6 That this may be a sign H226 among H7130 you, that when your children H1121 ask H7592 their fathers in time to come, H4279 saying, H559 What mean ye by these stones? H68
And it shall be when thy son H1121 asketh H7592 thee in time to come, H4279 saying, H559 What is this? that thou shalt say H559 unto him, By strength H2392 of hand H3027 the LORD H3068 brought us out H3318 from Egypt, H4714 from the house H1004 of bondage: H5650
For G1063 the promise G1860 is G2076 unto you, G5213 and G2532 to your G5216 children, G5043 and G2532 to all G3956 that are afar off, G1519 G3112 even as many as G3745 the Lord G2962 our G2257 God G2316 shall call. G302 G4341
Instead of the thorn H5285 shall come up H5927 the fir tree, H1265 and instead of the brier H5636 shall come up H5927 the myrtle tree: H1918 and it shall be to the LORD H3068 for a name, H8034 for an everlasting H5769 sign H226 that shall not be cut off. H3772
The living, H2416 the living, H2416 he shall praise H3034 thee, as I do this day: H3117 the father H1 to the children H1121 shall make known H3045 thy truth. H571
Which we have heard H8085 and known, H3045 and our fathers H1 have told H5608 us. We will not hide H3582 them from their children, H1121 shewing H5608 to the generation H1755 to come H314 the praises H8416 of the LORD, H3068 and his strength, H5807 and his wonderful works H6381 that he hath done. H6213 For he established H6965 a testimony H5715 in Jacob, H3290 and appointed H7760 a law H8451 in Israel, H3478 which he commanded H6680 our fathers, H1 that they should make them known H3045 to their children: H1121 That the generation H1755 to come H314 might know H3045 them, even the children H1121 which should be born; H3205 who should arise H6965 and declare H5608 them to their children: H1121 That they might set H7760 their hope H3689 in God, H430 and not forget H7911 the works H4611 of God, H410 but keep H5341 his commandments: H4687 And might not be as their fathers, H1 a stubborn H5637 and rebellious H4784 generation; H1755 a generation H1755 that set H3559 not their heart H3820 aright, H3559 and whose spirit H7307 was not stedfast H539 with God. H410
And this day H3117 shall be unto you for a memorial; H2146 and ye shall keep H2287 it a feast H2282 to the LORD H3068 throughout your generations; H1755 ye shall keep it a feast H2287 by an ordinance H2708 for ever. H5769
[[To the chief Musician H5329 for the sons H1121 of Korah, H7141 Maschil.]] H4905 We have heard H8085 with our ears, H241 O God, H430 our fathers H1 have told H5608 us, what work H6467 thou didst H6466 in their days, H3117 in the times H3117 of old. H6924
But that it may be a witness H5707 between us, and you, and our generations H1755 after H310 us, that we might do H5647 the service H5656 of the LORD H3068 before H6440 him with our burnt offerings, H5930 and with our sacrifices, H2077 and with our peace offerings; H8002 that your children H1121 may not say H559 to our children H1121 in time to come, H4279 Ye have no part H2506 in the LORD. H3068
And ye shall teach H3925 them your children, H1121 speaking H1696 of them when thou sittest H3427 in thine house, H1004 and when thou walkest H3212 by the way, H1870 when thou liest H7901 down, and when thou risest up. H6965
And when thy son H1121 asketh H7592 thee in time to come, H4279 saying, H559 What mean the testimonies, H5713 and the statutes, H2706 and the judgments, H4941 which the LORD H3068 our God H430 hath commanded H6680 you? Then thou shalt say H559 unto thy son, H1121 We were Pharaoh's H6547 bondmen H5650 in Egypt; H4714 and the LORD H3068 brought us out H3318 of Egypt H4714 with a mighty H2389 hand: H3027
The censers H4289 of these sinners H2400 against their own souls, H5315 let them make H6213 them broad H7555 plates H6341 for a covering H6826 of the altar: H4196 for they offered H7126 them before H6440 the LORD, H3068 therefore they are hallowed: H6942 and they shall be a sign H226 unto the children H1121 of Israel. H3478
Speak H1696 thou also unto the children H1121 of Israel, H3478 saying, H559 Verily H389 my sabbaths H7676 ye shall keep: H8104 for it is a sign H226 between me and you throughout your generations; H1755 that ye may know H3045 that I am the LORD H3068 that doth sanctify H6942 you.
And it shall be for a sign H226 unto thee upon thine hand, H3027 and for a memorial H2146 between thine eyes, H5869 that the LORD'S H3068 law H8451 may be in thy mouth: H6310 for with a strong H2389 hand H3027 hath the LORD H3068 brought thee out H3318 of Egypt. H4714
And it shall come to pass, when your children H1121 shall say H559 unto you, What mean ye by this service? H5656 That ye shall say, H559 It is the sacrifice H2077 of the LORD'S H3068 passover, H6453 who passed H6452 over the houses H1004 of the children H1121 of Israel H3478 in Egypt, H4714 when he smote H5062 the Egyptians, H4714 and delivered H5337 our houses. H1004 And the people H5971 bowed the head H6915 and worshipped. H7812
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Matthew Henry Commentary » Commentary on Joshua 4
Commentary on Joshua 4 Matthew Henry Commentary
Chapter 4
This chapter gives a further account of the miraculous passage of Israel through Jordan.
Jos 4:1-9
We may well imagine how busy Joshua and all the men of war were while they were passing over Jordan, when besides their own marching into an enemy's country, and in the face of the enemy, which could not but occasion them many thoughts of hear, they had their wives, and children, and families, their cattle, and tents, and all their effects, bag and baggage, to convey by this strange and untrodden path, which we must suppose either very muddy or very stony, troublesome to the weak and frightful to the timorous, the descent to the bottom of the river and the ascent out of it steep, so that every man must needs have his head full of care and his hands full of business, and Joshua more than any of them. And yet, in the midst of all his hurry, care must be taken to perpetuate the memorial of this wonderous work of God, and this care might not be adjourned to a time of greater leisure. Note, How much soever we have to do of business for ourselves and our families, we must not neglect nor omit what we have to do for the glory of God and the serving of his honour, for that is our best business. Now,
Jos 4:10-19
The inspired historian seems to be so well pleased with his subject here that he is loth to quit it, and is therefore very particular in his narrative, especially in observing how closely Joshua pursued the orders God gave him, and that he did nothing without divine direction, finishing all that the Lord had commanded him (v. 10), which is also said to be what Moses commanded. We read not of any particular commands that Moses gave to Joshua about this matter: the thing was altogether new to him. It must therefore be understood of the general instructions Moses had given him to follow the divine direction, to deliver that to the people which he received of the Lord, and to take all occasions to remind them of their duty to God, as the best return for his favours to them. This which Moses, who was now dead and gone, had said to him, he had in mind at this time, and did accordingly. It is well for us to have the good instructions that have been given us ready to us when we have occasion for them.
Jos 4:20-24
The twelve stones which were laid down in Gilgal (v. 8) are here set up either one upon another, yet so as that they might be distinctly counted, or one by another in rows; for after they were fixed they ar not call a heap of stones, but these stones.