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Public-domain commentary
Matthew Henry
From his Commentary on the Whole Bible. Henry comments on passages, not single verses — this entry covers Joshua 4:20–24. His three-level outline is real structure in the source text, so it is rendered as structure.
The twelve stones which were laid down in Gilgal (Jos 4:8) are here set up either one upon another, yet so as that they might be distinctly counted, or one by another in rows; for after they were fixed they ar not call a heap of stones, but these stones.
I.It is here taken for granted that posterity would enquire into the meaning of them, supposing them intended for a memorial:
Your children shall ask their fathers (for who else should they ask?) What mean these stones? Notes, Those that will be wise when they are old must be inquisitive when they are young. Our Lord Jesus, though he had in himself the fulness of knowledge, has by his example taught children and young people to hear and ask questions, Luk 2:46. Perhaps when John was baptizing in Jordan at Bethabara (the house of passage, where the people passed over) he pointed at these very stones, while saying (Mat 3:9) God is able of these stones (which were at first set up by the twelve tribes) to raise up children unto Abraham. The stones being the memorial of the miracle, the children's question gave occasion for the improvement of it; but our Saviour says (Luk 10:40), If the children should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out; for one way or other the Lord will be glorified in his works of wonder.
II.The parents are here directed what answer to give to this enquiry (Jos 4:22):
"You shall let your children know that which you have yourselves learned from the written word and from your fathers." Note, It is the duty of parents to acquaint their children betimes with the word and works of God, that they may be trained up in the way they should go.
1.They must let their children know that Jordan was driven back before Israel, who went through it upon dry land, and that this was the very place where they passed over. They saw how deep and strong a stream Jordan now was, but the divine power put a stop to it, even when it overflowed all its banks - "and this for you, that live so long after." Note, God's mercies to our ancestors were mercies to us; and we should take all occasions to revive the remembrance of the great things God did for our fathers in the days of old. The place thus marked would be a memorandum to them: Israel came over this Jordan. A local memory would be of use to them, and the sight of the place remind them of that which was done there; and not only the inhabitants of that country, but strangers and travellers, would look upon these stones and receive instruction. Many, upon the sight of the stones, would go to their Bibles, and there read the history of this wondrous work; and some perhaps, upon reading the history, though living at a distance, would have the curiosity to go and see the stones.
2.They must take that occasion to tell their children of the drying up of the Red Sea forty years before: As the Lord your God did to the Red Sea. Note.
(1.)It greatly magnifies later mercies to compare them with former mercies, for, by making the comparison, it appears that god is the same yesterday, today, and for ever.
(2.)Later mercies should bring to remembrance former mercies, and revive our thankfulness for them.
3.They must put them in the way of making a good use of these works of wonder, the knowledge whereof was thus carefully transmitted to them, Jos 4:24.
(1.)The power of God was hereby magnified. All the world was or might be convinced that the hand of the Lord is mighty, that nothing is too hard for God to do; nor can any power, no, not that of nature itself, obstruct what God will effect. The deliverances of God's people are instructions to all people, and fair warnings not to contend with Omnipotence.
(2.)The people of God were engaged and encouraged to persevere in his service "That you might fear the Lord your God, and consequently do your duty to him, and this for ever," or all days (margin), "every day, all the days of your lives, and your seed throughout your generations." The remembrance of this wonderful work should effectually restrain them from the worship of other gods, and constrain them to abide and abound in the service of their own God. Note, In all the instructions and informations parents give their children, they should have this chiefly in their eye, to teach and engage them to fear God for ever. Serious godliness is the best learning.
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Summary
This verse encapsulates God's directive, delivered through Joshua, for the Israelites to establish a perpetual memorial of the miraculous Jordan River crossing. It emphasizes the vital responsibility of each generation to actively transmit the knowledge of God's mighty acts—specifically, how He enabled Israel to pass through the Jordan on dry ground—to their children, ensuring that the divine power and faithfulness demonstrated in their history would be perpetually remembered and understood as foundational to their covenant relationship with God.
Context
Literary Context
The immediate literary context of Joshua 4:22 is the culmination of the miraculous crossing of the Jordan River. Chapters Joshua 3 and Joshua 4 describe God's dramatic intervention, halting the flow of the Jordan as the priests bearing the Ark of the Covenant stood in the riverbed, allowing the entire nation of Israel to cross on dry ground. This event powerfully mirrors the Red Sea crossing, establishing God's continued faithfulness and power to His people. Following this, God commands Joshua to instruct one man from each of the twelve tribes to take a stone from the riverbed where the priests stood. These twelve stones were then to be set up as a memorial at Gilgal, serving as a tangible reminder of the miracle. Verse Joshua 4:22 specifically articulates the purpose of this memorial: to provide a concrete object around which future generations could be taught about God's mighty deed, ensuring the memory of His power and covenant faithfulness would endure.
