Joshua 4:1-11
4:2 a The twelve men represented Jacob’s twelve sons. The tribe of Levi was not counted because the Levites settled in designated cities among the other tribes (Gen 49:5-7 b; Num 1:49-52 c; 18:20 d). However, the number of tribes remained at twelve because Joseph’s two sons (Ephraim and Manasseh) were accounted as separate tribes (Gen 48:5 e).4:5 f Carrying the stone on a shoulder implies that the men each chose stones weighing some 100 pounds.
4:6 g Joshua twice (4:21 h) told the Israelites to prepare to answer future generations. The stone memorial would serve as a teaching aid.
4:9 i A second memorial of twelve stones in the middle of the Jordan was submerged as soon as the river resumed its flow. The monument’s top would be visible in the dry summer seasons.
• Their existence to this day indicates that the memorials stood for generations, until the final editing of the book (see Joshua Book Introduction, “Author and Date”).
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