Joshua 4:1-7 ▼

1 When 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,

3 and 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.’”

4 So Joshua (YHWH saves) summoned the twelve men he had appointed from the Israelites (God prevails), one from each tribe,

5 and 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),

6 to serve as a sign among you⁺. In the future, when your⁺ children ask, ‘What do these stones mean to you⁺?’

7 you⁺ 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.”