Joshua 4:18-24

Context
4:18 The priests carrying the ark of the covenant of the Lord came up from the middle of the Jordan, and as soon as they set foot on dry land,¹ the water of the Jordan flowed again and returned to flood stage.²

4:19 The people went up from the Jordan on the tenth day of the first month³ and camped in Gilgal on the eastern border of Jericho.⁴ 4:20 Now Joshua set up in Gilgal the⁵ twelve stones they had taken from the Jordan. 4:21 He told the Israelites, “When your children someday ask their fathers, ‘What do these stones represent?’⁶ 4:22 explain⁷ to your children, ‘Israel crossed the Jordan River⁸ on dry ground.’ 4:23 For the Lord your God dried up the water of the Jordan before you while you crossed over. It was just like when the Lord your God dried up the Red Sea before us while we crossed it.⁹ 4:24 He has done this so¹⁰ all the nations¹¹ of the earth might recognize the Lord’s power¹² and so you might always obey¹³ the Lord your God.”

[4:18] ¹tn Heb “and the soles of the feet of the priests were brought up to the dry land.”

[4:18] ²tn Heb “and the waters of the Jordan returned to their place and went as formerly over their banks.”

[4:19] ³sn The first month was the month Abib (= late March-early April in the modern calendar). The Passover in Egypt also occurred on the tenth day of the first month (Exod 12:2; 13:4).

[4:19] ⁴map For location see Map5 B2; Map6 E1; Map7 E1; Map8 E3; Map10 A2; Map11 A1.

[4:20] ⁵tn Heb “these,” referring specifically to the twelve stones mentioned in vv. 3-7.

[4:21] ⁶tn Heb “What are these stones?”

[4:22] ⁷tn Heb “make known.”

[4:22] ⁸tn Heb “crossed this Jordan”; the word “River” is not in the Hebrew text, but has been supplied to clarify the meaning.

[4:23] ⁹tn Heb “just as the Lord your God did to the Red Sea when he dried [it] up before us while we crossed over.”

[4:24] ¹⁰tn Heb “in order that.”

[4:24] ¹¹tn Or “peoples.”

[4:24] ¹²tn Heb “know the hand of the Lord that it is strong.”

[4:24] ¹³tn Heb “fear.”