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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "//www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="//www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" /><title>Joshua 4:9 Joshua also set up twelve stones in the middle of the Jordan, in the place where the priests who carried the ark of the covenant stood. 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And they are there to this day. <a href="/nlt/joshua/4.htm">New Living Translation</a> Joshua also set up another pile of twelve stones in the middle of the Jordan, at the place where the priests who carried the Ark of the Covenant were standing. And they are there to this day. <a href="/esv/joshua/4.htm">English Standard Version</a> And Joshua set up twelve stones in the midst of the Jordan, in the place where the feet of the priests bearing the ark of the covenant had stood; and they are there to this day. <a href="/bsb/joshua/4.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a> Joshua also set up twelve stones in the middle of the Jordan, in the place where the priests who carried the ark of the covenant stood. And the stones are there to this day. <a href="/kjv/joshua/4.htm">King James Bible</a> 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. <a href="/nkjv/joshua/4.htm">New King James Version</a> Then Joshua set up twelve stones in the midst 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. <a href="/nasb_/joshua/4.htm">New American Standard Bible</a> Then Joshua set up twelve stones in the middle of the Jordan at the place where the feet of the priests who carried the ark of the covenant were standing, and they are there to this day. <a href="/nasb/joshua/4.htm">NASB 1995</a> Then Joshua set up twelve stones in the middle of the Jordan at the place where the feet of the priests who carried the ark of the covenant were standing, and they are there to this day. <a href="/nasb77/joshua/4.htm">NASB 1977 </a> Then Joshua set up twelve stones in the middle of the Jordan at the place where the feet of the priests who carried the ark of the covenant were standing, and they are there to this day. <a href="/lsb/joshua/4.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a> But Joshua set up twelve stones in the middle of the Jordan at the place where the feet of the priests who carried the ark of the covenant were standing, and they are there to this day. <a href="/amp/joshua/4.htm">Amplified Bible</a> Then Joshua set up [a second monument of] twelve stones in the midst of the Jordan at the place where the feet of the priests who carried the ark of the covenant were standing, and they are there to this day. <a href="/csb/joshua/4.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a> Joshua also set up twelve stones in the middle of the Jordan where the priests who carried the ark of the covenant were standing. The stones are still there today. <a href="/hcsb/joshua/4.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a> Joshua also set up 12 stones in the middle of the Jordan where the priests who carried the ark of the covenant were standing. The stones are there to this day. <a href="/asv/joshua/4.htm">American Standard Version</a> 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. <a href="/cev/joshua/4.htm">Contemporary English Version</a> Joshua set up a monument next to the place where the priests were standing. This monument was also made of twelve large rocks, and it is still there in the middle of the river. <a href="/erv/joshua/4.htm">English Revised Version</a> 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. <a href="/gwt/joshua/4.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a> Joshua also set 12 stones in the middle of the Jordan River, where the priests who carried the ark of the promise had stood. The stones are still there today. <a href="/gnt/joshua/4.htm">Good News Translation</a> Joshua also set up twelve stones in the middle of the Jordan, where the priests carrying the Covenant Box had stood. (Those stones are still there.) <a href="/isv/joshua/4.htm">International Standard Version</a> Then Joshua set up twelve stones in the middle of the Jordan River at the location where the feet of the priests who carried the Ark of the Covenant had been standing, and they remain there to this day. <a href="/net/joshua/4.htm">NET Bible</a> Joshua also set up twelve stones in the middle of the Jordan in the very place where the priests carrying the ark of the covenant stood. They remain there to this very day. <a href="/nheb/joshua/4.htm">New Heart English Bible</a> 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. <a href="/wbt/joshua/4.