Joshua 4: Stones of Remembrance
Twelve stones from the riverbed become a memorial at Gilgal, a lasting witness so that coming generations will know the mighty hand of God.
Joshua 4 (WEB)
1 When all the nation had completely passed over the Jordan, Yahweh spoke to Joshua, saying,
2 “Take twelve men out of the people, out of every tribe a man,
3 and command them, saying, ‘Take from out of the middle of the Jordan, out of the place where the priests’ feet stood firm, twelve stones, and carry them over with you, and lay them down in the lodging place, where you will lodge tonight.’”
4 Then Joshua called the twelve men, whom he had prepared of the children of Israel, out of every tribe a man.
5 Joshua said to them, “Pass over before the ark of Yahweh your God into the middle of the Jordan, and each of you pick up a stone and put it on your shoulder, according to the number of the tribes of the children of Israel;
6 that this may be a sign among you, that when your children ask in time to come, saying, ‘What do you mean by these stones?’
7 then you shall tell them, ‘Because the waters of the Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of Yahweh. When it passed over the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off. These stones shall be for a memorial to the children of Israel forever.’”
8 The children of Israel did as Joshua commanded, and took up twelve stones out of the middle of the Jordan, as Yahweh spoke to Joshua, according to the number of the tribes of the children of Israel; and they carried them over with them to the place where they lodged, and laid them down there.
9 Joshua set up twelve stones in the middle of the Jordan, in the place where the feet of the priests who bore the ark of the covenant stood; and they are there to this day.
10 For the priests who bore the ark stood in the middle of the Jordan, until everything was finished that Yahweh commanded Joshua to speak to the people, according to all that Moses commanded Joshua; and the people hurried and passed over.
11 When all the people had completely passed over, Yahweh’s ark passed over, with the priests, in the presence of the people.
12 The children of Reuben, and the children of Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh, passed over armed before the children of Israel, as Moses spoke to them.
13 About forty thousand men, ready and armed for war passed over before Yahweh to battle, to the plains of Jericho.
14 On that day, Yahweh magnified Joshua in the sight of all Israel; and they feared him, as they feared Moses, all the days of his life.
15 Yahweh spoke to Joshua, saying,
16 “Command the priests who bear the ark of the testimony, that they come up out of the Jordan.”
17 Joshua therefore commanded the priests, saying, “Come up out of the Jordan!”
18 When the priests who bore the ark of the covenant of Yahweh had come up out of the middle of the Jordan, and the soles of the priests’ feet were lifted up to the dry ground, the waters of the Jordan returned to their place, and went over all its banks, as before.
19 The people came up out of the Jordan on the tenth day of the first month, and encamped in Gilgal, on the east border of Jericho.
20 Joshua set up those twelve stones, which they took out of the Jordan, in Gilgal.
21 He spoke to the children of Israel, saying, “When your children ask their fathers in time to come, saying, ‘What do these stones mean?’
22 Then you shall let your children know, saying, ‘Israel came over this Jordan on dry land.
23 For Yahweh your God dried up the waters of the Jordan from before you, until you had passed over, as Yahweh your God did to the Red Sea, which he dried up from before us, until we had passed over;
24 that all the peoples of the earth may know the hand of Yahweh, that it is mighty; that you may fear Yahweh your God forever.’”
Joshua 4 (KJV)
1 And it came to pass, when all the people were clean passed over Jordan, that the Lord spake unto Joshua, saying,
2 Take you twelve men out of the people, out of every tribe a man,
3 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.
4 Then Joshua called the twelve men, whom he had prepared of the children of Israel, out of every tribe a man:
5 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:
6 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?
7 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.
8 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.
9 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.
10 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.
11 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.
12 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:
13 About forty thousand prepared for war passed over before the Lord unto battle, to the plains of Jericho.
14 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.
15 And the Lord spake unto Joshua, saying,
16 Command the priests that bear the ark of the testimony, that they come up out of Jordan.
17 Joshua therefore commanded the priests, saying, Come ye up out of Jordan.
18 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.
19 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.
20 And those twelve stones, which they took out of Jordan, did Joshua pitch in Gilgal.
21 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?
22 Then ye shall let your children know, saying, Israel came over this Jordan on dry land.
23 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:
24 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.
Joshua 4 (ASV)
1 And it came to pass, when all the nation were clean passed over the Jordan, that Jehovah spake unto Joshua, saying,
2 Take you twelve men out of the people, out of every tribe a man,
3 and command ye them, saying, Take you hence out of the midst of the Jordan, out of the place where the priests’ feet stood firm, twelve stones, and carry them over with you, and lay them down in the lodging-place, where ye shall lodge this night.
4 Then Joshua called the twelve men, whom he had prepared of the children of Israel, out of every tribe a man:
5 and Joshua said unto them, Pass over before the ark of Jehovah your God into the midst of the Jordan, and take you up every man of you a stone upon his shoulder, according unto the number of the tribes of the children of Israel;
6 that this may be a sign among you, that, when your children ask in time to come, saying, What mean ye by these stones?
7 then ye shall say unto them, Because the waters of the Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of Jehovah; when it passed over the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off: and these stones shall be for a memorial unto the children of Israel for ever.
8 And the children of Israel did so as Joshua commanded, and took up twelve stones out of the midst of the Jordan, as Jehovah spake unto Joshua, according to the number of the tribes of the children of Israel; and they carried them over with them unto the place where they lodged, and laid them down there.
9 And Joshua set up twelve stones in the midst of the Jordan, in the place where the feet of the priests that bare the ark of the covenant stood: and they are there unto this day.
