Joshua 4

Chap. IV. Ver. 1—24. A memorial erected of this passage of the Jordan.—In order to this, twelve picked men, one of each tribe, are commanded to bring up twelve stones out of the bed of the river, in order to erect a monument of this stupendous miracle, in the very spot where the ark rested, and twelve other stones, to erect a second monument in the spot where they encamped after passing over, and which was afterwards called Gilgal. ((Joshua 5:8).) These stones were all probably, of considerable size, as large as a strong man could carry. Those stones, both in the river and at Gilgal, were probably so cemented together as to form a lofty monument of this event. The first observation that here offers itself is, the punctuality of the divine appointments.

Israel, we read, left Egypt on the 15th day of the first month, (Abib) A. M. 2513, and actually entered Canaan on the 10th of the same month, in 2553, making forty years (within five days) from the Exodus to their entrance on the promised ee (Numbers 14:33-34). And their arrival was just in time to celebrate the passover on the 15th of the same month; so that it was exactly forty years from the first passover to that now celebrated in Canaan. Another remark which here offers itself is, that we should never suffer the recollection of our mercies to be lost. “Thou shalt remember the way which the Lord thy God led thee these forty years in the wilderness, to humble thee and to prove thee;’’ and if we are to remember our trials, no less, certainly, ought we to recollect our mercies.

“Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits.” (Psalms 103:2). The patriarchs frequently recorded their mercies in the names of their children, and we have many Ebenezers among us which thus originated, and are living monuments of divine mercy. But stones, the rudest of all monuments, may serve to remind us of our mercies. Truth and gratitude are best written on the heart, but better recorded in a book or on a stone, than neglected or forgotten; and not only should we remember them ourselves, but be careful to cha them to our children.

Notes on the verses

Chap. IV. Ver. 9. Twelve stones.—That is, “Twelve (other) stones,” different from those mentioned in ver. 3.—[These 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, (v. 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 set up the twelve stones (taken) from the midst of Jordan,”

&c. But this reading is unsupported by any MS. yet collated; and it appears wholly unnecessary.—Bagster. A F Ver. 10. The people hasted and passed over.—This does not imply fear, as some suppose, but was highly necessary, considering the vast multitude, with Ver. 19. Gilgal.—(That is, the place afterwards called Gilgal; called here by anticipation. It was about ten furlongs east from Jericho, and fifty west from the Jordan. See Josephus and Calmet.)—Bagster. Ver. 24. All the people of the earth.—Hebrew, “Of this land;” i.e. of the land of Canaan. The original (arets) meaning land as well as earth, often occasions ambiguity, as in this place.