Joshua 4:12-13 NLT,NIV,ESV

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - Joshua 4:1-24

The Double Memorial of the Passage of JordanThe main subject of the chapter is the memorial cairn set up at Gilgal, which is described in two sections, Joshua 4:1-8 and Joshua 4:20-24, separated by the record in a single v. (Joshua 4:9) of another cairn set up in the midst of Jordan, and by a long parenthesis (Joshua 4:10-19) describing in an expanded form the crossing already narrated in Joshua 3:14-17. The repetitions are most satisfactorily explained on the hypothesis that the narrator has... read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Joshua 4:13

(13) About forty thousand.—The totals of these three tribes at the last census (Numbers 26:0) were:—Reuben (Numbers 26:7), 43,730; Gad (Numbers 26:18), 40,500; Manasseh (Numbers 26:34), 52,700, or for the exact half, 26, 350. Thus the entire force of the two and a half tribes might amount to 110,580. They therefore left more than half their number to protect their families and their dwellings. This does not seem inconsistent with the spirit of their agreement with Moses, or with the... read more

William Nicoll

Expositor's Bible Commentary - Joshua 4:1-24

CHAPTER IX.JORDAN DIVIDED.Joshua Ch. 3-4.AT Joshua’s command the priests carrying the ark are again in motion. Bearing the sacred vessel on their shoulders, they make straight for the bank of the river. "The exact spot is unknown; it certainly cannot be that which the Greek tradition has fixed, where the eastern banks are sheer precipices of ten or fifteen feet high. Probably it was either immediately above or below, where the cliffs break away; above at the fords, or below where the river... read more

Arno Clemens Gaebelein

Arno Gaebelein's Annotated Bible - Joshua 4:1-24

4. The Memorial Stones CHAPTER 4 1. The first memorial (Joshua 4:1-8 ) 2. The second memorial (Joshua 4:9 ) 3. The return of the priests with the ark (Joshua 4:10-18 ) 4. The encampment at Gilgal (Joshua 4:19-24 ) Jehovah commanded that the great event should be remembered by a memorial. From the river-bed, where the priest’s feet stood firm, twelve men, one from each tribe, were to carry twelve stones and leave them at the first lodging place in the land, that is, at Gilgal. These... read more

John Calvin

Geneva Study Bible - Joshua 4:13

4:13 About forty thousand prepared for war passed over before the {f} LORD unto battle, to the plains of Jericho.(f) That is, before the Ark. read more

L.M. Grant

L. M. Grant's Commentary on the Bible - Joshua 4:1-24

STONES OF MEMORIAL (vs.1-24) Only when all were passed over did Joshua, at God's command, instruct that each of the twelve chosen men should carry a stone out of the midst of Jordan, from the place where the priests had stood, and take them to the place where they would encamp that night (vs.4-5). This was to be a sign for Israel when their children would ask the meaning of the stones set as they were (v.6). The spiritual significance is quite simple. The stones taken out of the water (the... read more

James Gray

James Gray's Concise Bible Commentary - Joshua 4:1-24

JORDAN CROSSED PREPARATION OF THE PEOPLE (3:1-13) The events in this section are the removal to Shittim and the encampment there (Joshua 3:1 ); directions about the leadership of the priests (Joshua 3:2-4 ); sanctification of the people (Joshua 3:5 ); encouragement of Joshua (Joshua 3:7-8 ); encouragement of the people (Joshua 3:9-13 ). There is little requiring explanation, but notice in Joshua 3:4 the care God took for the people’s guidance and the occasion for it. And do not forget the... read more

Joseph Parker

The People's Bible by Joseph Parker - Joshua 4:1-14

Memorial Stones Jos 4:1-3 THUS a memorial was to be set up, commemorating the power and goodness of God. The way of life should be full of such cairns. But is it not early in the history to be setting up stones of memory? The battle has not begun. Israel did not march forth to cross a river but to overthrow a city well-walled and hoary with antiquity. Is it not, then, rather early in the day to be building altars and to be setting up signs of triumph? It is in putting such questions as these... read more

Joseph Parker

The People's Bible by Joseph Parker - Joshua 4:13-15

Signs of the Times Jos 4:13-15 "We have no such visions now" may be the easy comment of men who walk by sight and not by faith. Everything depends upon what you mean by "vision." Jesus Christ said How is it that ye cannot discern the signs of the times? Jesus Christ saw signs. All men whose eyes are set in their head see tokens, omens, and prefigurations of many kinds and full of urgent suggestion. We should see more if we looked more. He who looks sees. But there is a looking which is not... read more

Robert Hawker

Hawker's Poor Man's Commentary - Joshua 4:12-13

It is pleasant to see the forwardness of those tribes to lead the people on to victory. They had obtained their settlement. And who so proper to stir up the Lord's people as those who have tasted of his grace, and can tell by happy experience what the Lord hath done for their soul. Oh! that you and I, Reader, may feel somewhat of the same spirit of constraint to speak for Jesus, which the Psalmist did: Psalms 66:16 . read more