Stones from Jordan Set for a Memorial

Joshua 4 (KJV)

After all the Children of Israel passed through the Jordan River, the Lord commanded Joshua to have a member from each of the twelve tribes to take a stone from where the priests stood in the Jordan. The stones were to be taken to Israel's lodge across the river for a future sign to the children when they ask their fathers, "What mean ye by these stones" (v.6)? The answer for the children wil be "[t]hat the waters of Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of the Lord; when it passed over Jordan, the waters of Jordan were cut off: and these stones shall be for a memorial unto the children of Israel for ever" (v.7).

In addition to the stones taken by the Children of Israel, Joshua "...set up twelve stones in the midst of Jordan, in the place where the feet of the priests which bare the ark of the covenant stood: and they are there unto this day" (v.9).

Included among those who crossed the Jordan were people from the tribes of Reuben and Gad and half of the tribe of Manasseh which in all numbered about forty thousand who were armed and ready for war.

"On that day the Lord magnified Joshua in the sight of all Israel; and they feared him, as they feared Moses, all the days of his life" (v.14).

The Lord had Joshua to command the priests to come out of the Jordan with the ark of the testimony.

"And it came to pass, when the priests that bare the ark of the covenant of the Lord were come up out of the midst of Jordan, and the soles of the priests' feet were lifted up unto the dry land, that the waters of Jordan returned unto their place, and flowed over all his banks, as they did before" (v.18).

"And the people came up out of Jordan on the tenth day of the first month, and encamped in Gilgal, in the east border of Jericho" (v.19).

As God's hand safely helped the Children of Israel across the Red Sea, His hand safely helped them across the Jordan River. These miracles are a witness forever to all the earth of our loving and mighty God. "That all the people of the earth might know the hand of the Lord, that it is mighty: they ye might fear the Lord your God for ever" (v.24).