Joshua 4:7

7 You should answer, 'The water of the Jordan River was cut off in front of the ark of the LORD's promise. When the ark crossed the Jordan, the river stopped flowing. These stones are a permanent reminder for the people of Israel.'"

Joshua 4:7 Meaning and Commentary

Joshua 4:7

Then ye shall answer them
By informing them of the design and use of them:

that the waters of Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant
of the Lord when it passed over Jordan;
the waters below from those that were, above, which stood up on an heap; so that they were divided and separated from each other, and made dry land for a passage of the children of Israel; and this was done before, and in the presence of the ark of the covenant, to show that is was owing to the power of God, of whose presence the ark was a symbol:

the waters of Jordan were cut off;
which is repeated for the confirmation of it, and that it might be taken notice of as a very marvellous event, and to be ascribed to the divine omnipotence and goodness:

and these stones shall be for a memorial unto the children of Israel
for ever;
which, whenever seen and observed by them, would put them in mind of this wonderful appearance of God for them; and Jerom ^F8 speaks of them as if seen by Paula in his time, whose life and travels in those parts are written by him.

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FOOTNOTES:

F8 Epitaph. Paulae in tom. 1. Oper. fol. 59. K.

Joshua 4:7 In-Context

5 He said to them, "Go to the middle of the Jordan River in front of the ark of the LORD your God. Each man must take a stone on his shoulder, one for each tribe of Israel.

6 This will be a sign for you. In the future your children will ask, 'What do these stones mean to you?'

7 You should answer, 'The water of the Jordan River was cut off in front of the ark of the LORD's promise. When the ark crossed the Jordan, the river stopped flowing. These stones are a permanent reminder for the people of Israel.'"

8 The people of Israel did as Joshua had ordered. They took 12 stones, one for each of the tribes of Israel. They took them from the middle of the Jordan as the LORD had told Joshua. They carried them to the camp and set them down there.

9 Joshua also set 12 stones in the middle of the Jordan River, where the priests who carried the ark of the promise had stood. The stones are still there today.