4:1 When the entire nation was on the other side,1 the LORD told Joshua: 4:2 “Select for yourselves 12 men from the people, one per tribe. 4:3 Instruct them, ‘Pick up 12 stones from the middle of the Jordan, from the very place where the priests2 stand firmly, and carry them over with you and put them in the place where you camp tonight.’”
4:4 Joshua summoned the 12 men he had appointed from the Israelites, one per tribe. 4:5 Joshua told them: “Go in front of the ark of the LORD your God to the middle of the Jordan. Each of you is to put a stone on his shoulder, according to the number of the Israelite tribes. 4:6 They will be a reminder to you.3 When your children ask someday, ‘Why are these stones important to you?’ 4:7 tell them how the water of the Jordan stopped flowing4 from before the ark of the covenant of the LORD. When it crossed the Jordan, the water of the Jordan stopped flowing.5 These stones will be a lasting memorial for the Israelites.”
4:8 The Israelites did just as Joshua commanded. They picked up 12 stones from the middle of the Jordan as the LORD had instructed Joshua, according to the number of the Israelite tribes. They carried them over with them to the camp and put them there. 4:9 Joshua set up 12 stones6 in the middle of the Jordan in the very place where the priests carrying the ark of the covenant stood. They remain there to this very day.
4:10 Now the priests carrying the ark of the covenant were standing in the middle of the Jordan until everything the Lord had commanded Joshua to tell the people was accomplished, in accordance with all that Moses had commanded Joshua. The people quickly went across 4:11 and when all the people had finished crossing, the ark of the LORD and the priests crossed as the people looked on.7 4:12 The Reubenites, Gadites, and half-tribe of Manasseh crossed over armed for battle ahead of the Israelites, just as Moses had instructed them. 4:13 About 40,000 battle ready troops8 marched past the LORD to fight9 on the plains of Jericho. 4:14 That day the LORD brought honor to Joshua before all Israel. They respected10 him his whole lifetime11, just as they had respected12 Moses.
4:15 The LORD told Joshua, 4:16 “Instruct the priests carrying the ark of the covenantal laws13 to come up from the Jordan.” 4:17 So Joshua instructed the priests, “Come up from the Jordan!” 4:18 The priests carrying the ark of the covenant of the LORD came up from the middle of the Jordan and as soon as they set foot on dry land14, the water of the Jordan flowed again and returned to flood stage.15
4:19 The people went up from the Jordan on the tenth day of the first month16 and camped in Gilgal on the eastern border of Jericho. 4:20 Now Joshua set up in Gilgal the17 12 stones they had taken from the Jordan. 4:21 He told the Israelites: “When your children someday ask their fathers, ‘What do these stones represent?’18 4:22 explain19 to your children: ‘Israel crossed the Jordan River20 on dry ground’. 4:23 For the LORD your God dried up the water of the Jordan before you while you crossed over. It was just like when the LORD your God dried up the Red Sea before us while we crossed it.21 4:24 He has done this so22 all nations23 of the earth might recognize the LORD’s power24 and so you might always obey25 the LORD your God.”