And the priests that bare the ark of the covenant of the LORD stood firm on dry ground in the midst of Jordan, and all the Israelites passed over on dry ground, until all the people were passed clean over Jordan.
For the horse of Pharaoh went in with his chariots and with his horsemen into the sea, and the LORD brought again the waters of the sea upon them; but the children of Israel went on dry [land] in the midst of the sea.
¶ And the sixth angel poured out his vial upon the great river Euphrates; and the water thereof was dried up, that the way of the kings of the east might be prepared.
That saith to the deep, Be dry, and I will dry up thy rivers:
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Commentary for Joshua 4:22
Joshua 4:22 is a verse that captures a pivotal moment in the history of the Israelites, encapsulating the themes of remembrance, divine intervention, and the transmission of faith from one generation to the next. This verse is part of the narrative following the miraculous crossing of the Jordan River by the Israelites under the leadership of Joshua, who succeeded Moses.
In the broader context, the Israelites are on the brink of entering the Promised Land after forty years of wandering in the wilderness. As they cross the Jordan, the waters part much like the Red Sea had parted during the Exodus, allowing them to cross on dry land. This event serves as a powerful confirmation of God's presence with His people and His faithfulness to His promises.
In verse 4:22, Joshua instructs the people to use stones from the riverbed—which had been exposed as the waters parted—to build a memorial. This physical reminder is meant to prompt future generations to ask about its significance. When they do, the Israelites are to recount the story of how God stopped the flow of the Jordan so they could cross into Canaan. The verse specifically emphasizes the importance of telling their children about the miraculous crossing, ensuring that the memory of God's mighty act and His steadfast love for Israel would not be forgotten.
The historical context of this verse is rooted in the fulfillment of God's covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, where He promised to give their descendants the land of Canaan. The crossing of the Jordan is a turning point in the narrative of Israel, marking the transition from a period of testing in the wilderness to the beginning of their national life in the Promised Land. It is a story of faith, obedience, and the enduring presence of God with His people—a story that is to be retold and remembered throughout the generations as a cornerstone of Israel's identity and faith.
*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model
Strong's Numbers and Definitions:
Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)
Strong's Number: H1121 There are 3654 instances of this translation in the Bible Lemma: בֵּן Transliteration: bên Pronunciation: bane Description: from בָּנָה; a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or condition, etc., (like father or brother), etc.); [phrase] afflicted, age, (Ahoh-) (Ammon-) (Hachmon-) (Lev-) ite, (anoint-) ed one, appointed to, ([phrase]) arrow, (Assyr-) (Babylon-) (Egypt-) (Grec-) ian, one born, bough, branch, breed, [phrase] (young) bullock, [phrase] (young) calf, [idiom] came up in, child, colt, [idiom] common, [idiom] corn, daughter, [idiom] of first, [phrase] firstborn, foal, [phrase] very fruitful, [phrase] postage, [idiom] in, [phrase] kid, [phrase] lamb, ([phrase]) man, meet, [phrase] mighty, [phrase] nephew, old, ([phrase]) people, [phrase] rebel, [phrase] robber, [idiom] servant born, [idiom] soldier, son, [phrase] spark, [phrase] steward, [phrase] stranger, [idiom] surely, them of, [phrase] tumultuous one, [phrase] valiant(-est), whelp, worthy, young (one), youth.
Strong's Number: H3045 There are 873 instances of this translation in the Bible Lemma: יָדַע Transliteration: yâdaʻ Pronunciation: yaw-dah' Description: a primitive root; to know (properly, to ascertain by seeing); used in a great variety of senses, figuratively, literally, euphemistically and inferentially (including observation, care, recognition; and causatively, instruction, designation, punishment, etc.); acknowledge, acquaintance(-ted with), advise, answer, appoint, assuredly, be aware, (un-) awares, can(-not), certainly, comprehend, consider, [idiom] could they, cunning, declare, be diligent, (can, cause to) discern, discover, endued with, familiar friend, famous, feel, can have, be (ig-) norant, instruct, kinsfolk, kinsman, (cause to let, make) know, (come to give, have, take) knowledge, have (knowledge), (be, make, make to be, make self) known, [phrase] be learned, [phrase] lie by man, mark, perceive, privy to, [idiom] prognosticator, regard, have respect, skilful, shew, can (man of) skill, be sure, of a surety, teach, (can) tell, understand, have (understanding), [idiom] will be, wist, wit, wot.
Strong's Number: H559 There are 4434 instances of this translation in the Bible Lemma: אָמַר Transliteration: ʼâmar Pronunciation: aw-mar' Description: a primitive root; to say (used with great latitude); answer, appoint, avouch, bid, boast self, call, certify, challenge, charge, [phrase] (at the, give) command(-ment), commune, consider, declare, demand, [idiom] desire, determine, [idiom] expressly, [idiom] indeed, [idiom] intend, name, [idiom] plainly, promise, publish, report, require, say, speak (against, of), [idiom] still, [idiom] suppose, talk, tell, term, [idiom] that is, [idiom] think, use (speech), utter, [idiom] verily, [idiom] yet.
Strong's Number: H3478 There are 2229 instances of this translation in the Bible Lemma: יִשְׂרָאֵל Transliteration: Yisrâʼêl Pronunciation: yis-raw-ale' Description: from שָׂרָה and אֵל; he will rule as God; Jisrael, a symbolical name of Jacob; also (typically) of his posterity; Israel.
Strong's Number: H5674 There are 493 instances of this translation in the Bible Lemma: עָבַר Transliteration: ʻâbar Pronunciation: aw-bar' Description: a primitive root; to cross over; used very widely of any transition (literal or figurative; transitive, intransitive, intensive, causative); specifically, to cover (in copulation); alienate, alter, [idiom] at all, beyond, bring (over, through), carry over, (over-) come (on, over), conduct (over), convey over, current, deliver, do away, enter, escape, fail, gender, get over, (make) go (away, beyond, by, forth, his way, in, on, over, through), have away (more), lay, meddle, overrun, make partition, (cause to, give, make to, over) pass(-age, along, away, beyond, by, -enger, on, out, over, through), (cause to, make) [phrase] proclaim(-amation), perish, provoke to anger, put away, rage, [phrase] raiser of taxes, remove, send over, set apart, [phrase] shave, cause to (make) sound, [idiom] speedily, [idiom] sweet smelling, take (away), (make to) transgress(-or), translate, turn away, (way-) faring man, be wrath.
Strong's Number: H3383 There are 164 instances of this translation in the Bible Lemma: יַרְדֵּן Transliteration: Yardên Pronunciation: yar-dane' Description: from יָרַד; a descender; Jarden, the principal river of Palestine; Jordan.
Strong's Number: H3004 There are 14 instances of this translation in the Bible Lemma: יַבָּשָׁה Transliteration: yabbâshâh Pronunciation: yab-baw-shaw' Description: from יָבֵשׁ; dry ground; dry (ground, land).