Joshua 4

The Israelites Make a Memorial

1 After all the nation finished crossing the Jordan, Yahweh said to Joshua,

2 "Take twelve men from the people, {one man from each tribe},

3 and command them, saying, 'Take for yourselves twelve stones from the middle of the Jordan where the priests' feet stood firmly, and bring them over with you, and set them up in {the place where you will camp tonight}.'"

4 So Joshua summoned the twelve men whom he had appointed from the {Israelites}, one from each tribe.

5 And Joshua said to them, "Cross [over] before the ark of Yahweh your God to the middle of the Jordan, and each one of you lift up a stone on your shoulder, according to the number of the tribes of the {Israelites},

6 so that this may be a reminder among you. When your children ask in the future, saying, '{What do these stones mean to you}?'

7 you will say to them that the waters of the Jordan were cut off {from before} the ark of the covenant of Yahweh. When it crossed the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off. These stones will be as a memorial for the {Israelites} for eternity."

8 Thus the {Israelites} did as Joshua commanded. They took twelve stones from the middle of the Jordan as Yahweh told Joshua, according to the number of the tribes of the {Israelites}, and they carried them over with them to {the camp}, and they put them there.

9 Then Joshua set up twelve stones in the middle of the Jordan, in the place where the feet of the priests carrying the ark of the covenant [stood], and they are there to this day.

10 The priests carrying the ark remained standing in the middle of the Jordan until everything that Yahweh commanded Joshua to tell the people was finished, according to all that Moses commanded Joshua. And the people hastily crossed [over].

11 And it happened, when all the people had finished crossing, the ark of Yahweh and the priests crossed [over] in front of the people.

12 The children of Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh crossed [over] armed before the {Israelites}, as Moses told them.

13 About forty thousand armed for fighting crossed [over] before the presence of Yahweh to the plains of Jericho for battle.

14 On that day Yahweh exalted Joshua {in the sight} of all Israel, and they respected him as they respected Moses all the days of his life.

15 Then Yahweh said to Joshua, saying,

16 "Command the priests carrying the ark of the testimony {to come up} from the Jordan."

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

18 And it happened that when the priests carrying the ark came up from the middle of the Jordan, and the soles of the priests' feet {touched dry land}, the waters of the Jordan returned to their place and flowed over all its banks as before.

19 And the people came up from the Jordan on the tenth [day] of the first month, and they camped in Gilgal on the eastern edge of Jericho.

20 And those twelve stones that they took from the Jordan, Joshua set up in Gilgal.

21 And he said to the {Israelites}, "When your children ask in the future {their parents}, '{What is the meaning of these stones}?'

22 you will let your children know [by] saying, 'Israel crossed this Jordan on dry ground.'

23 For Yahweh your God dried up the waters of the Jordan before you, until you had crossed, just as Yahweh your God did to the {Red Sea}, which he dried up before us until we had crossed over,

24 so that all the peoples of the earth may know that the hand of Yahweh [is] strong, so that you may fear Yahweh your God {forever}."

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]. Literally "man one man one from tribe"
• [b]. Literally "the lodging place where you will lodge tonight"
• [c]. Literally "sons/children of Israel"
• [d]. Or "the presence"
• [e]. Hebrew "his"
• [f]. Literally "sons/children of Israel"
• [g]. Or "sign"
• [h]. Literally "What are these stones for you?"
• [i]. Or "the presence of"
• [j]. Literally "sons/children of Israel"
• [k]. Literally "sons/children of Israel"
• [l]. Literally "sons/children of Israel"
• [m]. Literally "the place of overnight lodging"
• [n]. Or "before the presence"
• [o]. Literally "sons/children of Israel"
• [p]. Literally "in the eyes"
• [q]. Or "feared him"
• [r]. Or "feared"
• [s]. That is, the ark of the covenant
• [t]. Literally "and let them come up"
• [u]. Literally "were raised from the ground to dry land"
• [v]. That is, border
• [w]. Literally "sons/children of Israel"
• [x]. Literally "their fathers"
• [y]. Literally "What [are] these stones?"
• [z]. Literally "sea of reeds"
• [aa]. Literally "all the days"

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.