Joshua 4:8

8 The children of Yisra'el did so as Yehoshua commanded, and took up twelve stones out of the midst of the Yarden, as the LORD spoke to Yehoshua, according to the number of the tribes of the children of Yisra'el; and they carried them over with them to 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 in time to come, saying, What do you mean by these stones?

7 then you shall tell them, Because the waters of the Yarden were cut off before the ark of the covenant of the LORD; when it passed over the Yarden, the waters of the Yarden were cut off: and these stones shall be for a memorial to the children of Yisra'el forever.

8 The children of Yisra'el did so as Yehoshua commanded, and took up twelve stones out of the midst of the Yarden, as the LORD spoke to Yehoshua, according to the number of the tribes of the children of Yisra'el; and they carried them over with them to the place where they lodged, and laid them down there.

9 Yehoshua set up twelve stones in the midst of the Yarden, in the place where the feet of the Kohanim who bore the ark of the covenant stood: and they are there to this day.

10 For the Kohanim who bore the ark stood in the midst of the Yarden, until everything was finished that the LORD commanded Yehoshua to speak to the people, according to all that Moshe commanded Yehoshua: and the people hurried and passed over.