Joshua 4

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Joshua 4

This chapter gives a further account of the miraculous passage of Israel through Jordan. I. The provision that was made at that time to preserve the memorial of it, by twelve stones set up in Jordan (Josh. 4:9) and other twelve stones taken up out of Jordan, Josh. 4:1-8. II. The march of the people through Jordan's channel, the two tribes first, then all the people, and the priests that bore the ark last, Josh. 4:10-14. III. The closing of the waters again upon their coming up with the ark,... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Joshua 4:1-9

We may well imagine how busy Joshua and all the men of war were while they were passing over Jordan, when besides their own marching into an enemy's country, and in the face of the enemy, which could not but occasion them many thoughts of hear, they had their wives, and children, and families, their cattle, and tents, and all their effects, bag and baggage, to convey by this strange and untrodden path, which we must suppose either very muddy or very stony, troublesome to the weak and frightful... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Joshua 4:10-19

The inspired historian seems to be so well pleased with his subject here that he is loth to quit it, and is therefore very particular in his narrative, especially in observing how closely Joshua pursued the orders God gave him, and that he did nothing without divine direction, finishing all that the Lord had commanded him (Josh. 4:10), which is also said to be what Moses commanded. We read not of any particular commands that Moses gave to Joshua about this matter: the thing was altogether new... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Joshua 4:20-24

The twelve stones which were laid down in Gilgal (Josh. 4:8) are here set up either one upon another, yet so as that they might be distinctly counted, or one by another in rows; for after they were fixed they ar not call a heap of stones, but these stones. I. It is here taken for granted that posterity would enquire into the meaning of them, supposing them intended for a memorial: Your children shall ask their fathers (for who else should they ask?) What mean these stones? Notes, Those that... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Joshua 4

INTRODUCTION TO JOSHUA 4 This chapter relates an order, that is men, should take twelve stones out of the midst of Jordan, and carry them to the first place they lodged at as a memorial of their passage over it, Joshua 4:1 ; and how Joshua set up twelve other stones in the river itself, Joshua 4:9 ; and how many of the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and Manasseh, went before the Israelites when they passed over, Joshua 4:10 ; which being done, the priests were ordered to come out of Jordan,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Joshua 4:1

And it came to pass, when all the people were clean passed over Jordan ,.... As related, Joshua 3:17 , that the Lord spake unto Joshua, saying : as follows. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Joshua 4:2

Take you twelve men out of the people ,.... Joshua had before this ordered twelve men to be taken from among them, which seems to have been done of himself; and now he has a direction from God for it, and what to employ them in: out of every tribe a man ; so that what they did was in the name of the several tribes, and as representing them. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Joshua 4:3

And command you them, saying ,.... As follows: take you hence out of the midst of Jordan ; so that they were obliged to go back into the midst of Jordan, having already passed over it, as appears from Joshua 4:1 , out of the place where the priests' feet stood firm ; where being stones, they chose to stand upon them, and which were a firm standing for them; and which secured them from the slime and mud at the bottom of the river the waters left behind; though it is not absolutely... read more

John Gill

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

Then Joshua called the twelve men whom he had prepared of the children of Israel ,.... It may be for some other purpose, Joshua 3:12 ; but this was the destination of them eventually, and as by divine direction: out of every tribe a man : as he had before ordered, and was now directed to. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Joshua 4:5

And Joshua said unto them ,.... The twelve men: pass ye over before the ark of the Lord your God into the midst of Jordan ; that is, they were to go back to Jordan again, which they had passed over, and go into the midst of it, where were the priests bearing the ark; for it is not to be imagined that the ark went along with them, or followed them, they going before it; but they went where that was, just before it, from whence they were to take the stones, as next directed: and take... read more

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