Joshua 4:8

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.

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.

---

FOOTNOTES:

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

Joshua 4:8 In-Context

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.

10 The priests who carried the ark remained standing in the middle of the Jordan. They stood there until everything the LORD had ordered Joshua to tell the people had been carried out. This was as Moses had told Joshua. The people hurried to the other side.