Joshua 4:1-13 ▼

1 And it came to pass, when all the people had finished passing over the Jordan, that YHWH spoke to Joshua, saying,

2 “Take for yourselves from the people twelve men—one man—one man from a tribe.

3 And command them, saying, ‘Take for yourselves from this place out of the midst of the Jordan, from the place where stood firm the priests’ feet, twelve stones, and you? shall carry them over with you? and leave them in the lodging place, in which you? lodge tonight.’”

4 And Joshua called to twelve men, whom he had appointed from the sons of Israel—one man—one man from a tribe.

5 And Joshua said to them, “Pass over before the face of the ark of YHWH your? God into the midst of the Jordan, and take up for yourselves each man one stone on his shoulder, by the number of the tribes of the sons of Israel,

6 so that this may be a sign among you? when your? children ask hereafter, saying, ‘What are these stones to you??’

7 And you? shall say to them that the waters of the Jordan were cut off from the face of the ark of the covenant of YHWH. When it passed over the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off. And these stones shall be for a memorial to the sons of Israel even to forever.”

8 And the sons of Israel did so, as Joshua had commanded, and they took up twelve stones from the midst of the Jordan, as YHWH had spoken to Joshua, according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Israel, and they carried them over with them to the lodging place and laid them down there.

9 And Joshua set up and two and ten stones in the midst of the Jordan, under the standing place of the feet of the priests bearing the ark of the covenant. And they are there to this day.

10 And the priests who bore the ark stood in the midst of the Jordan, until the completion of all that YHWH had commanded Joshua to speak to the people, according to all that Moses had commanded Joshua. And the people hurried and passed over.

11 And it came to pass, when all the people had finished passing over, that the ark of YHWH and the priests passed over before the faces of the people.

12 And the men of Reuben, and the men of Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh passed over armed before the faces of the sons of Israel, as Moses had spoken to them.

13 About forty thousand armed ones of the host passed over before the face of YHWH for battle to the plains of Jericho.