Joshua 4

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Joshua 4:6

That this may be a sign among you ,.... A commemorative one: that when your children ask their fathers in time to come ; or "tomorrow" F7 מחר αυριον , Sept. "eras", Pagninus, Montanus. and so in all time, or any time hereafter: saying, what mean you by these stones ? what is the reason of setting them up, and in this place, and being just of such a number? read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Joshua 4:7

Then ye shall answer them ,.... By informing them of the design and use of them: that the waters of Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of the Lord when it passed over Jordan ; the waters below from those that were, above, which stood up on an heap; so that they were divided and separated from each other, and made dry land for a passage of the children of Israel; and this was done before, and in the presence of the ark of the covenant, to show that is was owing to the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Joshua 4:8

And the children of Israel did so as Joshua commanded ,.... That is, the twelve men taken out of the twelve tribes of Israel, and who were the representatives of them in this action: and took up twelve stones out of the midst of Jordan, as the Lord spake unto Joshua, according to the number of the tribes of the children of Israel ; they took the exact number, and out of the very place Joshua was ordered to direct them to do: and carried them over with them unto the place where they... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Joshua 4:9

And Joshua set up twelve stones in the midst of Jordan ,.... Twelve other stones, as the Septuagint and Vulgate Latin versions, and so Jarchi; which he set one upon another, so that they might be seen above the water; or however the water of Jordan being clear, they might easily be discerned by those who either passed over the river, or walked by the side of it, where they were; and perhaps may be the very stones John the Baptist pointed at in Matthew 3:9 ; since it was at Bethabara he was... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Joshua 4:10

For the priests which bare the ark stood in the midst of Jordan ,.... Though on dry ground, the waters being divided: until everything was finished that the Lord commanded Joshua to speak unto the people, according to all that Moses commanded Joshua ; that is, until all the people had passed over Jordan, as the Lord had ordered Joshua, to encourage them unto, and go over with them, Joshua 1:2 ; and which Moses, by divine direction, had given Joshua in charge to do, Deuteronomy 31:7 ;... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Joshua 4:11

And it came to pass, when the people were clean passed over ,.... Every one of them, as in Joshua 3:17 , that the ark of the Lord passed over, and the priests, in the presence of the people ; that is, the priests bearing the ark came out of the midst of Jordan in the sight of all the people, who were on the banks of it, on the other side, where they had been stationed during the passage of the people; though this motion of them was not until they received an order for it, of which... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Joshua 4:12

And the children of Reuben, and the children of Gad, and half the tribe of Manasseh ,.... Who were settled on the other side Jordan, in the countries taken from Sihon and Og: passed over armed before the children of Israel ; the rest of the tribes: as Moses spake unto them ; or ordered them, and as they promised they would, Numbers 32:17 . read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Joshua 4:13

About forty thousand prepared for war ,.... Accoutred with proper armour to defend themselves, and their brethren, and annoy their enemies: this is to be understood of such a number of the above mentioned tribes; otherwise the number of all Israel that went over Jordan, even armed or fighting men, besides women and children, were five hundred thousand or more. Now though the number of men fit for war, of these tribes, were an hundred thirty thousand, who were all, according to the original... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Joshua 4:14

On that day the Lord magnified Joshua in the sight of Israel ,.... Made him great and honourable in their esteem, by doing what he foretold would be done, dividing the waters of Jordan, drying up the river to make a passage for them through it, as on dry land: and they feared him, as they feared Moses, all the days of his life ; had a reverend esteem of him, and affection for him, and yielded obedience to him all his days; see Exodus 14:31 . read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Joshua 4:15

And the Lord spake unto Joshua ,.... When all the people had passed over jordan: saying ; as follows. read more

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