Joshua 4:7

7 you will answer them, 'It's because the water in the Yarden was cut off before the ark for the covenant of ADONAI; when it crossed the Yarden, the water in the Yarden was cut off; and these stones are to be a reminder for the people of Isra'el forever.'"

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.

---

FOOTNOTES:

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

Joshua 4:7 In-Context

5 and said to them, "Go on ahead of the ark of ADONAI your God into the riverbed of the Yarden. Then, each of you take a stone on his shoulder, corresponding to the number of tribes of the people of Isra'el.

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

7 you will answer them, 'It's because the water in the Yarden was cut off before the ark for the covenant of ADONAI; when it crossed the Yarden, the water in the Yarden was cut off; and these stones are to be a reminder for the people of Isra'el forever.'"

8 The people of Isra'el did just as Y'hoshua had ordered. They took twelve stones out of the Yarden riverbed, as ADONAI had said to Y'hoshua, corresponding to the number of the tribes of the people of Isra'el, carried them over with them to the place where they were camping, and set them down there.

9 Y'hoshua also set up twelve stones in the Yarden River itself, in the place where the feet of the cohanim carrying the ark for the covenant had stood. They are there to this day.