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a> And Joshua set up twelve stones in the midst of 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.<div class="vheading2">Majority Text Translations</div><a href="/msb/joshua/4.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a> Joshua also set up twelve stones in the middle of the Jordan, in the place where the priests who carried the ark of the covenant stood. And the stones are there to this day. <a href="/web/joshua/4.htm">World English Bible</a> 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. <div class="vheading2">Literal Translations</div><a href="/lsv/joshua/4.htm">Literal Standard Version</a> even the twelve stones Joshua has raised up out of the midst of the Jordan, the place of the standing of the feet of the priests carrying the Ark of the Covenant, and they are there to this day. <a href="/ylt/joshua/4.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a> even the twelve stones hath Joshua raised up out of the midst of the Jordan, the place of the standing of the feet of the priests bearing the ark of the covenant, and they are there unto this day. <a href="/slt/joshua/4.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a> And Joshua raised up twelve stones in the midst of Jordan, in the place of the standing of the feet of the priest lifting up the ark of the covenant: and they shall be there till this day.<div class="vheading2">Catholic Translations</div><a href="/drb/joshua/4.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a> And Josue put other twelve stones in the midst of the channel of the Jordan, where the priests stood that carried the ark of the covenant: and they are there until this present day. <a href="/cpdv/joshua/4.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a> Similarly, Joshua positioned another twelve stones in the middle of the channel of the Jordan, where the priests stood who were carrying the ark of the covenant; and they are there, even to the present day. <a href="/nabre/joshua/4.htm">New American Bible</a> Joshua set up the twelve stones that had been in the Jordan riverbed on the spot where the priests stood who were carrying the ark of the covenant. They are there to this day. <a href="/nrsvce/joshua/4.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a> (Joshua set up twelve stones in the middle of the Jordan, in the place where the feet of the priests bearing the ark of the covenant had stood; and they are there to this day.)<div class="vheading2">Translations from Aramaic</div><a href="/lamsa/joshua/4.htm">Lamsa Bible</a> And they set up the twelve stones which they had taken out of the midst of the Jordan, where stood the feet of the priests who were bearing the ark of the covenant; and they are there to this day. <a href="/hpbt/joshua/4.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a> Twelve stones they set up which they took from within the Jordan, from under the feet of the Priests who carried the ark of the covenant, and they are there until today<div class="vheading2">OT Translations</div><a href="/jps/joshua/4.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a> Joshua also set up twelve stones in the midst of the Jordan, in the place where the feet of the priests that bore the ark of the covenant stood; and they are there unto this day. <a href="/sep/joshua/4.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a> And Joshua set also other twelve stones in Jordan itself, in the place that was under the feet of the priests that bore the ark of the covenant of the Lord; and there they are to this day. <a href="/parallel/joshua/4-9.