Joshua 4:8

8 And the sons of Israel did so as Joshua commanded and took up twelve stones out of the midst of the Jordan, as the LORD spoke unto Joshua, according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Israel and carried them over with them unto the place where they lodged and laid them down there.

Joshua 4:8 Meaning and Commentary

Joshua 4:8

And the children of Israel did so as Joshua commanded
That is, the twelve men taken out of the twelve tribes of Israel, and who were the representatives of them in this action;

and took up twelve stones out of the midst of Jordan, as the Lord
spake unto Joshua, according to the number of the tribes of the
children of Israel;
they took the exact number, and out of the very place Joshua was ordered to direct them to do:

and carried them over with them unto the place where they lodged:
which, as Josephus says ^F9, was fifty furlongs from Jordan, which was above six miles; so far they carried these stones on their shoulders:

and laid them down there;
which afterwards were put in proper order by Joshua, or at least by his direction.

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FOOTNOTES:

F9 Antiqu. l. 5. c. 1. sect. 4.

Joshua 4:8 In-Context

6 that this may be a sign among you, that when your children ask their fathers in time to come, saying, What do these stones mean unto you?

7 Then ye shall answer them, That the waters of Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of the LORD; when it passed the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off; and these stones shall be for a memorial unto the sons of Israel for ever.

8 And the sons of Israel did so as Joshua commanded and took up twelve stones out of the midst of the Jordan, as the LORD spoke unto Joshua, according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Israel and carried them over with them unto the place where they lodged and laid them down there.

9 Joshua also set up twelve stones in the midst of the Jordan in the place where the feet of the priests who bore the ark of the covenant had stood; and they are there unto this day.

10 For the priests who bore the ark stood in the midst of the Jordan until everything was finished that the LORD commanded Joshua to speak unto the people, according to all that Moses had commanded Joshua; and the people made haste and passed.