Joshua 4
Overview
4:1 Twelve men are appointed to take twelve stones for a memorial out of Jordan;
4:9 Twelve other stones are set up in the midst of Jordan;
4:10 The people pass over;
4:14 God magnifies Joshua;
4:15 The priests commanded to come out of Jordan;
4:20 The twelve stones are pitched in Gilgal. Verse 1 were clean passed Joshua 3:17; Deuteronomy 27:2 Reciprocal 12:10 - But when Verse 2 twelve men Joshua 3:12; Numbers 1:4-15, 13:2, 34:18; Deuteronomy 1:23; 1 Kings 18:31; Matthew 10:1-5 Reciprocal Exodus 24:4 - according; Joshua 4:4 - prepared; 4:8 - did so as Joshua; 18:4 - three Verse 3 the priests feet Joshua 3:13 twelve stones 24:27; Genesis 28:22; Deuteronomy 27:1-26; 1 Samuel 7:12; Psalm 103:2, 11:4; Luke 19:40 leave them Joshua 4:8, 4:19, 4:20 Reciprocal Exodus 24:4 - according; Joshua 3:17 - stood firm; 24:26 - set it; 1 Kings 18:31 - twelve stones; Ecclesiastes 3:5 - to cast; Luke 3:8 - of these Verse 4 prepared Joshua 4:2; Mark 3:14-19 Reciprocal 1 Kings 18:31 - twelve stones Verse 5 Reciprocal Genesis 31:46 - Gather; Deuteronomy 9:1 - to pass; Joshua 22:10 - built Verse 6 a sign Joshua 22:27; Exodus 12:14, 13:9, 31:13; Numbers 16:38; Isaiah 55:13; Ezekiel 20:12, 20:20 when your Joshua 4:21; Exodus 12:26, 12:27, 13:14; Deuteronomy 6:20, 6:21, 11:19; Psalm 44:1, 71:18, 78:3-8; Isaiah 38:19; Acts 2:39 in time to comeHeb. to-morrowReciprocal Deuteronomy 4:9 - teach them; Joshua 4:7 - memorial; 22:24 - In time to come; Psalm 78:4 - showing; 111:4 - He hath; 119:27 - so shall I talk; Ezekiel 17:12 - Know; Joel 1:3 - General; Ephesians 6:4 - but Verse 7 the waters Joshua 3:13-16 memorial 4:6; Exodus 12:14, 28:12, 30:16; Numbers 16:40; Psalm 111:4; Isaiah 66:3 *marg. 1 Corinthians 11:24 Reciprocal Exodus 12:26 - your children; 17:14 - memorial; 39:7 - a memorial; Numbers 10:10 - a memorial; 10:33 - the ark; 31:54 - a memorial; Deuteronomy 4:9 - teach them; 6:20 - when thy son; 1 Samuel 1:22 - for ever; 4:3 - the ark; 17:54 - took the head; 1 Chronicles 15:29 - as the ark; Esther 9:28 - the memorial; Psalm 78:4 - showing; 119:27 - so shall I talk; Joel 1:3 - General; Zechariah 6:14 - a memorial; Ephesians 6:4 - but Verse 8 did so as Joshua Joshua 4:2-5, 1:16-18 Reciprocal Exodus 24:4 - according; Joshua 4:3 - leave them; 4:20 - General; 1 Samuel 15:12 - he set him; 17:54 - took the head Verse 9 set up twelve Exodus 24:12, 28:21; 1 Kings 18:31; Psalm 111:2-4 and they are thereThese words might be written by Joshua at the close of his life, or perhaps be added by some later prophet. It seems from this verse, that there were two sorts of stones erected as a memorial of this great event: twelve at Gilgal - Joshua 4:20
and twelve in the bed of the Jordan; which last might have been 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. Drs. Kennicott and Shuckford, however, would read here with the Syriac, mittoch, "from the midst," instead of bethoch, "in the midst;" and render, "And Joshua took up the twelve stones (taken) from the midst of Jordan," etc. But this reading is unsupported by any manuscript yet collated; and it appears wholly unnecessary. Genesis 26:33; Deuteronomy 34:6; Judges 1:26; 1 Samuel 30:25; 2 Samuel 4:3; 2 Chronicles 5:9; Matthew 27:8; 28:15 Reciprocal Exodus 24:4 - according; Deuteronomy 10:5 - there they; Joshua 3:12 - General; 6:25 - unto; 8:28 - unto this day; 10:27 - until this very day; 1 Samuel 7:12 - took a stone; 15:12 - he set him; 1 Kings 8:3 - the priests took up; 8:8 - unto this day; 12:19 - unto this day; 1 Chronicles 13:11 - to this day; 2 Chronicles 10:19 - unto this day Verse 10 stood in the midst Joshua 3:13, 3:16, 3:17; Isaiah 28:16 Moses Numbers 27:21-23; Deuteronomy 31:9 hasted Exodus 12:39; Psalm 119:60; Proverbs 27:1; Ecclesiastes 9:10; 2 Corinthians 6:2; Habakkuk 3:7, 3:8 Reciprocal Genesis 8:16 - General; Numbers 4:15 - after that; Joshua 3:3 - the priests; 8:33 - priests; 24:11 - And ye; Daniel 3:26 - come forth; Matthew 2:13 - until Verse 11 that the ark Joshua 4:18, 3:8, 3:17