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv">Audio Bible</div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/p91zXIGB0Rk?start=707" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe> <div class="vheadingv">Context</div><a href="/bsb/joshua/4.htm">Twelve Stones from the Jordan</a> …8Thus the Israelites did as Joshua had commanded them. They took up twelve stones from the middle of the Jordan, one for each tribe of Israel, just as the LORD had told Joshua; and they carried them to the camp, where they set them down. 9<a href="/hebrew/3091.htm" title="3091: yə·hō·wō·šu·a‘ (N-proper-ms) -- Or Yhowshua; from Yhovah and yasha'; Jehovah-saved; Jehoshua, the Jewish leader.">Joshua also</a> <a href="/hebrew/6965.htm" title="6965: hê·qîm (V-Hifil-Perf-3ms) -- To arise, stand up, stand. A primitive root; to rise.">set up</a> <a href="/hebrew/8147.htm" title="8147: ū·šə·têm (Conj-w:: Number-fd) -- Two (a card. number). Dual of sheniy; feminine shttayim; two; also twofold.">twelve</a> <a href="/hebrew/6240.htm" title="6240: ‘eś·rêh (Number-fsc) -- Ten. For eser; ten, i.e. -teen; also -teenth."></a> <a href="/hebrew/68.htm" title="68: ’ă·ḇā·nîm (N-fp) -- A stone. From the root of banah through the meaning to build; a stone.">stones</a> <a href="/hebrew/8432.htm" title="8432: bə·ṯō·wḵ (Prep-b:: N-msc) -- Midst. From an unused root meaning to sever; a bisection, i.e. the centre.">in the middle</a> <a href="/hebrew/3383.htm" title="3383: hay·yar·dên (Art:: N-proper-fs) -- The principal river of Pal. From yarad; a descender; Jarden, the principal river of Palestine.">of the Jordan,</a> <a href="/hebrew/8478.htm" title="8478: ta·ḥaṯ (Prep) -- Underneath, below, instead of. From the same as Towach; the bottom; only adverbially, below, in lieu of, etc.">in the place</a> <a href="/hebrew/3548.htm" title="3548: hak·kō·hă·nîm (Art:: N-mp) -- Priest. Active participle of kahan; literally, one officiating, a priest; also an acting priest.">where the priests</a> <a href="/hebrew/5375.htm" title="5375: nō·śə·’ê (V-Qal-Prtcpl-mpc) -- Or nacah ('abad); a primitive root; to lift, in a great variety of applications, literal and figurative, absol. And rel.">who carried</a> <a href="/hebrew/727.htm" title="727: ’ă·rō·wn (N-csc) -- A chest, ark. Or laron; from 'arah; a box.">the ark</a> <a href="/hebrew/1285.htm" title="1285: hab·bə·rîṯ (Art:: N-fs) -- A covenant. From barah (like bara'); a compact.">of the covenant</a> <a href="/hebrew/4673.htm" title="4673: maṣ·ṣaḇ (N-msc) -- Standing place, station, garrison. From natsab; a fixed spot; figuratively, an office, a military post.">stood.</a> <a href="/hebrew/7272.htm" title="7272: raḡ·lê (N-fdc) -- Foot. From ragal; a foot; by implication, a step; by euphem. The pudenda."></a> <a href="/hebrew/1961.htm" title="1961: way·yih·yū (Conj-w:: V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3mp) -- To fall out, come to pass, become, be. A primitive root; to exist, i.e. Be or become, come to pass.">And the stones are</a> <a href="/hebrew/8033.htm" title="8033: šām (Adv) -- There, thither. A primitive particle; there then; often thither, or thence.">there</a> <a href="/hebrew/5704.htm" title="5704: ‘aḏ (Prep) -- As far as, even to, up to, until, while. Properly, the same as ad; as far as, whether of space or time or degree.">to</a> <a href="/hebrew/2088.htm" title="2088: haz·zeh (Art:: Pro-ms) -- This, here. A primitive word; the masculine demonstrative pronoun, this or that.">this</a> <a href="/hebrew/3117.htm" title="3117: hay·yō·wm (Art:: N-ms) -- Day. From an unused root meaning to be hot; a day, whether literal, or figurative.">day.</a> 10Now the priests who carried the ark remained standing in the middle of the Jordan until the people had completed everything the LORD had commanded Joshua to tell them, just as Moses had directed Joshua. The people hurried across,…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div> <a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><a href="/exodus/14-21.htm">Exodus 14:21-22</a> Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and all that night the LORD drove back the sea with a strong east wind that turned it into dry land. So the waters were divided, / and the Israelites went through the sea on dry ground, with walls of water on their right and on their left. <a href="/1_kings/18-31.htm">1 Kings 18:31-32</a> And Elijah took twelve stones, one for each tribe of the sons of Jacob, to whom the word of the LORD had come and said, “Israel shall be your name.” / And with the stones, Elijah built an altar in the name of the LORD. Then he dug a trench around the altar large enough to hold two seahs of seed. <a href="/2_kings/2-8.htm">2 Kings 2:8</a> And Elijah took his cloak, rolled it up, and struck the waters, which parted to the right and to the left, so that the two of them crossed over on