Joshua 4:9

KJV

And Joshua set up twelve stones in the midst of Jordan, in the place where the feet of the priests which bare the ark of the covenant stood: and they are there unto this day.

KJV (with Strong's)

And Joshua {H3091} set up {H6965} twelve {H8147}{H6240} stones {H68} in the midst {H8432} of Jordan {H3383}, in the place where the feet {H7272} of the priests {H3548} which bare {H5375} the ark {H727} of the covenant {H1285} stood {H4673}: and they are there unto this day {H3117}.

Complete Jewish Bible

Y'hoshua also set up twelve stones in the Yarden River itself, in the place where the feet of the cohanim carrying the ark for the covenant had stood. They are there to this day.

Berean Standard Bible

Joshua also set up twelve stones in the middle of the Jordan, in the place where the priests who carried the ark of the covenant stood. And the stones are there to this day.

American Standard Version

And Joshua set up twelve stones in the midst of the Jordan, in the place where the feet of the priests that bare the ark of the covenant stood: and they are there unto this day.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Joshua 4:9 describes Joshua's personal initiative to erect a second, submerged monument of twelve stones in the very spot in the Jordan River where the priests bearing the Ark of the Covenant stood during the miraculous crossing. This act served as a profound, enduring, albeit less visible, testament to God's mighty intervention, ensuring that the precise location of divine power and priestly obedience was forever marked, even if only known to those who understood its origin.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Joshua 4:9 is nestled within the pivotal narrative of Israel's entry into the Promised Land, specifically following the miraculous crossing of the Jordan River. The preceding verses (Joshua 3) detail the divine command for the priests carrying the Ark of the Covenant to step into the swollen Jordan, at which point its waters were "cut off" upstream, allowing the entire nation to pass on dry ground. Joshua 4 begins with God's instruction for twelve men, one from each tribe, to take up twelve stones from the riverbed where the priests stood and set them up as a visible memorial at their first encampment in Gilgal (Joshua 4:1-8). Verse 9 then introduces a distinct, additional memorial set up by Joshua himself *within* the riverbed, highlighting an extra layer of remembrance and reverence for the precise location of God's intervention and the Ark's presence. This dual memorial system underscores the profound significance of the event.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The crossing of the Jordan River marked a crucial transition for Israel, moving from their wilderness wanderings into the land promised to their ancestors. This event deliberately echoed the Red Sea crossing (Exodus 14), reinforcing God's covenant faithfulness and demonstrating His power to a new generation and to the Canaanite inhabitants. Memorial stones were a common practice in the ancient Near East, serving as markers of significant events, treaties, or divine interventions. They acted as tangible historical records and teaching tools. The Jordan River, typically a formidable barrier, especially during its harvest flood (Joshua 3:15), became a symbol of God's ability to overcome all obstacles for His people. The Ark of the Covenant, central to this narrative, was not merely a religious artifact but the tangible symbol of God's presence among His people, His throne, and the place of His covenant. Its presence at the very point of the miracle underscored divine leadership and authority.
* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully contributes to several overarching themes within the book of Joshua and the broader Old Testament narrative. Foremost is the theme of **Divine Faithfulness and Power**, as God once again demonstrates His ability to perform miracles to fulfill His promises, mirroring the earlier deliverance at the Red Sea (compare [Exodus 14](/exodus/14 "Exodus 14 - The Red Sea Crossing") with [Joshua 3](/joshua/3 "Joshua 3 - Crossing the Jordan")). The stones serve as a potent symbol of **Remembrance and Testimony**, ensuring that future generations would inquire about and understand God's mighty acts (as explicitly stated in [Joshua 4:6-7](/joshua/4-6 "Joshua 4:6-7 - Purpose of the Stones")). The presence of the Ark of the Covenant emphasizes the theme of **God's Presence and Leadership**, indicating that Israel's success was not due to their own strength but to the Lord leading the way. Finally, Joshua's personal act of setting up these additional stones highlights the theme of **Obedient Leadership**, demonstrating his commitment to honoring God's work and preserving its memory for all time.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **Set up (Hebrew, _qum'_):** This verb, meaning "to rise," "to stand," or "to establish," is used here in a causative sense, "to cause to stand" or "to erect." It implies a deliberate, permanent action of establishing a marker. Unlike merely placing stones, "setting up" suggests an intentional construction designed to endure, reflecting the lasting significance of the event.
* **Stones (Hebrew, _'eben'_):** A common noun for stone, but in this context, these are not just ordinary rocks. They are chosen, consecrated objects, imbued with symbolic meaning as a memorial. Their number, twelve, is highly significant, representing the twelve tribes of Israel, signifying a corporate national witness to God's faithfulness.
* **Unto this day (Hebrew, _'ad hayyom hazzeh'_):** This idiomatic phrase, common in historical narratives, indicates that the memorial was still present and known at the time the book of Joshua was written or compiled. It serves to authenticate the historical veracity of the event and the enduring nature of the memorial, reinforcing its purpose as a perpetual witness.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And Joshua set up twelve stones in the midst of Jordan":** This clause highlights Joshua's personal initiative in creating a second, distinct memorial. While the first set of twelve stones was taken *from* the Jordan and set up *on the land* at Gilgal as a public display, these stones were erected *in* the riverbed itself. This suggests a deeper, perhaps more intimate, act of remembrance by Joshua, marking the precise spot of the miracle. The number twelve again emphasizes the representation of all Israel.
* **"in the place where the feet of the priests which bare the ark of the covenant stood":** This phrase precisely locates the memorial. It was not just anywhere in the river, but at the exact, sacred spot where the Ark of the Covenant, symbolizing God's active presence and leadership, rested. The priests, as mediators, stood firm, holding the Ark, while the nation passed by, underscoring their crucial role in the divine plan and the sanctity of the location.
* **"and they are there unto this day":** This concluding statement provides a historical affirmation. It asserts that these stones remained in the Jordan, serving as a silent, enduring witness to the miraculous event. This phrase validates the account for the original audience, indicating that the evidence of God's intervention was still observable or at least remembered in their time, reinforcing the truth and impact of the Jordan crossing.

