Whedon's Commentary on the Bible - Joshua 4:12
12. And the children of Reuben The conjunction and does not indicate the order of events, but the historian wishes by repetition to give emphasis to the statement that the eastern tribes had already passed over to assist their brethren in the conquest of the land. Armed See Joshua 1:14, note. Before That is, in sight of. They were, perhaps, placed in the van to ensure the fulfilling of their promise, or because they were unencumbered with their families and flocks, which they had... read more
Whedon's Commentary on the Bible - Joshua 4:1-24
BUILDING MONUMENTS. Joshua 4:1-24. [This chapter, more than many others, affords us a noticeable example of the style of the Hebrew historian. While the central theme of the whole chapter is the building of the stone monument in Gilgal, observe how farther particulars of the passage of the Jordan are recorded, which the writer did not wish to interrupt the order of his narrative, in chapter 3, to tell. Strict chronological order is not sought after by him, but rather a record of the facts,... read more