Historical & Cultural Context
Historically, this event marks Israel's definitive entry into the Promised Land, a pivotal moment in their national identity and the fulfillment of God's covenant with Abraham. The Jordan River, typically a formidable barrier, especially during its flood stage in harvest time (Joshua 3:15), became a testament to God's power over nature. Culturally, memorial stones or altars were common in the ancient Near East as markers of significant events, covenants, or divine encounters. However, Israel's use of them was uniquely tied to the remembrance of Yahweh's specific acts of salvation and His ongoing covenant relationship with His people. The emphasis on intergenerational teaching ("let your children know") reflects a fundamental aspect of Israelite pedagogy, where the family unit was the primary locus for transmitting religious and historical truths, particularly the great acts of God (Deuteronomy 6:6-7).
Key Themes
A central theme in Joshua 4:22 is remembrance, not merely as a passive recollection, but as an active, mandated act of preserving divine history. This ties into the broader biblical emphasis on remembering God's mighty deeds to foster faith and obedience (e.g., Deuteronomy 8:2). The verse powerfully highlights divine intervention and power, showcasing God's sovereign control over creation to fulfill His promises to His people, just as He did at the Red Sea (Exodus 14). This miraculous crossing of the Jordan serves as undeniable proof of God's covenant faithfulness, demonstrating His commitment to bringing Israel into the land He promised their ancestors. Finally, the command to "let your children know" underscores the critical theme of intergenerational transmission of faith, emphasizing the responsibility of each generation to pass on the spiritual heritage and the knowledge of God's saving acts, ensuring the continuity of the covenant community and its understanding of God's character.
Exposition and Analysis
Key Word Analysis
From the primitive root H3045, this verb signifies more than mere intellectual apprehension. It encompasses a rich spectrum of meaning, including experiential knowledge, intimate acquaintance, and the active process of ascertaining by seeing, observing, and comprehending. In the context of Joshua 4:22, it implies a profound, active imparting of understanding and appreciation of God's mighty acts, leading to a faith-response rather than just a recitation of facts. It's about causing the children to truly grasp and acknowledge the significance of the Jordan crossing for their identity and relationship with God.
Derived from H3004, this term specifically denotes ground that is completely dry, not merely shallow, muddy, or passable. Its deliberate use here, mirroring its application in the Red Sea crossing (Exodus 14:21), underscores the utterly miraculous nature of the event. It emphasizes that the crossing was not a natural phenomenon or a fortunate coincidence, but a direct, supernatural act of God, demonstrating His absolute control over the elements and His power to create a path where none existed, thereby validating His covenant promises.
Verse Breakdown
"Then ye shall let your children know,"
This opening clause establishes the primary command and its intended audience. The verb "let... know" (Hebrew: תּוֹדִיעוּ, tôdîʿû) is a Hiphil (causative) form of H3045 (yâdaʻ), meaning "you shall cause them to know" or "you shall make them understand." This implies an active, intentional, and diligent process of teaching, explaining, and discipling, rather than a passive or casual mention. It places a direct, generational responsibility on the parents and the community to educate the next generation about their spiritual heritage and God's mighty deeds, ensuring that these divine acts are not forgotten but become foundational to their children's faith and identity.
"saying, Israel came over this Jordan on dry land."
This second clause provides the specific content to be transmitted. The core message is the miraculous nature of the Jordan crossing. The phrase "on dry land" (בֶּחָרָבָה, beḥārābâ, from H3004, yabbâshâh) underscores the supernatural element, emphasizing that the ground was completely dry, not just passable or muddy. This detail highlights God's absolute power and His direct intervention on behalf of His people. The act of crossing the Jordan on dry land was a powerful sign, confirming God's presence with Joshua (Joshua 3:7) and His unwavering faithfulness to bring Israel into the Promised Land, fulfilling His ancient promises. This statement serves as a foundational truth for the children's understanding of God's character and His ongoing covenant relationship with Israel.
