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Study This Verse
Public-domain commentary
Matthew Henry
From his Commentary on the Whole Bible. Henry comments on passages, not single verses — this entry covers Joshua 4:1–9. His two-level outline is real structure in the source text, so it is rendered as structure.
We may well imagine how busy Joshua and all the men of war were while they were passing over Jordan, when besides their own marching into an enemy's country, and in the face of the enemy, which could not but occasion them many thoughts of hear, they had their wives, and children, and families, their cattle, and tents, and all their effects, bag and baggage, to convey by this strange and untrodden path, which we must suppose either very muddy or very stony, troublesome to the weak and frightful to the timorous, the descent to the bottom of the river and the ascent out of it steep, so that every man must needs have his head full of care and his hands full of business, and Joshua more than any of them. And yet, in the midst of all his hurry, care must be taken to perpetuate the memorial of this wonderous work of God, and this care might not be adjourned to a time of greater leisure. Note, How much soever we have to do of business for ourselves and our families, we must not neglect nor omit what we have to do for the glory of God and the serving of his honour, for that is our best business. Now,
I.God gave orders for the preparing of this memorial.
Had Joshua done it without divine direction, it might have looked like a design to perpetuate his own name and honour, nor would it have commanded so sacred and venerable a regard from posterity as now, when god himself appointed it. Note, God's works of wonder ought to be kept in everlasting remembrance, and means devise for the preserving of the memorial of them. Some of the Israelites that passed over Jordan perhaps were so stupid, and so little affected with this great favour of God to them, that they felt no concern to have it remembered; while others, it may be, were so much affected with it, and had such deep impressions made upon them by it, that they thought there needed no memorial of it to be erected, the heart and tongue of every Israelite in every age would be a living lasting monument of it. But God, knowing their frame, and how apt they had been soon to forget his works, ordered an expedient for the keeping of this in remembrance to all generations, that those who could not, or would not, read the record of it in the sacred history, might come to the knowledge of it by the monument set up in remembrance of it, of which the common tradition of the country would be an explication; it would likewise serve to corroborate the proof of the matter of fact, and would remain a standing evidence of it to those who in after-ages might question the truth of it. A monument is to be erected, and,
1.Joshua, as chief captain, must five direction about it (v. 1): When all the people had clean passed over Jordan, not even the feeble, that were the hindmost of them, left behind, so that God had done his work completely, and every Israelite got safe into Canaan, then God spoke unto Joshua to provide materials for this monument. It is the pious conjecture of the learned bishop Patrick that Joshua had gone into some place of retirement to return thanks immediately for this wonderful mercy, and then god met him, and spoke thus to him. Or, perhaps, it was by Eleazar the priest that God gave these and other instructions to Joshua; for, though he is not mentioned here, yet, when Joshua was ordained by the imposition of hands to this great trust, god appointed that Eleazar should ask counsel for him after the judgment of Urim, and at his word Joshua and all the children of Israel must go out and come in, Num 27:21.
2.One man out of each tribe, and he a chosen man, must be employed to prepare materials for this monument, that each tribe might have the story told them by one of themselves, and each tribe might contribute something to the glory of God thereby (Jos 4:2, Jos 4:4): Out of ever tribe a man. Not the Levites only, but every Israelite must, in his place, help to make known to the sons of men God's mighty acts, Psa 145:12. The two tribes, though seated already in their possession, yet, sharing in the mercy, must lend a hand to the memorial of it.
3.The stones that must be set up for this memorial are ordered to be taken out of the midst of the cannel (where, probably, there lay abundance of great stones), and as near as might be from the very place where the priests stood with the ark, Jos 4:3, Jos 4:5. This intended monument deserved to be made of stones curiously cut with the finest and most exquisite art, but these stones out of the bottom of the river were more natural and more apt indications of the miracle. let posterity know by this that Jordan was driven back, for these very stones were then fetched out of it. In the institution of signs, God always chose that which was most proper and significant, rather than that which is pompous or curious; for God hath chosen the foolish things of the world. These twelve men, after they got over Jordan, must be sent back to the place where the ark stood, being permitted to come near it (which others might not) for this service: "Pass over before the ark (Jos 4:5), that is, into the presence of the ark, which now stands in the midst of Jordan, and thence fetch these stones." 4. the use of these stones is here appointed for a sign (Jos 4:6), a memorial, Jos 4:7. They would give occasion to the children to ask their parents in time to come, How came these stones hither? (probably the land about not being stony), and then the parents would inform them, as they themselves had been informed, that in this place Jordan was divided by the almighty power of God, to give Israel passage into Canaan, as Joshua enlarges on this head, v. 22, etc.
