Joshua 4:19-24

19 And the people came up out of the Jordan, the tenth day of the first month, and camped in Galgal, over against the east side of the city of Jericho.

20 And the twelve stones, which they had taken out of the channel of the Jordan, Josue pitched in Galgal,

21 And said to the children of Israel: When your children shall ask their fathers tomorrow, and shall say to them: What mean these stones?

22 You shall teach them, and say: Israel passed over this Jordan through the dry channel,

23 The Lord your God drying up the waters thereof in your sight, until you passed over: (4-24) As he had done before in the Red Sea, which he dried up till we passed through:

24 (4-25) That all the people of the earth may learn the most mighty hand of the Lord, that you also may fear the Lord your God for ever.

Joshua 4:19-24 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.