Joshua 4

The Memorial Stones

¹When all the nation had completely crossed over the Jordan, the LORD spoke to Joshua, saying,

²“Take twelve men out of the people, a man out of every tribe,

³and command them, saying, ‘Take from out of the middle of the Jordan, out of the place where the priests’ feet stood firm, twelve stones, carry them over with you, and lay them down in the place where you’ll camp tonight.’”

⁴Then Joshua called the twelve men whom he had prepared of the children of Israel, a man out of every tribe.

⁵Joshua said to them, “Cross before the ark of the LORD your God into the middle of the Jordan, and each of you pick up a stone and put it on your shoulder, according to the number of the tribes of the children of Israel;

⁶that this may be a sign among you, that when your children ask in the future, saying, ‘What do you mean by these stones?’

⁷then you shall tell them, ‘Because the waters of the Jordan were cut off before the ark of the LORD’s covenant. When it crossed over the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off. These stones shall be for a memorial to the children of Israel forever.’”

⁸The children of Israel did as Joshua commanded, and took up twelve stones out of the middle of the Jordan, as the LORD spoke to Joshua, according to the number of the tribes of the children of Israel. They carried them over with them to the place where they camped, and laid them down there.

⁹Joshua set up twelve stones in the middle of the Jordan, in the place where the feet of the priests who bore the ark of the covenant stood; and they are there to this day.

¹⁰For the priests who bore the ark stood in the middle of the Jordan until everything was finished that the LORD commanded Joshua to speak to the people, according to all that Moses commanded Joshua; and the people hurried and passed over.

¹¹When all the people had completely crossed over, the LORD’s ark crossed over with the priests in the presence of the people.

¹²The children of Reuben, and the children of Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh crossed over armed before the children of Israel, as Moses spoke to them.

¹³About forty thousand men, ready and armed for war, passed over before the LORD to battle, to the plains of Jericho.

¹⁴On that day, the LORD magnified Joshua in the sight of all Israel; and they feared him, as they feared Moses, all the days of his life.

¹⁵The LORD spoke to Joshua, saying,

¹⁶“Command the priests who bear the ark of the covenant, that they come up out of the Jordan.”

¹⁷Joshua therefore commanded the priests, saying, “Come up out of the Jordan!”

¹⁸When the priests who bore the ark of the LORD’s covenant had come up out of the middle of the Jordan, and the soles of the priests’ feet had been lifted up to the dry ground, the waters of the Jordan returned to their place, and went over all its banks, as before.

¹⁹The people came up out of the Jordan on the tenth day of the first month, and encamped in Gilgal, on the east border of Jericho.

²⁰Joshua set up those twelve stones, which they took out of the Jordan, in Gilgal.

²¹He spoke to the children of Israel, saying, “When your children ask their fathers in time to come, saying, ‘What do these stones mean?’

²²Then you shall let your children know, saying, ‘Israel came over this Jordan on dry land.

²³For the LORD your God dried up the waters of the Jordan from before you until you had crossed over, as the LORD your God did to the Red Sea, which he dried up from before us, until we had crossed over,

²⁴that all the peoples of the earth may know that the LORD’s hand is mighty, and that you may fear the LORD your God forever.’”

Previous Joshua 3

Next Joshua 5

After Israel's miraculous crossing of the Jordan River, God commands Joshua to establish a permanent memorial using twelve stones taken from the riverbed where the priests stood. Representatives from each tribe carry these stones to their camp at Gilgal, creating a tangible reminder for future generations of God's mighty act. The chapter emphasizes the importance of remembering and teaching God's faithfulness, while also noting how this miracle established Joshua's authority as Moses' legitimate successor.

Context

This chapter concludes the miraculous Jordan crossing begun in chapter 3 and sets the stage for Israel's military campaigns beginning with Jericho in chapter 6.

Key Themes

Outline

1-9
The Command and Construction of the Memorial God instructs Joshua to have twelve men take stones from the Jordan's midst to create a lasting memorial at Gilgal.
10-14
The Completion of the Crossing All tribes, including the armed forces of the eastern tribes, successfully cross while the priests maintain their position until the crossing is complete.
15-19
The Waters Return and the Camp Established The priests emerge from the riverbed, the Jordan returns to its normal flow, and Israel establishes camp at Gilgal.

The Memorial Stones

4:1–4:24

narrative instruction solemn

God commands Joshua to set up memorial stones from the Jordan riverbed to commemorate the miraculous crossing. These stones serve as a permanent reminder for future generations of God's mighty acts on behalf of Israel.

person_contrast

Joshua's role shifts from military commander to covenant educator as he establishes Israel's first post-conquest teaching tool, transforming stones into permanent catechism for future generations.

Insight Character Study

Joshua's role shifts from military commander to covenant educator as he establishes Israel's first post-conquest teaching tool, transforming stones into permanent catechism for future generations.

Cross-References

Connected passages across Scripture

Joshua 4:3 3 references

Lexicals 3

Joshua 3:13 Lexical

It shall be that when the soles of the feet of the priests who bear the ark of GOD, the Lord of all the earth, rest in t…

Joshua 4

The Memorial Stones

The Memorial Stones

Insights

Cross-References

Joshua 4:3 3 references

Joshua 4:5 4 references

Joshua 4:6 1 reference

Joshua 4:7 5 references

Joshua 4:8 4 references

Joshua 4:9 5 references

Joshua 4:10 1 reference

Joshua 4:12 5 references

Joshua 4:18 5 references

Joshua 4:19 5 references

Joshua 4:23 2 references

Interlinear

Historical Context