II.According to these orders the thing was done.
1. Twelve stones were taken up out of the midst of Jordan, and carried in the sight of the people to the place where they had their head-quarters that night, v. 8. It is probable that the stones they took were as big as they could well carry, and as near as might be of a size and shape. But whether they went away with them immediately to the place, of whether they staid to attend the ark, and kept pace with the solemn procession of that, to grace its triumphant entry in to Canaan, is not certain. By these stones which they were ordered to take up God did, as it were, give them livery and seisin of this good land; it is all their own, let them enter and take possession; therefore what these twelve did the children of Israel are said to do (v. 8), because they were the representatives of their respective tribes. In allusion to this, we may observe that when the Lord Jesus, our Joshua, having overcome the sharpness of death and dried up that Jordan, had opened the kingdom of heaven to all believers, he appointed his twelve apostles according to the number of the tribes of Israel, by the memorial of the gospel to transmit the knowledge of this to remote places and future ages. 2. Other twelve stones (probably much larger than the other, for we read not that they were each of them one man's load) were set up in the midst of Jordan (v. 9), piled up so high in a heap or pillar as that the top of it might be seen above the water when the river was low, or seen in the water when it was clear, or at least the noise of commotion of the water passing over it would be observable, and the bargemen would avoid it, as they do a rock. Some way or other, it is likely, it was discernible, so as to notify the very place where the ark stood, and to serve for a duplicate to the other monument, which was to set up on dry land in Gilgal, for the confirming of its testimony and the preserving of its tradition. The sign being doubled, no doubt the thing was certain.
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Summary
Joshua 4:7 articulates the divinely mandated explanation for the twelve memorial stones erected at Gilgal, establishing their enduring purpose as a perpetual testimony for the children of Israel. This verse outlines the precise answer future generations are to be given when inquiring about these stones, specifically recounting how the waters of the Jordan River were miraculously severed before the Ark of the Covenant, underscoring God's sovereign power, His unwavering faithfulness to His covenant, and His active presence in bringing His people into the Promised Land. The stones thus stand as a tangible, intergenerational reminder of a profound supernatural intervention and a catalyst for the ongoing transmission of Israel's foundational narrative of divine deliverance.
Context
Literary Context
Joshua 4:7 is centrally positioned within the detailed account of Israel's miraculous crossing of the Jordan River, which serves as their climactic entry into the Promised Land. The preceding chapter, Joshua 3, meticulously describes the priests carrying the Ark of the Covenant into the Jordan, at which point the upstream waters ceased flowing and piled up, allowing the entire nation to cross on dry ground. Chapter 4 then elaborates on the divine command to select twelve stones from the precise spot in the riverbed where the priests' feet stood firm, and to erect these stones as a permanent memorial on the western bank at Gilgal. This particular verse, Joshua 4:7, provides the exact, divinely inspired narrative that is to be recounted to future generations inquiring about the stones, thereby directly linking the physical monument to the supernatural event and its profound theological implications. It functions as the interpretive key for the memorial, ensuring the historical event's purpose is understood, transmitted, and perpetually remembered.
Historical & Cultural Context
The Jordan crossing represents a pivotal moment in Israel's history, marking the fulfillment of God's ancient covenant promise to Abraham to bring his descendants into the land of Canaan. This event deliberately echoes the earlier, equally miraculous Red Sea crossing (as recounted in Exodus 14), thereby establishing a powerful pattern of divine deliverance and validating God's consistent faithfulness to His covenant people across generations. In the ancient Near East, the practice of erecting stone memorials was widespread and deeply significant, used to commemorate major events, establish treaties, or mark divine encounters. These monuments were far more than passive markers; they were active pedagogical tools, designed to trigger oral traditions, historical recounting, and the transmission of cultural and religious narratives. The Jordan River itself was a formidable natural barrier, often swollen during harvest season, making its miraculous parting an undeniable demonstration of God's absolute sovereignty over creation. This miracle not only removed a physical obstacle but also powerfully confirmed Joshua's leadership as divinely appointed, mirroring Moses's authority and demonstrating God's continued presence with His chosen leader.
