Joshua 4 - ESV - Bible Reading / Study Notes

Joshua 4

Twelve Memorial Stones from the Jordan

4:1 When all the nation had finished passing over the Jordan, the LORD said to Joshua, 2 “Take twelve men from the people, from each tribe a man, 3 and command them, saying, ‘Take twelve stones from here out of the midst of the Jordan, from the very place where the priests’ feet stood firmly, and bring them over with you and lay them down in the place where you lodge tonight.’” 4 Then Joshua called the twelve men from the people of Israel, whom he had appointed, a man from each tribe. 5 And Joshua said to them, “Pass on before the ark of the LORD your God into the midst of the Jordan, and take up each of you a stone upon his shoulder, according to the number of the tribes of the people of Israel, 6 that this may be a sign among you. When your children ask in time to come, ‘What do those stones mean to you?’ 7 then you shall tell them that the waters of the Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of the LORD. When it passed over the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off. So these stones shall be to the people of Israel a memorial forever.”

8 And the people of Israel did just as Joshua commanded and took up twelve stones out of the midst of the Jordan, according to the number of the tribes of the people of Israel, just as the LORD told Joshua. And they carried them over with them to the place where they lodged and laid them down¹ there. 9 And Joshua set up² twelve stones in the midst of the Jordan, in the place where the feet of the priests bearing the ark of the covenant had stood; and they are there to this day. 10 For the priests bearing the ark stood in the midst of the Jordan until everything was finished that the LORD commanded Joshua to tell the people, according to all that Moses had commanded Joshua.

The people passed over in haste. 11 And when all the people had finished passing over, the ark of the LORD and the priests passed over before the people. 12 The sons of Reuben and the sons of Gad and the half-tribe of Manasseh passed over armed before the people of Israel, as Moses had told them. 13 About 40,000 ready for war passed over before the LORD for battle, to the plains of Jericho. 14 On that day the LORD exalted Joshua in the sight of all Israel, and they stood in awe of him just as they had stood in awe of Moses, all the days of his life.

15 And the LORD said to Joshua, 16 “Command the priests bearing the ark of the testimony to come up out of the Jordan.” 17 So Joshua commanded the priests, “Come up out of the Jordan.” 18 And when the priests bearing the ark of the covenant of the LORD came up from the midst of the Jordan, and the soles of the priests’ feet were lifted up on dry ground, the waters of the Jordan returned to their place and overflowed all its banks, as before.

19 The people came up out of the Jordan on the tenth day of the first month, and they encamped at Gilgal on the east border of Jericho. 20 And those twelve stones, which they took out of the Jordan, Joshua set up at Gilgal. 21 And he said to the people of Israel, “When your children ask their fathers in times to come, ‘What do these stones mean?’ 22 then you shall let your children know, ‘Israel passed over this Jordan on dry ground.’ 23 For the LORD your God dried up the waters of the Jordan for you until you passed over, as the LORD your God did to the Red Sea, which he dried up for us until we passed over, 24 so that all the peoples of the earth may know that the hand of the LORD is mighty, that you may fear the LORD your God forever.”³

Footnotes

[1] 4:8 Or to rest
[2] 4:9 Or Joshua had set up
[3] 4:24 Or all the days

Commentary

v1-9: The stones were set up as a testimony to God's power and salvation. It is suggested that they picture baptism, which does not accomplish salvation, but is a visible testimony to salvation. Yet such a testimony is not unimportant, Rom 10.9-10, and is a deeply spiritual thing.

v10: The priests stood in the middle of the Jordan as the people passed over. Jesus Christ's work on the cross enables those who trust in Him to pass from death to life.

v12-13: About 40,000 armed men from Reuben, Gad, Manasseh; this compares with the following (in Num 26.7,18,34); Reuben 43,730; Gad 40,500; Manasseh 52,700. Not all those "able to serve" (Num 26.2) actually did serve.

v14: Joshua's leadership was vindicated; God had chosen Joshua as Moses' successor, and now confirmed that choice.

v15-17 The priests waited until the Lord’s command, just as Noah waited in the ark until the Lord commanded he should leave (Gen 8.15).

v18: As the priests came up from the river, the waters returned. The illustration is of baptism, which is a mark of obedience to God's command.

The crossing of the Jordan marked the end of the 40 years in the wilderness. Where the crossing of the Red Sea pictures redemption, and the crossing of the Jordan pictures baptism, we are cautious in pressing the pictures too far. The 40 years delay was due to disobedience, and does not necessarily represent a Christian's normal experience. However, through disobedience we too will experience a spiritual wilderness, and lack of fruit in our lives.

v19: They crossed over on the 10th day of the 1st month; this was an unusual time for harvest. It is possible that God delayed, or brought forward the harvest, so that the people were fed.

Since Deut 1.3 (1st day, 11th month), there is a period of 69 days. During this period, Moses had explained the law of God, and the people had travelled the last few miles to the Jordan, and then over it.

v22-24: See also v8-9; Joshua set up the twelve stones. These were a testimony to God's power in bringing His people across the Jordan. The nations would realise that the God of Israel was a mighty God. Just like Abraham, there were physical reminders of powerful meetings with God throughout the land. This marked a constant testimony to God's people of His faithfulness.