dry ground. <a href="/psalms/114-3.htm">Psalm 114:3</a> The sea observed and fled; the Jordan turned back; <a href="/isaiah/43-16.htm">Isaiah 43:16</a> Thus says the LORD, who makes a way in the sea and a path through the surging waters, <a href="/hebrews/11-29.htm">Hebrews 11:29</a> By faith the people passed through the Red Sea as on dry land; but when the Egyptians tried to follow, they were drowned. <a href="/1_corinthians/10-1.htm">1 Corinthians 10:1-2</a> I do not want you to be unaware, brothers, that our forefathers were all under the cloud, and that they all passed through the sea. / They were all baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea. <a href="/deuteronomy/27-2.htm">Deuteronomy 27:2-3</a> And on the day you cross the Jordan into the land that the LORD your God is giving you, set up large stones and coat them with plaster. / Write on them all the words of this law when you have crossed over to enter the land that the LORD your God is giving you, a land flowing with milk and honey, just as the LORD, the God of your fathers, has promised you. <a href="/2_kings/3-14.htm">2 Kings 3:14-17</a> Then Elisha said, “As surely as the LORD of Hosts lives, before whom I stand, were it not for my regard for the presence of Jehoshaphat king of Judah, I would not look at you or acknowledge you. / But now, bring me a harpist.” And while the harpist played, the hand of the LORD came upon Elisha / and he said, “This is what the LORD says: ‘Dig this valley full of ditches.’ ... <a href="/matthew/3-9.htm">Matthew 3:9</a> And do not presume to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham. <a href="/john/1-28.htm">John 1:28</a> All this happened at Bethany beyond the Jordan, where John was baptizing. <a href="/acts/7-44.htm">Acts 7:44-45</a> Our fathers had the tabernacle of the Testimony with them in the wilderness. It was constructed exactly as God had directed Moses, according to the pattern he had seen. / And our fathers who received it brought it in with Joshua when they dispossessed the nations God drove out before them. It remained until the time of David, <a href="/romans/6-4.htm">Romans 6:4</a> We were therefore buried with Him through baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may walk in newness of life. <a href="/1_peter/3-20.htm">1 Peter 3:20-21</a> who disobeyed long ago when God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built. In the ark a few people, only eight souls, were saved through water. / And this water symbolizes the baptism that now saves you also—not the removal of dirt from the body, but the pledge of a clear conscience toward God—through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, <a href="/revelation/12-16.htm">Revelation 12:16</a> But the earth helped the woman and opened its mouth to swallow up the river that the dragon had poured from his mouth.</div> <a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div>And Joshua set up twelve stones in the middle of Jordan, in the place where the feet of the priests which bore the ark of the covenant stood: and they are there to this day.set up twelve<a href="/exodus/24-12.htm">Exodus 24:12</a> And the LORD said unto Moses, Come up to me into the mount, and be there: and I will give thee tables of stone, and a law, and commandments which I have written; that thou mayest teach them.<a href="/exodus/28-21.htm">Exodus 28:21</a> And the stones shall be with the names of the children of Israel, twelve, according to their names, like the engravings of a signet; every one with his name shall they be according to the twelve tribes.<a href="/1_kings/18-31.htm">1 Kings 18:31</a> And Elijah took twelve stones, according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Jacob, unto whom the word of the LORD came, saying, Israel shall be thy name:<a href="/joshua/4-20.htm">Joshua 4:20</a> And those twelve stones, which they took out of Jordan, did Joshua pitch in Gilgal.<a href="/genesis/26-33.htm">Genesis 26:33</a> And he called it Shebah: therefore the name of the city is Beersheba unto this day.<a href="/deuteronomy/34-6.htm">Deuteronomy 34:6</a> And he buried him in a valley in the land of Moab, over against Bethpeor: but no man knoweth of his sepulchre unto this day.