Joshua 4:4
So Joshua summoned the twelve men he had appointed from the Israelites, one from each tribe,
So Joshua summoned the twelve men
Joshua, the leader of the Israelites after Moses, acts decisively in obedience to God's command. The summoning of the twelve men signifies a moment of preparation and organization. The number twelve is significant throughout the Bible, often representing completeness and the people of God, as seen in the twelve tribes of Israel and later the twelve apostles. This act of summoning indicates a formal and important task, emphasizing the unity and collective responsibility of the tribes.

he had appointed from the Israelites
Joshua's prior appointment of these men underscores the importance of planning and leadership. The selection process would have involved choosing men of integrity and standing within their tribes, reflecting the need for trustworthy representatives. This mirrors the earlier appointment of leaders by Moses, as seen in Exodus 18:25, where capable men were chosen to help govern the people. It highlights the continuity of leadership and the importance of delegation in fulfilling God's commands.

one from each tribe
The representation of each tribe ensures that the entire nation is involved in the memorial act that follows. This inclusivity reinforces the unity of the nation as they enter the Promised Land. Each tribe's participation symbolizes their shared heritage and collective future. This act of choosing one man from each tribe also prefigures the unity of believers in Christ, as seen in the New Testament, where all are one in Him regardless of their background (Galatians 3:28). The twelve stones that these men will later carry serve as a physical reminder of God's faithfulness to all the tribes of Israel.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Joshua
The leader of the Israelites after Moses, tasked with leading them into the Promised Land. He is a central figure in the book of Joshua, known for his faithfulness and obedience to God.

2. The Twelve Men
Representatives from each of the twelve tribes of Israel. They were chosen to carry out a specific task as instructed by Joshua, symbolizing the unity and collective identity of the nation.

3. The Israelites
The chosen people of God, descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. They are on a journey to claim the land promised to them by God.

4. The Jordan River
A significant geographical location where the Israelites crossed into the Promised Land. It represents a boundary between the wilderness and the fulfillment of God's promise.

5. The Promised Land
The land of Canaan, promised by God to the descendants of Abraham. It symbolizes God's faithfulness and the fulfillment of His covenant.
Teaching Points
Unity in Diversity
The selection of one man from each tribe underscores the importance of unity among God's people. Each tribe had a role to play, and their collective action was necessary for the fulfillment of God's plan.

Obedience to Leadership
Joshua's leadership and the obedience of the twelve men highlight the importance of following God-appointed leaders. This obedience is crucial for achieving God's purposes.

Symbolism of the Twelve Stones
The twelve stones taken from the Jordan River served as a memorial for future generations. This teaches us the importance of remembering and passing down the accounts of God's faithfulness.

Faith in Action
The crossing of the Jordan River required faith and action. It serves as a reminder that faith often requires us to step out and trust God in challenging circumstances.

God's Faithfulness
The event at the Jordan River is a testament to God's faithfulness in fulfilling His promises. It encourages believers to trust in God's promises, even when the path seems uncertain.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does the selection of one man from each tribe to carry stones from the Jordan River reflect the unity and diversity within the body of Christ today?

2. In what ways can we demonstrate obedience to God-appointed leaders in our own lives, and how does this obedience impact our spiritual journey?

3. What are some "memorial stones" in your life that remind you of God's faithfulness, and how can you share these with others?

4. How can the account of the Israelites crossing the Jordan River inspire us to take steps of faith in our own lives?

5. Reflect on a time when you experienced God's faithfulness in fulfilling a promise. How can this encourage you to trust Him in current or future challenges?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Exodus 24
The appointment of leaders from each tribe is reminiscent of Moses' actions when he selected leaders to assist him, highlighting the continuity of leadership and responsibility among the tribes.

Numbers 13
The sending of the twelve spies into Canaan parallels the selection of the twelve men, emphasizing the importance of representation and the collective responsibility of the tribes.

1 Kings 18
Elijah's use of twelve stones to build an altar on Mount Carmel reflects the symbolic use of the number twelve, representing the unity and identity of the twelve tribes of Israel.
Firm in DutyA. Maclaren, D. D.Joshua 4:1-24
Hindrances RemovedJ. Parker, D. D.Joshua 4:1-24
Life a JourneyHomilistJoshua 4:1-24
MemorialsC. D. Marston, M. A.Joshua 4:1-24
MemorialsJ. Higgins.Joshua 4:1-24
Quick Use of OpportunityW. H. Green, D. D.Joshua 4:1-24
Stones Buried and RaisedA. B. Mackay.Joshua 4:1-24
Stones of MemorialFamily ChurchmanJoshua 4:1-24
The Double Monument of the Passage of the Lord's Host Across the JordanG. W. Butler, M. A.Joshua 4:1-24
The First Act in CanaanH. F. Witherby.Joshua 4:1-24
The Memorial StonesCanon Hutchings.Joshua 4:1-24
The Memorial StonesA. Maclaren, D. D.Joshua 4:1-24
The People HastedD. G. Whitley.Joshua 4:1-24
The People's HasteS. F. Smiley.Joshua 4:1-24
The Pile of Stones SpeakingT. De Witt Talmage.Joshua 4:1-24
The Stones Buried in the JordanH. Macmillan, D. D.Joshua 4:1-24
The Stones of MemorialW. G. Sperry.Joshua 4:1-24
The Way of DifficultyF. G. Marchant.Joshua 4:1-24
The Witness of the StonesD. G. Whitley.Joshua 4:1-24
Voiceful StonesR. S. MacArthur.Joshua 4:1-24
People
Gad, Israelites, Joshua, Manasseh, Reuben
Places
Gilgal, Jericho, Jordan River, Red Sea
Topics
Appointed, Calleth, Israelites, Joshua, Prepared, Ready, Sons, Tribe, Twelve
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Joshua 4:1-9

