Joshua 4
TSK
And it came to pass, when all the people were clean passed over Jordan, that the LORD spake unto Joshua, saying,
Take you twelve men out of the people, out of every tribe a man,
And command ye them, saying, Take you hence out of the midst of Jordan, out of the place where the priests' feet stood firm, twelve stones, and ye shall carry them over with you, and leave them in the lodging place, where ye shall lodge this night.
Then Joshua called the twelve men, whom he had prepared of the children of Israel, out of every tribe a man:
And Joshua said unto them, Pass over before the ark of the LORD your God into the midst of Jordan, and take ye up every man of you a stone upon his shoulder, according unto the number of the tribes of the children of Israel:
That this may be a sign among you, that when your children ask their fathers in time to come, saying, What mean ye by these stones?
Then ye shall answer them, That 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.
And the children of Israel did so as Joshua commanded, and took up twelve stones out of the midst of Jordan, as the LORD spake unto Joshua, according to the number of the tribes of the children of Israel, and carried them over with them unto the place where they lodged, and laid them down there.
And 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.
For the priests which bare the ark stood in the midst of Jordan, until every thing was finished that the LORD commanded Joshua to speak unto the people, according to all that Moses commanded Joshua: and the people hasted and passed over.
And it came to pass, when all the people were clean passed over, that the ark of the LORD passed over, and the priests, in the presence of the people.
And the children of Reuben, and the children of Gad, and half the tribe of Manasseh, passed over armed before the children of Israel, as Moses spake unto them:
About forty thousand prepared for war passed over before the LORD unto battle, to the plains of Jericho.
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.
And the LORD spake unto Joshua, saying,
Command the priests that bear the ark of the testimony, that they come up out of Jordan.
Joshua therefore commanded the priests, saying, Come ye up out of Jordan.
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.

the soles

Joshua 3:13,15 And it shall come to pass, as soon as the soles of the feet of the …

lifted up [heb] plucked up
that the waters As 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 the LORD said to Moses, Stretch out your hand over the sea, that …

and flowed [heb] went

Joshua 3:15 And as they that bore the ark were come to Jordan, and the feet of …

1 Chronicles 12:15 These are they that went over Jordan in the first month, when it …

Isaiah 8:8 And he shall pass through Judah; he shall overflow and go over, he …

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.
And those twelve stones, which they took out of Jordan, did Joshua pitch in Gilgal.
And he spake unto the children of Israel, saying, When your children shall ask their fathers in time to come, saying, What mean these stones?
Then ye shall let your children know, saying, Israel came over this Jordan on dry land.
For the LORD your God dried up the waters of Jordan from before you, until ye were passed over, as the LORD your God did to the Red sea, which he dried up from before us, until we were gone over:

as the Lord The 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 Read 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 And Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and the LORD caused …

Nehemiah 9:11 And you did divide the sea before them, so that they went through …

Psalm 77:16-19 The waters saw you, O God, the waters saw you; they were afraid: …

Psalm 78:13 He divided the sea, and caused them to pass through; and he made …

Isaiah 43:16 Thus said the LORD, which makes a way in the sea, and a path in the …

Isaiah 63:12-14 That led them by the right hand of Moses with his glorious arm, dividing …

That all the people of the earth might know the hand of the LORD, that it is mighty: that ye might fear the LORD your God for ever.

all the people

Exodus 9:16 And in very deed for this cause have I raised you up, for to show …

Deuteronomy 28:10 And all people of the earth shall see that you are called by the …

1 Samuel 17:46 This day will the LORD deliver you into my hand; and I will smite …

1 Kings 8:42,43 (For they shall hear of your great name, and of your strong hand…

2 Kings 5:15 And he returned to the man of God, he and all his company, and came, …

2 Kings 19:19 Now therefore, O LORD our God, I beseech you, save you us out of his hand…

Psalm 106:8 Nevertheless he saved them for his name's sake, that he might make …

Daniel 3:26-29 Then Nebuchadnezzar came near to the mouth of the burning fiery furnace, …

Daniel 4:34,35 And at the end of the days I Nebuchadnezzar lifted up my eyes to …

Daniel 6:26,27 I make a decree, That in every dominion of my kingdom men tremble …

that it is

Exodus 15:16 Fear and dread shall fall on them; by the greatness of your arm they …

1 Chronicles 29:12 Both riches and honor come of you, and you reign over all; and in …

Psalm 89:13 You have a mighty arm: strong is your hand, and high is your right hand.

he might

Exodus 14:31 And Israel saw that great work which the LORD did on the Egyptians: …

Exodus 20:20 And Moses said to the people, Fear not: for God is come to prove …

Deuteronomy 6:2 That you might fear the LORD your God, to keep all his statutes and …

Psalm 76:6-8 At your rebuke, O God of Jacob, both the chariot and horse are cast …

Psalm 89:7 God is greatly to be feared in the assembly of the saints, and to …

Jeremiah 10:6,7 For as much as there is none like to you, O LORD; you are great, …

Jeremiah 32:40 And I will make an everlasting covenant with them, that I will not …

for ever [heb] all days

Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge by R. A. Torrey [ca. 1880]
Expanded version courtesy INT Bible ©2013, Used by permission

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