<div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/joshua/3-14.htm">Agreement</a> <a href="/joshua/4-7.htm">Ark</a> <a href="/joshua/3-17.htm">Bare</a> <a href="/joshua/3-15.htm">Bearing</a> <a href="/joshua/3-17.htm">Bore</a> <a href="/joshua/4-8.htm">Carried</a> <a href="/joshua/4-7.htm">Covenant</a> <a href="/joshua/4-8.htm">Jordan</a> <a href="/joshua/4-8.htm">Joshua</a> <a href="/joshua/4-8.htm">Middle</a> <a href="/joshua/4-8.htm">Midst</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/26-10.htm">Placed</a> <a href="/joshua/4-3.htm">Priests</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/32-5.htm">Spot</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/29-15.htm">Standing</a> <a href="/joshua/4-8.htm">Stones</a> <a href="/joshua/4-3.htm">Stood</a> <a href="/joshua/4-8.htm">Twelve</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/joshua/6-6.htm">Agreement</a> <a href="/joshua/4-10.htm">Ark</a> <a href="/joshua/4-10.htm">Bare</a> <a href="/joshua/4-16.htm">Bearing</a> <a href="/joshua/4-10.htm">Bore</a> <a href="/joshua/4-10.htm">Carried</a> <a href="/joshua/4-18.htm">Covenant</a> <a href="/joshua/4-10.htm">Jordan</a> <a href="/joshua/4-10.htm">Joshua</a> <a href="/joshua/4-10.htm">Middle</a> <a href="/joshua/4-10.htm">Midst</a> <a href="/joshua/6-23.htm">Placed</a> <a href="/joshua/4-10.htm">Priests</a> <a href="/2_kings/5-11.htm">Spot</a> <a href="/joshua/5-13.htm">Standing</a> <a href="/joshua/4-20.htm">Stones</a> <a href="/joshua/4-10.htm">Stood</a> <a href="/joshua/4-20.htm">Twelve</a><div class="vheading2">Joshua 4</div>1. <a href="/joshua/4-1.htm">Twelve men are appointed to take twelve memorial stones from Jordan</a> 9. <a href="/joshua/4-9.htm">Twelve other stones are set up in the midst of Jordan</a> 10. <a href="/joshua/4-10.htm">The people pass over</a> 14. <a href="/joshua/4-14.htm">God magnifies Joshua</a> 15. <a href="/joshua/4-15.htm">The priests commanded to come out of Jordan</a> 20. <a href="/joshua/4-20.htm">The twelve stones are pitched in Gilgal</a> </div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; 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The twelve stones represent the twelve tribes of Israel, symbolizing unity and collective memory. This act serves as a physical reminder of God's faithfulness and the miraculous crossing of the Jordan River.in the middle of the Jordan, The location in the middle of the Jordan River is significant as it marks the exact spot where the priests stood with the Ark of the Covenant. This emphasizes the miraculous nature of the event, as the river was at flood stage (<a href="/joshua/3-15.htm">Joshua 3:15</a>). The stones in the riverbed serve as a testament to God's power in stopping the waters, allowing the Israelites to cross on dry ground.in the place where the priests who carried the ark of the covenant stood. The Ark of the Covenant symbolizes God's presence among His people. The priests standing in the river with the Ark signifies God's direct involvement in the crossing. This mirrors the crossing of the Red Sea, where God's presence led the Israelites to safety (<a href="/exodus/14-21.htm">Exodus 14:21-22</a>). The Ark's presence in the river underscores the importance of faith and obedience in experiencing God's miracles.And the stones are there to this day. This phrase indicates the enduring nature of the memorial. It serves as a lasting witness to future generations of the miraculous event. The phrase "to this day" suggests that the stones were still visible at the time of the writing, providing historical credibility. This enduring memorial is a call to remember and teach future generations about God's mighty works, similar to the Passover celebration (<a href="/exodus/12-14.htm">Exodus 12:14</a>).<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <a href="/topical/j/joshua.htm">Joshua</a> The leader of the Israelites after Moses, tasked with leading them into the Promised Land. He is a central figure in this passage, demonstrating obedience and leadership. 2. <a href="/topical/t/twelve_stones.htm">Twelve Stones</a> These stones were set up as a memorial to the miraculous crossing of the Jordan River by the Israelites. They symbolize God's faithfulness and the fulfillment of His promises. 3. <a href="/topical/j/jordan_river.htm">Jordan River</a> A significant geographical location where the Israelites crossed into the Promised Land. It represents a boundary between the wilderness and the land of promise. 