Joshua 4:1-5

Memorial Stones from Jordan

1 Now when all the nation had finished crossing the ¹Jordan, the LORD spoke to Joshua, saying,

2 "²Take for yourselves twelve * men from the people, one man from each * tribe,

3 and command them, saying, 'Take up for yourselves twelve * stones from here out of the middle of the Jordan, from the place where the priests' feet are standing firm, and carry them over with you and lay them down in ³the lodging place where you will lodge tonight.' "

4 So Joshua called the twelve * men whom he had appointed from the sons of Israel, one man from each * tribe;

5 and Joshua said to them, "Cross again to the ark of the LORD your God into the middle of the Jordan, and each of you take up a stone on his shoulder, according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Israel.

Joshua 4:1-5 Meaning and Commentary

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.

Cross References

• 1. Deuteronomy 27:2; Joshua 3:17
• 2. Joshua 3:12
• 3. Joshua 4:20

Footnotes

• [a]. Lit "Cross before the ark"