Verse 12 the children Joshua 1:14; Numbers 32:20-32 Reciprocal 1:34 - Manasseh; 32:17 - General; 32:27 - thy servants; Deuteronomy 3:18 - I commanded; 12:10 - But when; 33:21 - he came; Joshua 13:8 - Moses gave; 1 Chronicles 5:18 - four and forty Verse 13 prepared for waror, ready armed, Ephesians 6:11 to the plains Joshua 5:10; 2 Kings 25:5; Jeremiah 39:5, 52:8 Reciprocal Numbers 32:16 - General; 32:17 - General; 32:20 - General; Deuteronomy 3:18 - I commanded; 33:21 - he came; Joshua 6:7 - that is armed; 1 Chronicles 5:18 - four and forty Verse 14 magnified Joshua 1:16-18, 3:7; 1 Corinthians 10:2 they feared him Exodus 14:31; 1 Samuel 12:18; 1 Kings 3:28; 2 Chronicles 30:12; Proverbs 24:21; Romans 13:4 Reciprocal Deuteronomy 31:3 - and Joshua; 2 Kings 2:15 - bowed; 1 Chronicles 29:25 - magnified Solomon; Luke 1:15 - great Verse 16 Joshua 3:3-6; Exodus 25:16-22; Revelation 11:19 Reciprocal Genesis 8:16 - General; 2 Samuel 15:24 - bearing; Daniel 3:26 - come forth Verse 17 Come ye up Genesis 8:16-18; Daniel 3:26; Acts 16:23, 16:35-39
Verse 18 the soles Joshua 3:13, 3:15 lifted upHeb. plucked upthat the watersAs soon as the priests and the ark were come up out of Jordan, the waters of the river, which had stood on a heap, flowed down according to their natural and usual course, and again soon filled the channel. This make it abundantly evident, that the miraculous change which had been given to the river was not from any secret natural cause, but solely by the power of God, and for the sake of his chosen people; for when Israel's host had passed through, and the token of his presence was removed, immediately the waters went forward again, so that if it be asked, "What aileth thee, O Jordan, that thou wast driven back?" it must be answered, it was in obedience to the God of Israel, and in kindness to the Israel of God. Exodus 14:26-28 and flowedHeb. went, Joshua 3:15; 1 Chronicles 12:15; Isaiah 8:8 Reciprocal Exodus 14:27 - and the sea; Joshua 4:11 - that the ark; 8:33 - priests; Habakkuk 3:10 - the overflowing; Matthew 2:13 - until Verse 19 first month Exodus 12:2, 12:3 GilgalThat is, the place afterwards called Gilgal; for it is so called here by anticipation. It was about ten furlongs east from Jericho, and fifty west from the Jordan. See Josephus and Calmet. Joshua 5:9, 10:6, 10:43, 15:7; 1 Samuel 11:14, 11:15, 15:33; Amos 4:4, 5:5; Micah 6:5 Reciprocal Deuteronomy 9:1 - to pass; Joshua 4:3 - leave them; 12:23 - Gilgal; 14:6 - Gilgal; 2 Kings 2:1 - Gilgal; Hosea 9:15 - is in Verse 20 Joshua 4:3, 4:8 Reciprocal Genesis 31:46 - Gather; Exodus 24:4 - according; Joshua 4:9 - and they are there; 24:26 - set it; Judges 3:19 - quarries; 1 Samuel 7:12 - took a stone; 1 Kings 18:31 - twelve stones; Isaiah 19:20 - for a Verse 21 When your Joshua 4:6; Psalm 105:2-5, 145:4-7 in time to comeHeb. to-morrowReciprocal Exodus 12:26 - your children; 13:14 - thy son; Deuteronomy 4:9 - teach them; 6:20 - when thy son; Psalm 78:4 - showing; 111:4 - He hath; Isaiah 19:20 - for a; 38:19 - the father; Ezekiel 17:12 - Know; Joel 1:3 - General; Ephesians 6:4 - but Verse 22 Joshua 3:17; Exodus 14:29, 15:19; Psalm 66:5, 66:6; Isaiah 11:15, 11:16, 44:27, 51:10; Revelation 16:12 Reciprocal Psalm 90:16 - and; Isaiah 38:19 - the father; Joel 1:3 - General Verse 23 as the LordThe parents must take that occasion to tell their children of the drying up of the Red Sea forty years before: "As the Lord your God did to the Red Sea." It greatly magnifies later mercies to compare them with those before enjoyed; for, by making the comparison, it appears that God is the same yesterday, to-day, and forever. Later blessings should also bring to remembrance former mercies, and revive thankfulness for them.which he dried Exodus 14:21; Nehemiah 9:11; Psalm 77:16-19, 78:13; Isaiah 43:16, 63:12-14 Reciprocal Exodus 10:1 - that I; Joshua 24:11 - And ye; Habakkuk 3:10 - the overflowing; 1 Corinthians 10:1 - and all Verse 24 all the people Exodus 9:16; Deuteronomy 28:10; 1 Samuel 17:46; 1 Kings 8:42, 8:43; 2 Kings 5:15, 19:19; Psalm 106:8; Daniel 3:26-29, 4:34, 4:35, 6:26, 6:27 that it is Exodus 15:16; 1 Chronicles 29:12; Psalm 89:13 ye might Exodus 14:31, 20:20; Deuteronomy 6:2; Psalm 76:6-8, 89:7; Jeremiah 10:6, 10:7, 32:40 for everHeb. all daysReciprocal Exodus 10:1 - that I; Joshua 2:10 - For we; 1 Kings 8:60 - That all; Daniel 4:32 - until; Habakkuk 3:10 - the overflowing