Joshua 4:2

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

Take {H3947} you twelve {H8147}{H6240} men {H582} out of the people {H5971}, out of every {H259} tribe {H7626} a man {H376},

"Take for yourselves from the people twelve men, a man from every tribe;

โ€œChoose twelve men from among the people, one from each tribe,

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

Commentary

Joshua 4:2 records a specific divine instruction given to Joshua immediately following the miraculous crossing of the Jordan River by the Israelites. This verse sets the stage for the establishment of a powerful memorial, emphasizing God's faithfulness and power.

Context

This command comes at a pivotal moment in Israel's history. After forty years in the wilderness, the new generation was poised to enter the Promised Land. God had just performed an astonishing miracle, parting the waters of the Jordan River, allowing the entire nation to cross on dry ground, much like the earlier parting of the Red Sea. While the priests carrying the Ark of the Covenant were still standing firm in the riverbed, Joshua receives this direct word from the Lord. The selection of "twelve men out of the people, out of every tribe a man" was for a very specific purpose: to retrieve twelve stones from the very place where the priests stood, to be set up as a lasting monument. This act would serve as a tangible reminder of God's mighty hand in their safe passage into Canaan.

Key Themes

  • Divine Command and Obedience: The verse highlights God's direct involvement in the details of Israel's journey and Joshua's immediate obedience to these instructions. This underscores the principle that God's plans are precise and require faithful execution.
  • Remembrance and Memorial: The primary purpose of selecting these men was to create a memorial. The stones they were to gather would serve as a physical testimony for future generations, ensuring that the miraculous Jordan River crossing would not be forgotten. This theme of remembrance is central to Israel's identity and faith.
  • Unity and Representation: By choosing "a man out of every tribe," God ensured that all twelve tribes of Israel were represented in this significant act. This fostered a sense of collective participation and ownership in the miracle, reinforcing their national unity and shared experience of God's deliverance.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew phrase "Take you twelve men" (ืงึฐื—ื•ึผ ืœึธื›ึถื ืฉึฐืื ึตื™ื ืขึธืฉึธื‚ืจ ืึดื™ืฉื - qechu lakhem sheneym โ€˜asar โ€˜ish) uses the imperative form of the verb laqach, meaning 'to take' or 'to receive', emphasizing a direct and authoritative command. The specificity of "out of every tribe a man" (ืึดื™ืฉื ืึดื™ืฉื ืžึดืฉึธึผืื‘ึถื˜) highlights the inclusive and representative nature of this selection, ensuring that no tribe felt excluded from this momentous occasion.

Practical Application

Joshua 4:2, though a command from ancient history, holds timeless lessons. It reminds us of the importance of:

  • Acknowledging God's Faithfulness: Just as God commanded a memorial for Israel, we are called to remember and celebrate God's past faithfulness in our own lives. This builds faith for future challenges.
  • Creating Spiritual Memorials: We can "set up stones" in our lives through journaling, testimony, spiritual disciplines, or even physical reminders that point back to God's interventions and blessings. This helps us and those around us to recall His goodness.
  • Collective Witness: The unified action of the twelve tribes in gathering the stones speaks to the power of corporate remembrance and witness. When God's people unite to acknowledge His works, their testimony is amplified and more impactful to those who come after them. The purpose of these stones is further explained in Joshua 4:6-7, serving as a sign among them.

Note: If the commentary doesnโ€™t appear instantly, please allow 2โ€“5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated โ€” the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Joshua 3:12

    Now therefore take you twelve men out of the tribes of Israel, out of every tribe a man.

  • Numbers 34:18

    And ye shall take one prince of every tribe, to divide the land by inheritance.

  • Numbers 13:2

    Send thou men, that they may search the land of Canaan, which I give unto the children of Israel: of every tribe of their fathers shall ye send a man, every one a ruler among them.

  • 1 Kings 18:31

    And Elijah took twelve stones, according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Jacob, unto whom the word of the LORD came, saying, Israel shall be thy name:

  • Matthew 10:1

    ยถ And when he had called unto [him] his twelve disciples, he gave them power [against] unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease.

  • Matthew 10:5

    ยถ These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into [any] city of the Samaritans enter ye not:

  • Numbers 1:4

    And with you there shall be a man of every tribe; every one head of the house of his fathers.
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