Joshua 4:5-9

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 4:5

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

John Gill

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

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Joshua 4:6

This may be a sign - Stand as a continual memorial of this miraculous passage, and consequently a proof of their lasting obligation to God. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Joshua 4:9

And Joshua set up twelve stones in the midst of Jordan - It seems from this chapter that there were two sets of stones erected as a memorial of this great event; twelve at Gilgal, Joshua 4:20 ; and twelve in the bed of Jordan, Joshua 4:9 . The twelve stones in the bed of Jordan might have been so placed on a base of strong stone-work so high as always to be visible, and serve to mark the very spot where the priests stood with the ark. The twelve stones set up at... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Joshua 4:7

Verse 7 7.Then you shall answer them, etc Although the stones themselves cannot speak, yet the monument furnished the parents with materials for speaking, and for making the kindness of God known to their children. And here zealous endeavors to propagate piety are required of the aged, (50) and they are enjoined to exert themselves in instructing their children. For it was the will of God that this doctrine should be handed down through every age; that those who were not then born being... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Joshua 4:9

Verse 9 9.And Joshua set up twelve stones, etc Apparently there was no use of stones under the water, and it may therefore seem to have been absurd to bury stones at a depth. The others which were placed in Gilgal being publicly visible, furnished occasion for inquiry; but stones hidden from the eyes of men at the bottom of the water could have no effect in inciting their minds. I admit that a monument altogether buried in silence would have been useless. (51) But when they talked among... read more

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