4. <a href="/topical/p/priests.htm">Priests</a> The priests carried the Ark of the Covenant and stood in the Jordan River, signifying God's presence and leading the people. 5. <a href="/topical/a/ark_of_the_covenant.htm">Ark of the Covenant</a> A sacred chest that held the tablets of the Law, representing God's covenant with Israel and His presence among His people.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><a href="/topical/m/memorials_of_faith.htm">Memorials of Faith</a> Just as Joshua set up stones to remember God's faithfulness, we should establish memorials in our lives to remind us of God's work and promises. <a href="/topical/g/god's_presence_in_transition.htm">God's Presence in Transition</a> The presence of the Ark in the Jordan signifies God's presence during times of transition. Trust in God's guidance as you move through life's changes. <a href="/topical/o/obedience_and_leadership.htm">Obedience and Leadership</a> Joshua's actions demonstrate the importance of obedience to God's commands and the role of leadership in guiding others in faith. <a href="/topical/f/faith_in_action.htm">Faith in Action</a> The Israelites' crossing of the Jordan required faith. We are called to step out in faith, trusting in God's promises even when the path seems uncertain. <a href="/topical/l/legacy_of_faith.htm">Legacy of Faith</a> The stones were a testimony to future generations. Consider how your faith and actions today can impact and inspire future generations.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_joshua_4.htm">Top 10 Lessons from Joshua 4</a> <a href="/q/should_christians_join_labor_unions.htm">What is Gilgal's significance in the Bible?</a> <a href="/q/what_is_it_still_called_today.htm">What is it still called today?</a> <a href="/q/when_was_joshua_written.htm">What is the Book of Joshua's date of writing?</a> <a href="/q/who_wrote_the_book_of_joshua.htm">Who is the author of the Book of Joshua?</a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/joshua/4.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div>Verse 9. - And Joshua set up twelve stones in the midst of Jordan. A great deal of ingenuity has been wasted over this passage. Kennicott would read "from the midst," instead of "in the midst;" but this purely conjectural emendation is contrary to the fact that these stones were to be set up where the priests bearing the ark stood, while the others were to be set up where the Israelites rested for the night. Again: it has been asked why stones should be placed as a memorial in the Jordan itself, where no man could see them. The answer is a simple one. They were not placed in the Jordan, but at some distance from its banks. They were placed where the priests stood, i.e., at the brink of the Jordan ("juxta ripam," Jarchi), which at that time had overflowed its banks (<a href="/joshua/3-15.htm">Joshua 3:15</a>). It is no reply to this to observe with the translator of Keil that the stones would by this interpretation be left high and dry for the greater part of the year, for this would be the very reason why that precise spot was fixed upon for a memorial. Nor does the word בְּתּוך in the midst, constitute any valid objection to this interpretation, for the same word is used in <a href="/joshua/3-17.htm">Joshua 3:17</a>, although two verses previously we are told that the priests stood at the brink of the swollen river with the soles of their feet just dipped in the water (see note there). Thus while the Vulgate translates "in medio Jordanis alveo," the LXX. renders more accurately by ἐν αὐτῷ τῷ Ιορδάνῃ. Thus Rosenmuller's objection to the two monuments, namely, that such monuments would never be placed in a rapidly flowing stream like the Jordan, vanishes; while, as Poole suggests, these stones might be heavier, and form even a more enduring memorial than that of the first resting place of the Israelites, constructed as it were of stones which were not beyond the power of one man to carry after all, it may be asked whether it is more probable that this passage is an insertion from another, and an irreconcilable account (Meyer, Knobel), or that it is a later gloss (Rosenmuller, Maurer, etc.), or that two monuments of so mighty and memorable a miracle should have been set up, one at the place where the priests stood, and the other where the Israelites rested after this wonderful interposition of God on their behalf. So Hengstenberg 'Geschichte des Reiches Gottes,' p. 203. The Syriac version only supports Rosenmuller's view. The LXX. and Vulgate render "twelve other stones." The supposition that the sacred historian gives all the commands of God to Joshua, and that therefore such parts of the narrative as are not contained in these commands are to be rejected, is refuted by a comparison, for instance, of <a href="/joshua/3-7.htm">Joshua 3:7, 8</a>, with vers. 13, 17. <a href="/commentaries/joshua/4-9.