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MOF JOS Chapter 4

4 When the whole nation had finished crossing the Jordan, the Eternal also said to Joshua, 2 ”Take twelve men from the nation, a man from each clan, 3 and order them to take twelve stones out of the Jordan from the spot where the feet of the priests stood firm; they must carry these stones across and place them on the spot where you spend the night.” 4 Joshua called the twelve men of Israel whom he had ready, one from each of the clans; 5 Joshua said to them, ”Cross in front of the ark of the Eternal your God through the Jordan, each of you taking a stone on his shoulder, one for each of the clans of Israel. 6 They are to be a sign for your nation. When your children in after days ask what is the meaning of these stones, 7 you shall tell them it was because the waters of the Jordan were stopped before the ark of the compact of the Eternal, stopped when it crossed the Jordan; these stones shall be a memorial for Israel for all time.” 8 The Israelites did as Joshua gave orders; they lifted twelve stones out of the Jordan, as the Eternal had commanded Joshua, one for each of the clans of Israel, and carried them over along with them to the spot where they spent the night, laying them down there. 9 Joshua set up twelve stones in the middle of the Jordan on the spot where the feet of the priests who carried the ark of the compact had stood; they are there to this day. 10 For the priests who carried the ark stood in the middle of the Jordan till all was finished that Joshua was told by the Eternal to enjoin upon the people, all that Moses had commanded Joshua. The people hurried over, 11 and when all the people had finished crossing, the ark passed over, the priests advancing to the front of the people. 12 The Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half clan of Manasseh passed across under arms in front of the Israelites, as Moses had ordered them, 13 about forty thousand men equipped for war, crossing under the eyes of the Eternal to the steppes of Jericho to fight. 14 The Eternal exalted Joshua that day in the eyes of all Israel; they stood in awe of him as they had stood in awe of Moses all the days of his life. 15 Then the Eternal said to Joshua, 16 ”Order the priests who carry the ark of the Presence to step up from the Jordan.” 17 Joshua ordered the priests to step up from the Jordan, 18 and whenever the priests who carried the ark of the compact of the Eternal came up from the Jordan, whenever the soles of the feet of the priests were lifted on to the dry ground, the waters of the Jordan flowed back into their place and overflowed their banks (19as before. 19 It was on the tenth day of the first month that the people came up from the Jordan and encamped at Gilgal on the eastern side of Jericho. 20 These twelve stones which they took out of the Jordan were set up by Joshua at Gilgal. 21 He said to the Israelites, ”When your children in after days ask their fathers what these stones mean, 22 you shall tell your children that Israel crossed the Jordan here on dry ground, 23 For the Eternal your God dried up the waters of the Jordan before you till you had passed across, as the Eternal your God had done to the Reed Sea, which he also dried up before us till we passed across it —24 to let all the nations on earth know how strong is the hand of the Eternal, that they may stand in awe of the Eternal your God for all time.”

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