Joshua 4

2. Take you twelve men. The choice was made by the tribes, and approved by Joshua (see ver. 4). On this representation of every tribe, cp. Numb. xiii. 1; 1 Kings xviii. 31.

9 in the midst of Jordan. This verse seems to indicate that two heaps of stones were made. So the LXX. reads, “twelve other stones.” The priests, standing in Jordan “on the brink,” i.e., in the shallow overflow water (iii. 15), are said to be “in the midst” (ver. 17); i.e., the water then entirely surrounded the place where they stood. On the subsidence of the water these stones would be left high and dry; so that they would not be carried away by the torrent.

11 in the presence of the people. As in iii. 6. 11, 14; i.e., they crossed and went forward till they came again in front of the people, who had halted to allow the ark to head their march.

13 forty thousand. These were not all the males of those tribes capable of service; but probably only a fair proportion of the able warriors.

19. Gilgal. The place afterwards so called (see v. 9). The Jordan was crossed on the anniversary of the day on which, forty years before, the people began to prepare for leaving Egypt by selecting the paschal lamb (Exod. xii. 3).