Key Themes
This verse powerfully contributes to several overarching themes that resonate throughout the book of Joshua and the broader biblical narrative. Foremost is the theme of Divine Power and Presence, emphatically highlighted by the explicit statement that "the waters of Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of the LORD." This underscores God's direct, active involvement and absolute sovereignty over nature, emphasizing that the miracle was solely His doing, independent of human strength or natural phenomena. The Ark's central role signifies God's immanent presence and active leadership among His people. Another crucial theme is Remembrance and Memorialization, as the stones are explicitly designated "for a memorial unto the children of Israel for ever." God consistently desires that His mighty acts be perpetually recalled, preventing spiritual amnesia and fostering ongoing faith and obedience. This theme is deeply rooted in the Pentateuch, particularly in commands like those found in Deuteronomy 6:6-7, which stress the importance of intergenerational teaching and the passing down of God's word and deeds. Finally, the verse speaks profoundly to Covenant Faithfulness, as the Jordan crossing represents a direct and tangible fulfillment of God's promise to bring Israel into the land He swore to their forefathers, reinforcing His unwavering commitment to His word and His people through every generation.
Exposition and Analysis
Key Word Analysis
This verb (H3772) literally means to cut, cut off, or cut down. In the context of the Jordan's waters, it signifies a decisive, complete, and supernatural cessation of flow. It implies more than a mere drying up; it is a powerful, deliberate act of divine intervention that completely severs the river's course, transforming an impassable barrier into a dry path. This same root is significantly used in the Old Testament to describe the "cutting" of a covenant (e.g., "cut a covenant"), implying a decisive act that establishes a new, binding reality.
The noun (H1285) refers to a compact, confederacy, or league, often established by "cutting" (as in passing between pieces of flesh in a ritual). Here, "the ark of the covenant of the LORD" emphasizes the divine agreement between God and Israel. The Ark embodies God's presence and His faithfulness to His promises, making its leading role in the Jordan crossing a powerful affirmation of His commitment to bring His people into the land He had sworn to give them.
The noun (H2146) refers to a memento, a memorable thing, or a record. It denotes an active process of recalling and recounting, not merely a passive monument. The stones are designed to be an intentional trigger for future generations to ask questions, thereby initiating the retelling of God's mighty work and preserving the historical and theological significance of the Jordan crossing for all time, ensuring that the event and its meaning are actively remembered and transmitted.
Verse Breakdown
"Then ye shall answer them, That the waters of Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of the LORD;"
This initial clause sets the stage for the intergenerational dialogue, providing the precise, divinely prescribed response to future inquiries about the memorial stones. It immediately attributes the miraculous cessation of the Jordan's flow directly to God's intervention, explicitly linking it to the presence of the Ark of the Covenant. The Ark, symbolizing God's immanent presence and His covenant faithfulness, was the catalyst for the miracle, emphasizing that the power originated solely from God, not from human effort, natural occurrences, or the priests' own abilities.
"when it passed over Jordan, the waters of Jordan were cut off:"
This repetition serves to underscore the certainty, completeness, and undeniable nature of the miracle. The waters were indeed decisively "cut off" precisely at the moment the Ark entered and passed through, leaving no ambiguity about the direct cause-and-effect relationship between God's presence (manifested through the Ark) and the cessation of the river's flow. The reiteration reinforces the supernatural and undeniable character of the event in the minds of those who would hear the story, solidifying its historical veracity and divine origin.
"and these stones shall be for a memorial unto the children of Israel for ever."
This final clause articulates the enduring, perpetual purpose of the twelve stones. They are established as a lasting "memorial," a tangible and visible reminder for all future generations of Israelites. The phrase "for ever" (Hebrew: l'olam) highlights the enduring significance of God's faithfulness and power displayed at the Jordan, ensuring that the story of His deliverance and covenant keeping would be passed down through the ages, serving as a constant source of faith, identity, and instruction for the nation, preventing spiritual amnesia.
Literary Devices
Joshua 4:7 effectively employs several literary devices to convey its profound message and ensure its lasting impact. Repetition is prominently featured, with the phrase "the waters of Jordan were cut off" appearing twice within the verse. This reiteration serves to emphasize the certainty, completeness, and supernatural nature of the divine intervention, deeply impressing the miraculous act upon the listener's memory and underscoring its pivotal significance. The stones themselves function as powerful Symbolism, representing not merely physical objects but embodying God's faithfulness, His sovereign power over creation, and the historical reality of Israel's entry into the Promised Land. They are a concrete, tangible manifestation of an abstract theological truth. Furthermore, the entire scenario, culminating in this verse, is a prime example of Didactic Narrative, where a significant historical event is intentionally structured and commemorated to serve as a teaching tool for future generations. The explicit command to "answer them" transforms the stones into a pedagogical device, designed to prompt inquiry and facilitate the vital, intergenerational transmission of Israel's foundational narrative of divine deliverance and covenant keeping.
