World English Bible
- When all the nation had completely crossed over the Jordan, the LORD spoke to Joshua, saying,
- “Take twelve men out of the people, a man out of every tribe,
- 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, carry them over with you, and lay them down in the place where you’ll camp tonight.’”
- Then Joshua called the twelve men whom he had prepared of the children of Israel, a man out of every tribe.
- Joshua said to them, “Cross before the ark of the LORD 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;
- that this may be a sign among you, that when your children ask in the future, saying, ‘What do you mean by these stones?’
- then you shall tell them, ‘Because the waters of the Jordan were cut off before the ark of the LORD’s covenant. When it crossed over the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off. These stones shall be for a memorial to the children of Israel forever.’”
- The children of Israel did as Joshua commanded, and took up twelve stones out of the middle of the Jordan, as the LORD spoke to Joshua, according to the number of the tribes of the children of Israel. They carried them over with them to the place where they camped, and laid them down there.
- 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.
- For the priests who bore the ark stood in the middle of the Jordan until everything was finished that the LORD commanded Joshua to speak to the people, according to all that Moses commanded Joshua; and the people hurried and passed over.
- When all the people had completely crossed over, the LORD’s ark crossed over with the priests in the presence of the people.
- The children of Reuben, and the children of Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh crossed over armed before the children of Israel, as Moses spoke to them.
- About forty thousand men, ready and armed for war, passed over before the LORD to 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.
- The LORD spoke to Joshua, saying,
- “Command the priests who bear the ark of the covenant, that they come up out of the Jordan.”
- Joshua therefore commanded the priests, saying, “Come up out of the Jordan!”
- When the priests who bore the ark of the LORD’s covenant had come up out of the middle of the Jordan, and the soles of the priests’ feet had been lifted up to the dry ground, the waters of the Jordan returned to their place, and went over all its banks, as before.
- 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.
- Joshua set up those twelve stones, which they took out of the Jordan, in Gilgal.
- He spoke to the children of Israel, saying, “When your children ask their fathers in time to come, saying, ‘What do these stones mean?’
- Then you shall let your children know, saying, ’Israel came over this Jordan on dry land.
- For the LORD your God dried up the waters of the Jordan from before you until you had crossed over, as the LORD your God did to the Red Sea, which he dried up from before us, until we had crossed over,
- that all the peoples of the earth may know that the LORD’s hand is mighty, and that you may fear the LORD your God forever.’”
After the miraculous crossing of the Jordan River at flood stage, God instructs Joshua to set up a memorial of twelve stones. Each stone was brought from the midst of the Jordan, right where the priests stood holding the Ark of the Covenant. Twelve men, one from each tribe, carried these stones to their campsite at Gilgal:
“He said to the Israelites, ‘In the future when your descendants ask their parents, ‘What do these stones mean?’ tell them, ‘Israel crossed the Jordan on dry ground.’ For the Lord your God dried up the Jordan before you until you had crossed over.’” (Joshua 4:21-23, New International Version)
Archaeologically and historically, stone memorials were common practice in ancient Near Eastern cultures as testimonies to extraordinary events or divine interventions. To modern eyes, these stones might seem humble or insignificant, but to ancient Israelites, they were powerful visual reminders of God’s mighty acts.
Memory was deeply valuable to the Israelites. Oral storytelling traditions constituted their cultural essence; stories communicated their identity, place in history, and their relationship with Yahweh. Setting these twelve stones was more than erecting a monument—it was establishing a perpetual testimony that future generations would see, prompting stories of God’s faithfulness to arise again.
The biblical mandate to “remember” (Hebrew זָכַר, zakar) carries a deeper nuance beyond recalling facts; it involves actively re-experiencing or spiritually reconnecting oneself to past events of God’s deliverance and care. The stones became “sermons” in stone, assuring the Israelites—and us today—that the God who provided in the past remains faithful now and in every tomorrow.
A spiritual lesson we may miss as Westerners is that biblical faith highly values tangible symbols, places, and community memory. While we often tend to spiritualize everything and avoid physical reminders (aside from Communion and Baptism in Protestant traditions), the Hebrew faith encouraged concrete visual reminders of divine intervention, binding generations together.
Historically, influential Christian thinkers like Augustine and Calvin emphasized the importance of passed-down faith. Augustine noted how visible memorials gave tangible reference points to God’s hidden grace. Calvin, reviewing this passage, stressed the need to guard against forgetfulness; humans easily slip into complacency and unbelief, losing sight of God’s prior acts of faithfulness.
Similarly, Jesus instituted communion as a tangible practical symbol, urging believers: “Do this in remembrance of me.” The memorial stones parallel communion—not as mere passive nostalgia—but as active, purposeful remembrance, renewing our faith and courage to trust in God’s sovereign care.
We too must have ways of marking God’s acts of kindness and deliverance. Whether through journals, songs, certain traditions, or artwork, our homes and families ought to have symbols and rituals pointing us purposefully back to spiritual milestones. These practices strengthen our faith, shape our identity, and reassure us in difficult seasons.
Consider the Hebrew significance behind the place name: “Gilgal” (Hebrew גִּלְגָּל) is related to the verb meaning “to roll away” or “circle.” Later, Joshua explains Gilgal as the location where God “rolled away” the shame and reproach from Israel’s slavery in Egypt (Joshua 5:9). Thus, the stones at Gilgal serve as reminders not merely of crossing Jordan, but of God’s faithfulness in fully redeeming and liberating His people.
Consider the hymn, “O God, Our Help in Ages Past” by Isaac Watts. This hymn beautifully embodies the theme of God’s enduring care across generations and His faithfulness through all seasons of life.
Heavenly Father,
Your compassionate and powerful hand carried Your people safely over the
floodwaters of the Jordan. Help us to establish our own “memorial
stones”—reminders that recall Your goodness and mercy in our lives.
Embed in our hearts the stories of Your mighty acts, and grant us wisdom
to pass them faithfully along to future generations. May these memories
prompt praise, humility, and deeper trust in You, the unchanging and
faithful God. In Jesus’ name, Amen.