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a> <a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Hebrew</div>Joshua also יְהוֹשֻׁעַ֮ (yə·hō·wō·šu·a‘) Noun - proper - masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_3091.htm">Strong's 3091: </a> Joshua -- 'the LORD is salvation', Moses' successor, also the name of a number of Israelites set up הֵקִ֣ים (hê·qîm) Verb - Hifil - Perfect - third person masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_6965.htm">Strong's 6965: </a> To arise, stand up, stand twelve וּשְׁתֵּ֧ים (ū·šə·têm) Conjunctive waw | Number - fd <a href="/hebrew/strongs_8147.htm">Strong's 8147: </a> Two (a cardinal number) stones אֲבָנִ֗ים (’ă·ḇā·nîm) Noun - feminine plural <a href="/hebrew/strongs_68.htm">Strong's 68: </a> A stone in the middle בְּת֣וֹךְ (bə·ṯō·wḵ) Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct <a href="/hebrew/strongs_8432.htm">Strong's 8432: </a> A bisection, the centre of the Jordan, הַיַּרְדֵּן֒ (hay·yar·dên) Article | Noun - proper - feminine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_3383.htm">Strong's 3383: </a> Jordan -- the principal river of Palestine in the place תַּ֗חַת (ta·ḥaṯ) Preposition <a href="/hebrew/strongs_8478.htm">Strong's 8478: </a> The bottom, below, in lieu of where the priests הַכֹּהֲנִ֔ים (hak·kō·hă·nîm) Article | Noun - masculine plural <a href="/hebrew/strongs_3548.htm">Strong's 3548: </a> Priest who carried נֹשְׂאֵ֖י (nō·śə·’ê) Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural construct <a href="/hebrew/strongs_5375.htm">Strong's 5375: </a> To lift, carry, take the ark אֲר֣וֹן (’ă·rō·wn) Noun - common singular construct <a href="/hebrew/strongs_727.htm">Strong's 727: </a> A chest, ark of the covenant הַבְּרִ֑ית (hab·bə·rîṯ) Article | Noun - feminine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_1285.htm">Strong's 1285: </a> A covenant were standing. מַצַּב֙ (maṣ·ṣaḇ) Noun - masculine singular construct <a href="/hebrew/strongs_4673.htm">Strong's 4673: </a> A fixed spot, an office, a military post And [the stones] are וַיִּ֣הְיוּ (way·yih·yū) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural <a href="/hebrew/strongs_1961.htm">Strong's 1961: </a> To fall out, come to pass, become, be there שָׁ֔ם (šām) Adverb <a href="/hebrew/strongs_8033.htm">Strong's 8033: </a> There, then, thither to עַ֖ד (‘aḏ) Preposition <a href="/hebrew/strongs_5704.htm">Strong's 5704: </a> As far as, even to, up to, until, while this הַזֶּֽה׃ (haz·zeh) Article | Pronoun - masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_2088.htm">Strong's 2088: </a> This, that day. הַיּ֥וֹם (hay·yō·wm) Article | Noun - masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_3117.htm">Strong's 3117: </a> A day <div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/joshua/4-9.htm">Joshua 4:9 NIV</a> <a href="/nlt/joshua/4-9.htm">Joshua 4:9 NLT</a> <a href="/esv/joshua/4-9.htm">Joshua 4:9 ESV</a> <a href="/nasb/joshua/4-9.htm">Joshua 4:9 NASB</a> <a href="/kjv/joshua/4-9.htm">Joshua 4:9 KJV</a> <a href="//bibleapps.com/joshua/4-9.htm">Joshua 4:9 BibleApps.com</a> <a href="//bibliaparalela.com/joshua/4-9.htm">Joshua 4:9 Biblia Paralela</a> <a href="//holybible.com.cn/joshua/4-9.htm">Joshua 4:9 Chinese Bible</a> <a href="//saintebible.com/joshua/4-9.htm">Joshua 4:9 French Bible</a> <a href="/catholic/joshua/4-9.htm">Joshua 4:9 Catholic Bible</a> <a href="/joshua/4-9.htm">OT History: Joshua 4:9 Joshua set up twelve stones (Josh. Jos)</a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/joshua/4-8.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Joshua 4:8"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Joshua 4:8" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/joshua/4-10.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Joshua 4:10"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Joshua 4:10" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>