Jos 4:3-7 | NET2full | STEP | Instruct them, ‘ Pick up 12 stones from the middle of the Jordan , from the very place where the priests stand firmly , and carry them over with you and put them in the place where you camp tonight .’”

‏ Joshua 4:3-7

3 Instruct them, ‘Pick up 12 stones from the middle of the Jordan, from the very place where the priests ^{▼▼tn Heb “the feet of the priests.”} stand firmly, and carry them over with you and put them in the place where you camp tonight.’”

4 Joshua summoned the 12 men he had appointed from the Israelites, one per tribe. 5 Joshua told them, “Go in front of the ark of the Lord your God to the middle of the Jordan. Each of you is to put a stone on his shoulder, according to the number of the Israelite tribes. 6 The stones ^{▼▼tn Heb “that this may be”; the referent of “this” (the 12 stones) has been specified in the translation for clarity.} will be a reminder to you. ^{▼▼tn Heb “in order that this might be a sign among you.”} When your children ask someday, ‘Why are these stones important to you?’ 7 tell them how the water of the Jordan stopped flowing ^{▼▼tn Heb “were cut off from before.”} before the ark of the covenant of the Lord. When it crossed the Jordan, the water of the Jordan stopped flowing. ^{▼▼tn Heb “how the waters descending from above stood still.”} These stones will be a lasting memorial for the Israelites.”