10 For the priests that bare the ark stood in the midst of the Jordan, until everything was finished that Jehovah commanded Joshua to speak unto the people, according to all that Moses commanded Joshua: and the people hasted and passed over.
11 And it came to pass, when all the people were clean passed over, that the ark of Jehovah passed over, and the priests, in the presence of the people.
12 And the children of Reuben, and the children of Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh, passed over armed before the children of Israel, as Moses spake unto them:
13 about forty thousand ready armed for war passed over before Jehovah unto battle, to the plains of Jericho.
14 On that day Jehovah magnified Joshua in the sight of all Israel; and they feared him, as they feared Moses, all the days of his life.
15 And Jehovah spake unto Joshua, saying,
16 Command the priests that bear the ark of the testimony, that they come up out of the Jordan.
17 Joshua therefore commanded the priests, saying, Come ye up out of the Jordan.
18 And it came to pass, when the priests that bare the ark of the covenant of Jehovah were come up out of the midst of the Jordan, and the soles of the priests’ feet were lifted up unto the dry ground, that the waters of the Jordan returned unto their place, and went over all its banks, as aforetime.
19 And the people came up out of the Jordan on the tenth day of the first month, and encamped in Gilgal, on the east border of Jericho.
20 And those twelve stones, which they took out of the Jordan, did Joshua set up in Gilgal.
21 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?
22 then ye shall let your children know, saying, Israel came over this Jordan on dry land.
23 For Jehovah your God dried up the waters of the Jordan from before you, until ye were passed over, as Jehovah your God did to the Red Sea, which he dried up from before us, until we were passed over;
24 that all the peoples of the earth may know the hand of Jehovah, that it is mighty; that ye may fear Jehovah your God for ever.
Summary
Once the whole nation has crossed, the Lord commands Joshua to choose twelve men, one from each tribe, to take twelve stones from the middle of the Jordan where the priests' feet stood firm. They carry the stones to their camp at Gilgal, and Joshua also sets up twelve stones in the riverbed itself. The purpose is explicitly generational: when children ask in time to come, "What do these stones mean?", parents are to retell how the waters of the Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant. While the priests stand in the middle of the river, the people hurry across, including the armed eastern tribes, about forty thousand ready for war. On that day the Lord magnifies Joshua in the eyes of all Israel, so they revere him as they had revered Moses. When the priests carrying the ark come up out of the river and their feet touch dry land, the Jordan rushes back over its flooded banks. The people come up on the tenth day of the first month and camp at Gilgal, where Joshua sets up the twelve stones. He explains again that they testify that Israel crossed on dry ground, just as God dried up the Red Sea, so that all the peoples of the earth may know the hand of the Lord is mighty and that Israel may fear him forever.
Main Characters
- Joshua — Israel's leader, who directs the gathering of the twelve stones, sets up the memorial at Gilgal, and explains its meaning for generations to come.
- The twelve men — One representative from each tribe, chosen to carry stones from the middle of the Jordan as a lasting sign of God's deliverance.
- The children of future generations — Those who will one day ask the meaning of the stones and be told the story of God's mighty crossing of the Jordan.
- Yahweh (the LORD) — The God who commands the memorial, dries up the Jordan, magnifies Joshua, and makes his mighty hand known to all the peoples of the earth.
Key Verse
Joshua 4:24 (WEB)
that all the peoples of the earth may know the hand of Yahweh, that it is mighty; that you may fear Yahweh your God forever.’”
Lessons Learned
- God's people are meant to remember and retell his mighty deeds.
- Tangible reminders help pass living faith from one generation to the next.
- God acts so that the whole earth may know his power, not Israel alone.
- Remembering what God has done fuels reverence and trust for what lies ahead.
- Build markers of God's faithfulness. Twelve stones are set up “for a memorial to the children of Israel forever” (Joshua 4:7, WEB). God's people deliberately remember his works.
- Faith is handed down through stories. “When your children ask… ‘What do these stones mean?’” (Joshua 4:6, 21, WEB), parents are to retell the deliverance. Memory is meant to be taught.
- God's deeds are for the watching world. The crossing is “that all the peoples of the earth may know the hand of Yahweh, that it is mighty” (Joshua 4:24, WEB). His acts have a global purpose.
- Remembrance leads to reverence. The memorial exists “that you may fear Yahweh your God forever” (Joshua 4:24, WEB). Looking back at grace deepens awe and trust.
- Why does God want twelve stones taken from the riverbed and set up at Gilgal?
- How is this memorial designed to teach future generations who never saw the miracle?
- What does it mean that God acted so “all the peoples of the earth may know the hand of Yahweh” (verse 24)?
- How does remembering past deliverances shape the way we face future challenges?
- What "stones of remembrance" could you set up to mark God's faithfulness in your own life or family?
- The stones are a permanent, physical witness to the miracle of the crossing (4:6-7). They anchor an invisible truth in something visible, so that Israel will not forget what God did at the Jordan.
- The memorial is built around a question children will ask: "What do these stones mean?" (4:6, 21). It creates a natural occasion for parents to tell the story of God's power, passing living faith to those who were not yet born.
- Israel's deliverance is not for Israel alone; it is a testimony to the surrounding nations of the might of the true God (4:24). God's saving acts always have an outward, missionary edge. Help the group see God's larger purpose for his people's blessings.
- Remembering that God dried up the Jordan steadies the people for the battles ahead. A memory of grace becomes courage for the future. Invite the group to connect recalling God's past help with present trust.
- This is a personal-application question. Encourage members to name a concrete way to mark and retell God's faithfulness—an object, a journal, a family tradition. As leader, model this by briefly sharing your own "stone of remembrance" if appropriate.