Twelve Stones from the Jordan

1When the whole nation had finished crossing the Jordan (flowing down), the LORD {YHWH} said to Joshua (YHWH saves), 2“Choose twelve men from among the people, one from each tribe, 3and command them: ‘Take up for yourselves twelve stones from the middle of the Jordan (flowing down) where the priests were standing, carry them with you⁺, and set them down in the place where you⁺ spend the night.’”

4So Joshua (YHWH saves) summoned the twelve men he had appointed from the Israelites (God prevails), one from each tribe, 5and said to them, (YHWH saves) “Cross over before the ark of the LORD your⁺ God {YHWH Eloheikem} into the middle of the Jordan (flowing down). Each of you is to take a stone upon his shoulder, according to the number of the tribes of Israel (he wrestles with God), 6to serve as a sign among you⁺. In the future, when your⁺ children ask, ‘What do these stones mean to you⁺?’ 7you⁺ are to tell them, ‘The waters of the Jordan (flowing down) were cut off before the ark of the covenant of the LORD {YHWH}. When it crossed the Jordan, the waters were cut off.’ Therefore these stones will be a memorial to the Israelites (God prevails) forever.”

8Thus the Israelites (God prevails) did as Joshua (YHWH saves) had commanded them. They took up twelve stones from the middle of the Jordan (flowing down), one for each tribe of Israel, just as the LORD {YHWH} had told Joshua; and they carried them to the camp, where they set them down.

9Joshua also (YHWH saves) set up twelve stones [that had been] in the middle of the Jordan,a in the place where the priests who carried the ark of the covenant stood. And the stones are there to this day.

10Now the priests who carried the ark remained standing in the middle of the Jordan (flowing down) until the people had completed everything the LORD {YHWH} had commanded Joshua (YHWH saves) to tell them, just as Moses (drawn out) had directed Joshua. The people hurried across, 11and after everyone had finished crossing, the priests with the ark of the LORD {YHWH} crossed in the sight of the people. 12The Reubenites (behold a son), the Gadites (troop), and the half-tribe of Manasseh (causing to forget) crossed over before the Israelites (God prevails), armed for battle as Moses (drawn out) had instructed them. 13About 40,000 troops armed for battle crossed over before the LORD {YHWH} into the plains of Jericho (city of palms).

14On that day the LORD {YHWH} exalted Joshua (YHWH saves) in the sight of all Israel (he wrestles with God), and they revered him all the days of his life, just as they had revered Moses (drawn out).

15Then the LORD {YHWH} said to Joshua (YHWH saves), 16“Command the priests who carry the ark of the Testimony (the ark of the covenant)b to come up from the Jordan (flowing down).”

17So Joshua (YHWH saves) commanded the priests, “Come up from the Jordan (flowing down).”

18When the priests carrying the ark of the covenant of the LORD {YHWH} came up out of the Jordan (flowing down) and their feet touched the dry land, the waters of the Jordan returned to their course and overflowed all the banks as before.

The Camp at Gilgal

19On the tenth day of the first month the people went up from the Jordan (flowing down) and camped at Gilgal (a wheel) on the eastern border of Jericho (city of palms). 20And there at Gilgal (a wheel) Joshua (YHWH saves) set up the twelve stones they had taken from the Jordan (flowing down).

21Then Joshua said to the Israelites (God prevails), “In the future, when your⁺ children ask their fathers, ‘What is the meaning of these stones?’ 22you⁺ are to tell them, ‘Israel (he wrestles with God) crossed the Jordan (flowing down) on dry ground.’ 23For the LORD your⁺ God {YHWH Eloheikem} dried up the waters of the Jordan (flowing down) before you⁺ until you⁺ had crossed over, just as He did to the Red Sea (the Sea of Reeds),c which He dried up before us until we had crossed over. 24He did this so that all the peoples of the earth may know that the hand of the LORD {YHWH} is mighty, and so that you⁺ may always fear the LORD your⁺ God {YHWH Eloheikem}.”