Jos 4:1-7 | Clarke | STEP | When the people are passed over, Joshua commands twelve men, one taken out of each tribe, to take up a stone on his shoulder out of the midst of the river, and carry it to the other side, to be set up as a memorial of this miraculous passage, . They do so, and set up the stones in the place where they encamp the first night, , . The priests stand in the river, till all the people are passed over, , . Of the tribes of Reuben and Gad, and the half tribe of Manasseh, 40,000 fighting men pass over with the other tribes, , . Joshua is magnified in the sight of the people, and they fear him as they did Moses, . The priests are commanded to come up out of the river, which, on their leaving it, immediately returns, and overflows its banks as before, . This miraculous passage takes place the tenth day of the first month, . The stones are set up in Gilgal, and Joshua teaches the people what use they are to make of them, .

Joshua 4:1-7

Introduction

When the people are passed over, Joshua commands twelve men, one taken out of each tribe, to take up a stone on his shoulder out of the midst of the river, and carry it to the other side, to be set up as a memorial of this miraculous passage, Jos 4:1-7. They do so, and set up the stones in the place where they encamp the first night, Jos 4:8, Jos 4:9. The priests stand in the river, till all the people are passed over, Jos 4:10, Jos 4:11. Of the tribes of Reuben and Gad, and the half tribe of Manasseh, 40,000 fighting men pass over with the other tribes, Jos 4:12, Jos 4:13. Joshua is magnified in the sight of the people, and they fear him as they did Moses, Jos 4:14. The priests are commanded to come up out of the river, which, on their leaving it, immediately returns, and overflows its banks as before, Jos 4:15-18. This miraculous passage takes place the tenth day of the first month, Jos 4:19. The stones are set up in Gilgal, and Joshua teaches the people what use they are to make of them, Jos 4:20-24. Verse 2

Take you twelve men - From Jos 3:12, it appears that the twelve men had been before appointed, one taken out of each of the twelve tribes; and now they are employed for that purpose for which they had been before selected. Verse 3

Where ye shall lodge this night - This was in the place that was afterwards called Gilgal. See Jos 4:19. Verse 4

Twelve men, whom he had prepared - This must refer to their appointment, Jos 3:12. Verse 6

This may be a sign - Stand as a continual memorial of this miraculous passage, and consequently a proof of their lasting obligation to God.