Literary Devices
Joshua 4:22 employs several significant literary devices. The most prominent is Didacticism, as the verse explicitly commands the transmission of knowledge for instructional purposes. It functions as a pedagogical mandate, ensuring that the historical event of the Jordan crossing serves as a perpetual lesson in divine power and faithfulness. Closely related is Repetition, as the command to remember and teach about the Jordan crossing is reiterated throughout Joshua 4 (Joshua 4:6-7, Joshua 4:21). This repetition underscores the critical importance of the message and reinforces its memorability. Furthermore, the memorial stones themselves serve as Symbolism and Metonymy. They are not merely objects but stand in for the miraculous event itself, becoming a tangible prompt for the oral tradition. The stones are a metonym for the crossing, and their presence is a symbol of God's enduring covenant and power. The narrative also uses Foreshadowing in a sense, as the command anticipates future generations asking about the stones, thus setting up a scenario for the fulfillment of the didactic purpose.
Theological and Thematic Connections
Joshua 4:22 is deeply rooted in the theological understanding of God's active involvement in history and His covenant faithfulness. It underscores that God is not a distant deity but one who powerfully intervenes on behalf of His people, fulfilling His promises. The command to "let your children know" transforms a historical event into a theological lesson, emphasizing that the knowledge of God's character—His power, faithfulness, and salvific intent—is to be perpetually transmitted across generations. This intergenerational teaching is crucial for maintaining Israel's identity as God's covenant people, reminding them that their existence and blessings are not due to their own strength but to God's mighty hand. It reinforces the concept that remembrance of God's past acts fuels present faith and future hope.
Reflection and Application
Joshua 4:22 offers profound contemporary relevance for individuals, families, and the church. It challenges us to consider how effectively we are transmitting the narrative of God's faithfulness to the next generation. Just as the memorial stones served as tangible prompts for Israel, we are called to identify and articulate the "stones" in our own lives—the specific instances of God's miraculous intervention, provision, and guidance. This involves actively sharing personal testimonies, recounting biblical history, and diligently teaching the truths of God's Word within our homes and communities. The verse reminds us that faith is not merely inherited but must be cultivated through intentional instruction and the living witness of those who have experienced God's power. Our responsibility extends beyond mere information transfer; it is about fostering a deep, experiential knowledge of God that inspires trust, obedience, and a vibrant relationship with Him in those who follow us.
Questions for Reflection
FAQ
Why was it so important for Israel to remember this specific event?
Remembering the Jordan crossing was crucial because it served as undeniable proof of God's faithfulness to His covenant promises and His sovereign power over creation. It confirmed that the same God who delivered them from Egypt was now bringing them into the Promised Land, fulfilling His word to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (Genesis 12:7). This act established God's authority and Joshua's leadership, providing a foundational narrative for Israel's identity as a nation chosen and sustained by Yahweh. It was a visible sign that God was indeed "making a way in the wilderness and streams in the desert" (Isaiah 43:19), ensuring their faith would be rooted in historical reality.
How does this command relate to the broader biblical emphasis on teaching children?
This command is a specific instance of a pervasive biblical theme: the imperative to transmit spiritual heritage across generations. The Old Testament, particularly Deuteronomy, repeatedly emphasizes the responsibility of parents to diligently teach their children God's commands and mighty acts (e.g., Deuteronomy 6:7, Deuteronomy 11:19). The Passover narrative also includes explicit instructions for explaining its meaning to children (Exodus 12:26-27). This consistent emphasis highlights that faith is not merely a personal experience but a communal legacy, requiring active and intentional instruction to ensure its continuity and vitality within the covenant community.
Christ-Centered Fulfillment
Joshua 4:22, with its emphasis on a miraculous crossing and a memorial for future generations, finds profound Christ-centered fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus Christ. The Jordan River crossing, a divine act enabling entrance into the physical Promised Land, foreshadows the spiritual "crossing" made possible by Christ into the true rest and inheritance of God's kingdom. Just as the Ark of the Covenant led Israel through the Jordan, Christ Himself, the very presence of God, leads His people through the "waters" of sin and death. His death and resurrection are the ultimate "dry land" crossing, conquering the formidable barriers that separate humanity from God. The command to remember and teach about the Jordan miracle points forward to the New Covenant's imperative to remember Christ's ultimate sacrifice through the Eucharist, where believers "proclaim the Lord's death until he comes" (1 Corinthians 11:26). Furthermore, the Holy Spirit, given to believers, serves as an abiding "memorial" and "guarantee" of our inheritance, enabling us to live in the reality of the new creation (Ephesians 1:13-14). Thus, the Jordan crossing is not just a historical event but a powerful type, pointing to the greater salvation wrought by the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world, who enables His people to enter into eternal life and fellowship with God through His own miraculous work.