#### Literary Devices
Joshua 4:9 employs several powerful literary devices. **Symbolism** is paramount, as the twelve stones themselves symbolize the twelve tribes of Israel and serve as a tangible **memorial** to God's miraculous intervention. The act of setting them *in the Jordan* rather than on the bank adds a layer of profound reverence for the exact, sacred spot where the Ark of the Covenant stood, symbolizing God's direct presence and power at the heart of the miracle. The phrase "unto this day" functions as an **affirmation of historical veracity**, a common literary device in biblical narratives that authenticates the account and underscores the lasting impact and observable evidence of the divine act. This also contributes to the **didactic purpose** of the narrative, ensuring that the event serves as a perpetual lesson for future generations about God's faithfulness and power.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Joshua 4:9 profoundly connects to the broader biblical narrative of God's covenant faithfulness and His use of tangible reminders to transmit truth across generations. The act of setting up memorial stones echoes earlier instances where God commanded or inspired the creation of physical markers to commemorate divine encounters or significant events, ensuring that His mighty acts would not be forgotten. These stones in the Jordan serve not only as a historical record but as a theological statement about God's active involvement in the life of His people, His power over creation, and His commitment to fulfilling His promises. They underscore the principle that remembering God's past faithfulness strengthens faith for future challenges and provides a testimony to His glory.

* [Genesis 28:18](/genesis/28-18 "Genesis 28:18 - Jacob's Pillar at Bethel")
* [Exodus 17:15](/exodus/17-15 "Exodus 17:15 - Moses builds an altar, 'The Lord is My Banner'")
* [Isaiah 43:2](/isaiah/43-2 "Isaiah 43:2 - God's Presence in Rivers and Fire")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Joshua's act of setting up these submerged stones in the Jordan offers a powerful lesson in intentional remembrance. While the stones at Gilgal were a public display, these in the riverbed were a deeper, more personal memorial, marking the very spot where God's presence (the Ark) manifested His power. This reminds us that our faith journey is not just about grand, public declarations, but also about cherishing the intimate, sacred moments where God has profoundly intervened in our lives. We are called to remember the specific "Jordan crossings" – the seemingly impossible situations where God made a way, where His presence was palpable, and where His power broke through. Creating our own "stones of remembrance," whether through journaling, specific prayer points, or regular reflection, helps us solidify our faith, ground us in God's past faithfulness, and provide a wellspring of hope for future challenges. These personal memorials become a testimony not only to ourselves but to those we influence, demonstrating the living reality of God's work.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **What "Jordan crossings" have you experienced in your life where God miraculously made a way for you?**
* **How do you currently "set up stones" of remembrance for God's faithfulness in your own life?**
* **What is the significance of remembering not just *what* God did, but *where* and *how* He did it?**
* **How might intentionally recalling God's past interventions strengthen your faith for current or future challenges?**

