Joshua 4:4-7

4:4 Joshua summoned the twelve men he had appointed from the Israelites, one per tribe. 4:5 Joshua told them, “Go in front of the ark of the Lord your God to the middle of the Jordan. Each of you is to put a stone on his shoulder, according to the number of the Israelite tribes. 4:6 The stones ¹  will be a reminder to you. ²  When your children ask someday, ‘Why are these stones important to you?’ 4:7 tell them how the water of the Jordan stopped flowing ³  before the ark of the covenant of the Lord. When it crossed the Jordan, the water of the Jordan stopped flowing. ⁴  These stones will be a lasting memorial for the Israelites.”

[4:6]  ¹ tn Heb “that this may be”; the referent of “this” (the twelve stones) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[4:6]  ² tn Heb “in order that this might be a sign among you.”

[4:7]  ¹ tn Heb “were cut off from before.”

[4:7]  ² tn Heb “how the waters descending from above stood still.”