7 Then ye shall answer H559 them, That the waters H4325 of Jordan H3383 were cut off H3772 before H6440 the ark H727 of the covenant H1285 of the LORD; H3068 when it passed over H5674 Jordan, H3383 the waters H4325 of Jordan H3383 were cut off: H3772 and these stones H68 shall be for a memorial H2146 unto the children H1121 of Israel H3478 for H5704 ever. H5769
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 be a memorial H2146 unto the children H1121 of Israel, H3478 that H834 H4616 no stranger, H376 H2114 which is not of the seed H2233 of Aaron, H175 come near H7126 to offer H6999 incense H7004 before H6440 the LORD; H3068 that he be not as Korah, H7141 and as his company: H5712 as the LORD H3068 said H1696 to him by the hand H3027 of Moses. H4872
And thou shalt put H7760 the two H8147 stones H68 upon the shoulders H3802 of the ephod H646 for stones H68 of memorial H2146 unto the children H1121 of Israel: H3478 and Aaron H175 shall bear H5375 their names H8034 before H6440 the LORD H3068 upon his two H8147 shoulders H3802 for a memorial. H2146
And thou shalt take H3947 the atonement H3725 money H3701 of the children H1121 of Israel, H3478 and shalt appoint H5414 it for the service H5656 of the tabernacle H168 of the congregation; H4150 that it may be a memorial H2146 unto the children H1121 of Israel H3478 before H6440 the LORD, H3068 to make an atonement H3722 for your souls. H5315
And it shall come to pass, as soon as the soles H3709 of the feet H7272 of the priests H3548 that bear H5375 the ark H727 of the LORD, H3068 the Lord H113 of all the earth, H776 shall rest H5117 in the waters H4325 of Jordan, H3383 that the waters H4325 of Jordan H3383 shall be cut off H3772 from the waters H4325 that come down H3381 from above; H4605 and they shall stand H5975 upon an H259 heap. H5067 And it came to pass, when the people H5971 removed H5265 from their tents, H168 to pass over H5674 Jordan, H3383 and the priests H3548 bearing H5375 the ark H727 of the covenant H1285 before H6440 the people; H5971 And as they that bare H5375 the ark H727 were come H935 unto Jordan, H3383 and the feet H7272 of the priests H3548 that bare H5375 the ark H727 were dipped H2881 in the brim H7097 of the water, H4325 (for Jordan H3383 overfloweth H4390 all his banks H1415 all the time H3117 of harvest,) H7105 That the waters H4325 which came down H3381 from above H4605 stood H5975 and rose up H6965 upon an H259 heap H5067 very H3966 far H7368 from the city H5892 Adam, H121 that is beside H6654 Zaretan: H6891 and those that came down H3381 toward the sea H3220 of the plain, H6160 even the salt H4417 sea, H3220 failed, H8552 and were cut off: H3772 and the people H5971 passed over H5674 right against Jericho. H3405
He hath made H6213 his wonderful works H6381 to be remembered: H2143 the LORD H3068 is gracious H2587 and full of compassion. H7349
And G2532 when he had given thanks, G2168 he brake G2806 it, and G2532 said, G2036 Take, G2983 eat: G5315 this G5124 is G2076 my G3450 body, G4983 which G3588 is broken G2806 for G5228 you: G5216 this G5124 do G4160 in G1519 remembrance G364 of me. G1699
He that killeth H7819 an ox H7794 is as if he slew H5221 a man; H376 he that sacrificeth H2076 a lamb, H7716 as if he cut off H6202 a dog's H3611 neck; H6202 he that offereth H5927 an oblation, H4503 as if he offered swine's H2386 blood; H1818 he that burneth H2142 incense, H3828 as if he blessed H1288 an idol. H205 Yea, they have chosen H977 their own ways, H1870 and their soul H5315 delighteth H2654 in their abominations. H8251
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.