Joshua 4

KJ3 Literal Translation — Chapter 4 of 24

¹ And it happened, when all the nation had completely crossed over the Jordan, Jehovah spoke to Joshua, saying,

² Take twelve men for you out of the people, one man of each tribe.

³ And charge them, saying, Lift up twelve stones from this place, from the middle of the Jordan, from the place where the feet of the priests were fixed. And you shall pass them over with you and lay them down in the lodging place which you stay in it tonight.

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Chapter Summary

Twelve men are appointed to take twelve stones for a memorial 10 The people pass over. 20 The twelve stones are pitched in Gilgal.

Key Hebrew Words

אֶ֫בֶן stone H68 · TWOT 9

זִכָּרוֹן memorial H2146 · TWOT 551b

אוֹת sign H226 · TWOT 41a

עָבַר cross over H5674 · TWOT 1556e

אֲרוֹן ark H727 · TWOT 166a

יַבָּשָׁה dry land H3004 · TWOT 837b

People & Context

Joshua

Sets up twelve memorial stones from the Jordan; magnified by Jehovah in the sight of all Israel

Moses

Whose commands Joshua fulfills; Israel feared Joshua as they had feared Moses

Timeline

Command to Take Twelve Stones

Jehovah instructs Joshua to have twelve selected men take twelve stones from the middle of the Jordan where the priests stand.

Joshua 4:1-5

Purpose of the Memorial Stones Explained

Joshua tells the twelve men the stones will be a memorial sign for future generations regarding the cutting off of the Jordan's waters.

Joshua 4:6-8

Joshua Sets Up Riverbed Stones

Joshua raises up a separate set of twelve stones in the middle of the Jordan River in the exact spot where the priests' feet stood.

Joshua 4:9

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