### FAQ
**Why did Joshua set up twelve stones in the Jordan when twelve other stones were taken out of the Jordan and set up at Gilgal?**

Answer: The biblical text indicates two distinct sets of twelve stones, each serving a slightly different purpose, though both were memorials to the same miraculous event. The twelve stones taken *out* of the Jordan and set up at Gilgal (Joshua 4:8, 20) were commanded by God and served as a highly visible, public monument. Their purpose was explicitly stated: to be a teaching tool for future generations, prompting children to ask about their meaning, allowing parents to recount God's mighty act (Joshua 4:6-7, 21-22). In contrast, the twelve stones Joshua set up *in* the midst of the Jordan (Joshua 4:9) were his own initiative. While less visible, being submerged, they marked the precise, sacred spot where the priests bearing the Ark of the Covenant stood during the miracle. This second set of stones may have served as a deeper, more intimate memorial for Joshua and perhaps for the priests, honoring the exact location of divine power and priestly obedience. It underscored the profound significance of that specific place, ensuring that even the riverbed itself bore witness to God's intervention.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
The crossing of the Jordan and the subsequent memorials in Joshua 4:9 find profound Christ-centered fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus Christ. Just as the Ark of the Covenant, symbolizing God's presence, led Israel through the impossible barrier of the Jordan into the Promised Land, so Jesus Christ, the ultimate embodiment of God's presence, leads His people through the impossible barrier of sin and death into the spiritual promised land of eternal life and rest. The stones set up in the Jordan mark the place where the "waters of judgment" were held back, allowing God's people to pass into new life. This foreshadows Christ's ultimate sacrifice on the cross, where He fully bore the judgment for sin, allowing all who believe to pass safely from death to life, from the wilderness of sin into the new creation. He is the true "Ark" who stands in the gap, and through His finished work, we enter into the rest that remains for the people of God ([Hebrews 4:9-11](/hebrews/4-9 "Hebrews 4:9-11 - Entering God's Rest")). The memorials, both visible and submerged, point to the enduring reality of God's saving power, which culminates in the resurrected Christ, who is our living memorial, forever testifying to God's faithfulness and victory over death ([Romans 6:4](/romans/6-4 "Romans 6:4 - Buried with Christ, Raised to New Life")). Through Him, we are not just entering a physical land, but a spiritual reality where God's promises are fully realized in new covenant life ([2 Corinthians 5:17](/2_corinthians/5-17 "2 Corinthians 5:17 - New Creation in Christ")).

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

1 Samuel 7:12

Then Samuel took a stone, and set [it] between Mizpeh and Shen, and called the name of it Ebenezer, saying, Hitherto hath the LORD helped us.

Exodus 24:12

¶ And the LORD said unto Moses, Come up to me into the mount, and be there: and I will give thee tables of stone, and a law, and commandments which I have written; that thou mayest teach them.

Judges 1:26

And the man went into the land of the Hittites, and built a city, and called the name thereof Luz: which [is] the name thereof unto this day.

2 Chronicles 5:9

And they drew out the staves [of the ark], that the ends of the staves were seen from the ark before the oracle; but they were not seen without. And there it is unto this day.

Joshua 24:26

And Joshua wrote these words in the book of the law of God, and took a great stone, and set it up there under an oak, that [was] by the sanctuary of the LORD.

Genesis 26:33

And he called it Shebah: therefore the name of the city [is] Beersheba unto this day.

1 Samuel 30:25

And it was [so] from that day forward, that he made it a statute and an ordinance for Israel unto this day.