     5443   pillars

Joshua 4:1-24

     4366   stones

Joshua 4:4-7

     1450   signs, kinds of
     7394   memorial

Joshua 4:4-9

     7328   ceremonies

Library
Stones Crying Out
'For the priests which bare the ark stood in the midst of Jordan, until every thing was finished that the Lord commanded Joshua to speak unto the people, according to all that Moses commanded Joshua: and the people hasted and passed over. 11. And it came to pass, when all the people were clean passed over, that the ark of the Lord passed over, and the priests, in the presence of the people. 12. And the children of Reuben, and the children of Gad, and half the tribe of Manasseh, passed over armed
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

The Jordan Memorial Stone
THE JORDAN MEMORIAL STONE One thing has always troubled me, and that is the witness of entire sanctification. How may one know all the time that He is sanctified? What is the witness to sanctification? Is it a feeling? an assurance? a peace? or what is it? Is it equally strong at all times, or does it come and go? If you can give me any information on this line, I shall greatly appreciate it. * * * * * One of the things that Joshua commanded the Israelites to do at the crossing
Robert Lee Berry—Adventures in the Land of Canaan

'The Waters Saw Thee; they were Afraid'
'And Joshua said unto the people, Sanctify yourselves: for tomorrow the Lord will do wonders among you. 6. And Joshua spake unto the priests, saying, Take up the ark of the covenant, and pass over before the people. And they took up the ark of the covenant, and went before the people. 7. And the Lord said unto Joshua, This day will I begin to magnify thee in the sight of all Israel, that they may know that, as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee. 8 And thou shalt command the priests that bear
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

Gilgal, in Deuteronomy 11:30 what the Place Was.
That which is said by Moses, that "Gerizim and Ebal were over-against Gilgal," Deuteronomy 11:30, is so obscure, that it is rendered into contrary significations by interpreters. Some take it in that sense, as if it were near to Gilgal: some far off from Gilgal: the Targumists read, "before Gilgal": while, as I think, they do not touch the difficulty; which lies not so much in the signification of the word Mul, as in the ambiguity of the word Gilgal. These do all seem to understand that Gilgal which
John Lightfoot—From the Talmud and Hebraica

The Country of Jericho, and the Situation of the City.
Here we will borrow Josephus' pencil, "Jericho is seated in a plain, yet a certain barren mountain hangs over it, narrow, indeed, but long; for it runs out northward to the country of Scythopolis,--and southward, to the country of Sodom, and the utmost coast of the Asphaltites." Of this mountain mention is made, Joshua 2:22, where the two spies, sent by Joshua, and received by Rahab, are said to "conceal themselves." "Opposite against this, lies a mountain on the other side Jordan, beginning from
John Lightfoot—From the Talmud and Hebraica

The Holy War,
MADE BY SHADDAI UPON DIABOLUS, FOR THE REGAINING OF THE METROPOLIS OF THE WORLD; OR, THE LOSING AND TAKING AGAIN OF THE TOWN OF MANSOUL. THE AUTHOR OF 'THE PILGRIM'S PROGRESS.' 'I have used similitudes.'--Hosea 12:10. London: Printed for Dorman Newman, at the King's Arms in the Poultry; and Benjamin Alsop, at the Angel and Bible in the Poultry, 1682. ADVERTISEMENT BY THE EDITOR. Bunyan's account of the Holy War is indeed an extraordinary book, manifesting a degree of genius, research, and spiritual
John Bunyan—The Works of John Bunyan Volumes 1-3

Joshua
The book of Joshua is the natural complement of the Pentateuch. Moses is dead, but the people are on the verge of the promised land, and the story of early Israel would be incomplete, did it not record the conquest of that land and her establishment upon it. The divine purpose moves restlessly on, until it is accomplished; so "after the death of Moses, Jehovah spake to Joshua," i. 1. The book falls naturally into three divisions: (a) the conquest of Canaan (i.-xii.), (b) the settlement of the
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament

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