Theological and Thematic Connections
Joshua 4:7 is a profound theological statement, anchoring Israel's present reality in the Promised Land to God's past faithfulness and His unwavering commitment to His covenant. It establishes a critical principle: God's mighty acts are not merely historical occurrences but foundational truths intended to be remembered, recounted, and built upon by successive generations. The miraculous parting of the Jordan, mirroring the Red Sea event, sets a precedent of divine intervention at pivotal moments, validating God's promises and confirming His chosen leadership. This verse highlights God's desire for His people to actively engage with their spiritual heritage, ensuring that the lessons of His power, grace, and covenant keeping are transmitted across generations, thereby fostering a living faith rather than mere historical recollection. The memorial stones serve as a physical catechism, prompting inquiry and facilitating the vital work of discipleship within the family and community.
Reflection and Application
Joshua 4:7 offers a timeless and vital lesson for believers today, providing a profound blueprint for how we are to engage with God's faithfulness in our personal lives and in the collective history of His church. Just as the stones at Gilgal served as a tangible prompt for remembrance and teaching, we are called to identify and cherish our own "memorials"—those significant moments when God powerfully intervened, provided, or delivered us from seemingly insurmountable obstacles. These personal and communal "Jordan crossings" are not to be forgotten or relegated to mere history; rather, they are intended to strengthen our faith for future challenges and to provide a rich, living testimony for others. This verse challenges us to move beyond passive remembrance to active recounting, ensuring that the story of God's goodness, power, and unwavering faithfulness is vibrantly passed down, especially to younger generations who desperately need to see and hear tangible evidence of God's living reality and active presence in the world. By intentionally remembering and sharing, we cultivate a culture of gratitude, faith, and dependence on God's unchanging character.
Questions for Reflection
FAQ
Why was the Ark of the Covenant so central to the Jordan crossing?
The Ark of the Covenant was central to the Jordan crossing because it represented the very presence of God among His people and was the physical embodiment of His covenant with Israel. Its leading role in the Jordan crossing, as described in Joshua 3:13, demonstrated unequivocally that it was God Himself, not human strength, strategy, or the priests' power, who was performing the miracle. The waters were "cut off before the ark of the covenant of the LORD," signifying that the power emanated directly from God, validating His leadership through Joshua and reinforcing His unwavering commitment to bring Israel into the Promised Land. This also served to elevate Joshua's authority in the eyes of all Israel, just as Moses' authority had been confirmed at the Red Sea. The Ark's presence underscored that the miracle was a divine act, not a natural phenomenon.
What is the significance of the stones being a "memorial for ever"?
The phrase "for ever" (Hebrew: l'olam, H5769) signifies the enduring and perpetual nature of the memorial. The twelve stones were not just for the immediate generation that witnessed the miracle but were intended to serve as a lasting testimony and teaching tool for all future generations of Israelites. Their primary purpose was to prompt inquiry from children ("When your children ask their fathers in time to come..."), providing a divinely appointed opportunity for parents to recount God's miraculous intervention and covenant faithfulness in bringing them into the land. This ensured that the foundational story of God's power and provision would be continually remembered, preventing spiritual amnesia and fostering a living faith across the ages, a principle consistently emphasized throughout the Pentateuch, such as in Deuteronomy 6:6-7, which commands parents to teach their children diligently.
Christ-Centered Fulfillment
Joshua 4:7, with its vivid portrayal of divine intervention, covenant faithfulness, and the establishment of a perpetual memorial, finds its ultimate and most profound Christ-centered fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus Christ. The miraculous parting of the Jordan, enabling Israel to enter the Promised Land, powerfully foreshadows the greater spiritual crossing made possible by Jesus. Just as the Ark of the Covenant led the way through the waters, signifying God's presence and power, Jesus, the ultimate Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world, is the one who parts the waters of sin, death, and separation, providing access to the true spiritual promised land—eternal life and communion with God. His death and resurrection represent the ultimate "cutting off" of the barrier between God and humanity, fulfilling the promise of a new covenant (as prophesied in Jeremiah 31:31-34), written not on stone but on hearts. The stones of memorial in Joshua point to the enduring testimony of God's saving acts, which culminates in Christ's finished work on the cross, the ultimate "memorial" of God's perfect love and redemptive power. Through Christ, believers are enabled to cross from death to life (as Jesus Himself declared in John 5:24), from spiritual bondage to glorious freedom, entering into the inheritance secured by His sacrifice, a spiritual reality far surpassing the physical land of Canaan. His resurrection is our ultimate guarantee, much like the stones guaranteed Israel's entry, providing a living hope that we, too, will enter our eternal rest (as spoken of in Hebrews 4:9-11), secured by the Captain of our salvation.