as Joshua had commanded them. The 12 men took stones from the middle of the Jordan, one for each^[b] of the Israelite tribes, just as the Lord had told Joshua. They carried them to the camp and set them down there.

9 Joshua also set up 12 stones in the middle of the Jordan where the priests^[c] who carried the ark of the covenant were standing. The stones are there to this day.

10 The priests carrying the ark continued standing in the middle of the Jordan until everything was completed that the Lord had commanded Joshua to tell the people, in keeping with all that Moses had commanded Joshua. The people hurried across,

11 and after everyone had finished crossing, the priests with the ark of the Lord crossed in the sight of the people.

12 The Reubenites, Gadites, and half the tribe of Manasseh went in battle formation in front of the Israelites, as Moses had instructed them.

13 About 40,000 equipped for war crossed to the plains of Jericho in the Lord's presence.

14 On that day the Lord exalted Joshua in the sight of all Israel, and they revered him throughout his life, as they had revered Moses.

15 The Lord told Joshua,

16 "Command the priests who carry the ark of the testimony^[d] to come up from the Jordan."

17 So Joshua commanded the priests, "Come up from the Jordan."

18 When the priests carrying the ark of the Lord's covenant came up from the middle of the Jordan, and their feet^[e] stepped out on solid ground, the waters of the Jordan resumed their course, flowing over all the banks as before.

19 The people came up from the Jordan on the tenth day of the first month,^[f] and camped at Gilgal on the eastern limits of Jericho.

20 Then Joshua set up in Gilgal the 12 stones they had taken from the Jordan,

21 and he said to the Israelites, "When your children ask their fathers in the future, 'What is the meaning of these stones?'

22 you should tell your children, 'Israel crossed the Jordan on dry ground.'

23 For the Lord your God dried up the waters of the Jordan before you until you had crossed over, just as the Lord your God did to the Red Sea, which He dried up before us until we had crossed over.

24 This is so that all the people of the earth may know that the Lord's hand is mighty, and so that you may always fear the Lord your God."

Joshua 4 Commentary

Chapter 4

Stones taken out of Jordan. (1-9) The people pass through Jordan. (10-19) The twelve stones placed in Gilgal. (20-24)

Verses 1-9 The works of the Lord are so worthy of rememberance, and the heart of man is so prone to forget them, that various methods are needful to refresh our memories, for the glory of God, our advantage, and that of our children. God gave orders for preparing this memorial.

Verses 10-19 The priests with the ark did not stir till ordered to move. Let none be weary of waiting, while they have the tokens of God's presence with them, even the ark of the covenant, though it be in the depths of adversity. Notice is taken of the honour put upon Joshua. Those are feared in the best manner, and to the best purpose, who make it appear that God is with them, and that they set him before them.

Verses 20-24 It is the duty of parents to tell their children betimes of the words and works of God, that they may be trained up in the way they should go. In all the instruction parents give their children, they should teach them to fear God. Serious godliness is the best learning. Are we not called, as much as the Israelites, to praise the loving-kindness of our God? Shall we not raise a pillar to our God, who has brought us through dangers and distresses in so wonderful a way? For hitherto the Lord hath helped us, as much as he did his saints of old. How great the stupidity and ingratitude of men, who perceive not His hand, and will not acknowledge his goodness, in their frequent deliverances!

Footnotes

• [a]. Lit shoulder according to the number
• [b]. Lit Jordan according to the number
• [c]. Lit feet of the priests
• [d]. The ark of the covenant
• [e]. Lit and the soles of the feet of the priests
• [f]. Nisan (March-April)

Chapter Summary

INTRODUCTION TO JOSHUA 4

This chapter relates an order, that is men, should take twelve stones out of the midst of Jordan, and carry them to the first place they lodged at as a memorial of their passage over it, Jos 4:1-8; and how Joshua set up twelve other stones in the river itself, Jos 4:9; and how many of the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and Manasseh, went before the Israelites when they passed over, Jos 4:10-14; which being done, the priests were ordered to come out of Jordan, when the waters returned to their place, Jos 4:15-18; The time when this miracle was wrought is observed, Jos 4:19; and an account is given of Joshua's pitching the twelve stones taken out of Jordan in Gilgal, and the use they were to be of in future time, Jos 4:20-24.