Joshua 4:3-5

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

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

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Joshua 4:3

Where ye shall lodge this night - This was in the place that was afterwards called Gilgal. See Joshua 4:19 . read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Joshua 4:4

Twelve men , whom he had prepared - This must refer to their appointment, Joshua 3:12 . read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Joshua 4:1-24

The memorial. Prom this chapter we learn several lessons. I. THE DUTY OF COMMEMORATING , BY A PIOUS MEMORIAL , THE GOOD THINGS GOD HAS DONE FOR US . The memory of events under the law was ever kept up in this way. The memorials of God's mercy we read of in the Old Testament are innumerable. There was circumcision, the memorial of God's covenant with Abraham; the stone set up at Bethel, the memorial of Jacob's vision. There was the passover, the memorial of... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Joshua 4:3

Stood firm. Much discussion has taken place about the proper rendering of the word הָכִין which the LXX . translates ἐτοίμους , and the Vulgate durissimos. It seems best to take it, as our version does, as the infinitive absolute, and to translate as in Joshua 3:17 . But the punctuation of the Masorites separates it from מִמּחַּב . They would apparently render "to set up." read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Joshua 4:4

Prepared . Literally, appointed. read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Joshua 4:2-5

Joshua 4:2-5. Take you out of every tribe a man For the greater evidence, and the more effectual spreading the report of this marvellous work among the tribes. Where ye shall lodge this night That is, in Gilgal, as is expressed, Joshua 4:19-20. Whom he had prepared That is, appointed for that work, and commanded to be ready for it. Pass over before the ark Or, Pass back again directly unto the ark. These twelve men, it seems, re- entered the channel of Jordan, and, being dispensed... read more

Group of Brands