Twelve Stones from the Jordan
The LORD commands Joshua to appoint twelve men to carry stones from the place where the priests stand in the Jordan. Joshua explains that the stones will answer future questions by recalling how the waters were cut off before the ark, and the men do as commanded.
W1hen the whole nation had finished crossing the Jordan, the LORD said to Joshua, 2“Choose twelve men from among the people, one from each tribe, 3and command them: ‘Take up for yourselves twelve stones from the middle of the Jordan where the priests were standing, carry them with you, and set them down in the place where you spend the night.’” 4So Joshua summoned the twelve men he had appointed from the Israelites, one from each tribe, 5and said to them, “Cross over before the ark of the LORD your God into the middle of the Jordan. Each of you is to take a stone upon his shoulder, according to the number of the tribes of Israel, 6to serve as a sign among you. In the future, when your children ask, ‘What do these stones mean to you?’ 7you are to tell them, ‘The waters of the Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of the LORD. When it crossed the Jordan, the waters were cut off.’ Therefore these stones will be a memorial to the Israelites forever.” 8Thus the Israelites did as Joshua had commanded them. They took up twelve stones from the middle of the Jordan, one for each tribe of Israel, just as the LORD had told Joshua; and they carried them to the camp, where they set them down.
Verse 1After the whole nation finishes crossing the Jordan, the LORD speaks to Joshua.
It marks the crossing as complete and introduces the next command.
Verse 2The LORD tells Joshua to choose twelve men, one from each tribe.
It begins the memorial action through tribal representatives.
Verse 3They are to take twelve stones from the middle of the Jordan, from where the priests stood, and carry them to the night’s lodging place.
It gives the concrete instruction that will become the memorial.
Verse 4Joshua summons the twelve men he had appointed from the Israelites, one from each tribe.
It shows Joshua promptly carrying out the LORD’s word.
Verse 5Joshua tells them to go before the ark into the Jordan and each take a stone on his shoulder, one for each tribe of Israel.
It links the memorial stones directly to Israel’s full tribal number.
Verse 6He says the stones are to be a sign, ready for the day when their children ask what they mean.
It turns the act toward future remembrance and explanation.
Verse 7Joshua tells them the answer: the Jordan was cut off before the ark of the covenant, so these stones will be a memorial for Israel forever.
It gives the memorial its lasting interpretation.
Verse 8The Israelites do as Joshua commanded, taking twelve stones from the Jordan and carrying them to the camp.
It records the people’s obedience and the memorial’s completion.
Joshua sets up stones in the Jordan itself while the priests remain in place until every command is completed and the people pass over. The eastern tribes cross armed for battle, and the LORD exalts Joshua before all Israel.
9Joshua also set up twelve stones in the middle of the Jordan, in the place where the priests who carried the ark of the covenant stood. And the stones are there to this day. 10Now the priests who carried the ark remained standing in the middle of the Jordan until the people had completed everything the LORD had commanded Joshua to tell them, just as Moses had directed Joshua. The people hurried across, 11and after everyone had finished crossing, the priests with the ark of the LORD crossed in the sight of the people. 12The Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh crossed over before the Israelites, armed for battle as Moses had instructed them. 13About 40,000 troops armed for battle crossed over before the LORD into the plains of Jericho. 14On that day the LORD exalted Joshua in the sight of all Israel, and they revered him all the days of his life, just as they had revered Moses.
Verse 9Joshua also sets up twelve stones in the middle of the Jordan where the priests had stood, and they remain there to this day.
It adds a second stone marker at the crossing site itself.
Verse 10The priests remain standing in the Jordan until all the LORD’s commands through Joshua are finished, while the people hurry across.
It emphasizes the priests’ fixed place until the crossing is fully accomplished.
Verse 11Once everyone has crossed, the priests with the ark of the LORD come over in the sight of the people.
It brings the ark out last and before Israel’s eyes.
Verse 12The Reubenites, Gadites, and half-tribe of Manasseh cross before the Israelites, armed as Moses had instructed them.
It notes the eastern tribes fulfilling their earlier obligation.
Verse 13About forty thousand armed troops cross before the LORD into the plains of Jericho.
It shows Israel entering the land with visible readiness for what lies ahead.
Verse 14On that day the LORD exalts Joshua before all Israel, and they revere him as they revered Moses.
It states the chapter’s public confirmation of Joshua’s leadership.
The LORD tells Joshua to call the priests up from the Jordan. When they step onto dry land with the ark, the river returns at once to its overflowing course.
15Then the LORD said to Joshua, 16“Command the priests who carry the ark of the Testimony to come up from the Jordan.” 17So Joshua commanded the priests, “Come up from the Jordan.” 18When the priests carrying the ark of the covenant of the LORD came up out of the Jordan and their feet touched the dry land, the waters of the Jordan returned to their course and overflowed all the banks as before.
Verse 15Then the LORD speaks to Joshua again.
It introduces the command that will end the crossing scene.
Verse 16The LORD tells Joshua to command the priests carrying the ark of the Testimony to come up from the Jordan.
It authorizes the priests’ departure from the riverbed.
Verse 17Joshua tells the priests to come up from the Jordan.
It shows Joshua relaying the LORD’s command.
Verse 18When the priests come up with the ark and step onto dry land, the Jordan’s waters return and overflow as before.
It closes the miracle and restores the river’s ordinary course.
A quiet block diagram: each row is one authored paragraph movement, with verse numbers kept visible for scanning and deeper work.
- vv. 1-8
The LORD commands Joshua to appoint twelve men to carry stones from the place where the priests stand in the Jordan. Joshua explains that the stones will answer future questions by recalling how the waters were cut off before the ark, and the men do as commanded.
This paragraph establishes the memorial and gives its meaning before the crossing scene closes. - vv. 9-14
Joshua sets up stones in the Jordan itself while the priests remain in place until every command is completed and the people pass over. The eastern tribes cross armed for battle, and the LORD exalts Joshua before all Israel.
This paragraph completes the people’s passage and shows Joshua publicly confirmed in the moment. - vv. 15-18
The LORD tells Joshua to call the priests up from the Jordan. When they step onto dry land with the ark, the river returns at once to its overflowing course.
This paragraph closes the miracle by showing the river released only after the ark leaves its midst.