Joshua4

After all Israel had crossed the Jordan River on dry ground, the LORD commanded Joshua to select twelve men, one from each tribe, to take twelve stones from the riverbed where the priests stood. These stones were to serve as a perpetual memorial in Gilgal, reminding future generations of God's power in drying up the Jordan. As the priests bearing the Ark ascended from the river, the waters returned to their normal flow, magnifying Joshua in the sight of all Israel.

The Command to Build a Memorial

1
When all the nation had completely passed over the Jordan, the LORD spoke to Joshua, saying,
2
“Take twelve men out of the people, out of every tribe a man,
3
and command them, saying, ‘Take from out of the middle of the Jordan, out of the place where the priests’ feet stood firm, twelve stones, and carry them over with you, and lay them down in the lodging place, where you will lodge tonight.’” ​
4
Then Joshua called the twelve men, whom he had prepared of the children of Israel, out of every tribe a man.
5
Joshua said to them, “Pass over 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;
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 Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of the LORD. When it passed over the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off. These stones shall be for a memorial to the children of Israel forever.’” ​
8
The 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; and they carried them over with them to the place where they lodged, and laid them down there.
9
Joshua 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. ​

Completion of the Crossing

10
For 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. ​
11
When all the people had completely passed over, the LORD’s ark passed over, with the priests, in the presence of the people.
12
The children of Reuben, and the children of Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh, passed over armed before the children of Israel, as Moses spoke to them. ​
13
About forty thousand men, ready and armed for war passed over before the LORD to battle, to the plains of Jericho.
14
On 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. ​

The Waters Return

15
The LORD spoke to Joshua, saying,
16
“Command the priests who bear the ark of the testimony, that they come up out of the Jordan.”
17
Joshua therefore commanded the priests, saying, “Come up out of the Jordan!”
18
When the priests who bore the ark of the covenant of the LORD had come up out of the middle of the Jordan, and the soles of the priests’ feet were lifted up to the dry ground, the waters of the Jordan returned to their place, and went over all its banks, as before. ​

The Memorial at Gilgal

19
The 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. ​
20
Joshua set up those twelve stones, which they took out of the Jordan, in Gilgal.
21
He spoke to the children of Israel, saying, “When your children ask their fathers in time to come, saying, ‘What do these stones mean?’
22
Then you shall let your children know, saying, ‘Israel came over this Jordan on dry land.
23
For the LORD your God dried up the waters of the Jordan from before you, until you had passed over, as the LORD your God did to the Sea of Suf, which he dried up from before us, until we had passed over; ​
24
that all the peoples of the earth may know the hand of the LORD, that it is mighty; that you may fear the LORD your God forever.’” ​

Study Notes for Joshua 4

Verse 3

These twelve stones, taken from the precise spot where the priests bearing the Ark stood, were meant to transform a natural object into a permanent, physical reminder of God's miraculous intervention.

Verse 6

This question-and-answer structure highlights the pedagogical purpose of the stones: the memorial was designed specifically to facilitate the transmission of covenant history to future generations.

Verse 7

The cutting off of the waters confirms the Ark's function as the physical manifestation of God's presence and covenant power. The memorial ensures this event is remembered 'for ever.'

Verse 9

This verse describes a second set of twelve stones, placed permanently in the riverbed. This may serve as a silent witness to the miracle, or perhaps reflects a conflation of two traditions regarding the memorial.

Verse 10

The priests remained in the river until the entire command was fulfilled, emphasizing the necessity of complete obedience to divine instruction before the manifestation of God's power could cease.

Verse 12

The tribes of Reuben, Gad, and half-Manasseh fulfilled their promise made to Moses (Numbers 32) to lead the military vanguard into Canaan before settling their own territory east of the Jordan.

Verse 14

This event serves to publicly validate Joshua’s leadership. Just as God had used the Red Sea miracle to confirm Moses, the Jordan miracle confirms Joshua as the divinely appointed successor.

Verse 18

As soon as the priests—the bearers of God's presence—stepped onto dry land, the natural order immediately returned, demonstrating that the river's halt was entirely dependent on divine agency.

Verse 19

The tenth day of the first month (Nisan/Abib) is highly symbolic, marking exactly forty years since the first Passover. Gilgal became their base camp and initial center for worship.

Verse 23

This explicit comparison between the Jordan and the Red Sea (Ex. 14) links the conquest generation directly to the foundational covenant experience, confirming that the same mighty God is acting on their behalf.

Verse 24

The ultimate goal of God's mighty acts is twofold: to reveal His power to the surrounding nations and to inspire lasting reverence and obedience ('fear') among His own people.

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