Joshua 4

In our study of Joshua chapter four, we will look at the importance of remembering what God has done in the past. We will look at another example of God telling His people to mark either a day or a location to help them to remember His work on their behalf.

Chapter Overview

Joshua chapter 4 picks up immediately after the miracle at the Jordan. With the whole nation safely across, ADONAI turns Israel's attention from the crossing itself to the task of remembering it. Twelve men, one from each tribe, are sent back into the dry riverbed to carry out stones and set them up as a permanent marker.

The chapter is built around memory and testimony. A second set of twelve stones is placed in the river itself, the people camp at Gilgal, and Joshua explains that the whole point of the memorial is so that future generations will ask what the stones mean — giving parents a built-in opportunity to retell what God has done.

Historical Background

Gilgal, where Israel made its first camp in the land, sits on the plains just east of Jericho. The name itself comes from a Hebrew root meaning "to roll," and the site would go on to serve as Israel's base of operations for the early conquest.

Setting up standing stones as a memorial was a familiar practice in the ancient Near East — Jacob and Laban had done something similar generations earlier to mark their covenant (Genesis 31). What makes Israel's memorial distinct is its stated purpose: not to mark a treaty between people, but to preserve a testimony of what God Himself had done, meant to be explained generation after generation.

Joshua 4:1-3

After the whole nation had finished crossing the Yarden, ADONAI said to Y'hoshua, "Take for yourselves from the people twelve men, a man from every tribe; and give them this order: 'Take twelve stones from the middle of the Yarden riverbed, where the cohanim are standing, carry them over with you and set them down in the place where you will camp tonight.'"

We see that Israel is referred to here as "nation" and, anytime we see this in the Bible, it is to be a reminder of God's promise to Avraham saying He would make Avraham into a great nation or "goy gadol". After the people had crossed, God had the leaders take stones from the dry riverbed and carry them to their camp for the night. We see that each tribe was supposed to be represented so that they would all have a witness to share with the generations to come. We are reminded that, throughout the Bible, the number twelve is associated with divine power. These memorial stones would remind the people that it was the power of God that stopped the waters.

Joshua 4:4-7

Y'hoshua called the twelve men whom he had chosen from the people of Isra'el, a man from every tribe, and said to them, "Go on ahead of the ark of ADONAI your God into the riverbed of the Yarden. Then, each of you take a stone on his shoulder, corresponding to the number of tribes of the people of Isra'el. This will be a sign for you. In the future, when your children ask, 'What do you mean by these stones?' you will answer them, 'It's because the water in the Yarden was cut off before the ark for the covenant of ADONAI; when it crossed the Yarden, the water in the Yarden was cut off; and these stones are to be a reminder for the people of Isra'el forever.'"

In chapter 3, we looked at walking in the power of God. Here we see the fact that God wants us to remember that He is the source of all power. The danger for us, as mere men, is that we can get so caught up in the power that we have that it can go to our heads. This can open the door to pride which separates us from God just as it did with Satan. We also see that we have to tell others that it is God at work and not ourselves. This is especially true for our children and grandchildren as we see that these stones were to be a reminder for the children of those who crossed the Jordan. This testimony is how we overcome the schemes of the devil as we see in Revelation 12. There is power in remembering and sharing what God has done and that is why the devil tries to keep us quiet.

Hebraic Insight

The phrase "when your children ask" is not unique to this chapter — it echoes a pattern repeated throughout the Torah (Exodus 12:26, 13:14, Deuteronomy 6:20). Israelite faith was meant to be passed down through concrete, physical reminders that prompted honest questions, not through abstract instruction alone.

The stones themselves were called an "ot" — a sign. In Hebrew thought, a sign is not just a marker of information; it is meant to point beyond itself to the God who acted. The stones had no power in themselves — their entire purpose was to start a conversation that ended with the testimony of ADONAI's faithfulness.

Joshua 4:8 & 9

The people of Isra'el did just as Y'hoshua had ordered. They took twelve stones out of the Yarden riverbed, as ADONAI had said to Y'hoshua, corresponding to the number of the tribes of the people of Isra'el, carried them over with them to the place where they were camping, and set them down there. Y'hoshua also set up twelve stones in the Yarden River itself, in the place where the feet of the cohanim carrying the ark for the covenant had stood. They are there to this day.

The people did as Joshua had told them and the stones were laid as a memorial at their camp (Gilgal). That makes us ask the question: Where is Gilgal today? The short answer is that nobody knows as Gilgal refers to places that Israel camped. We can be sure that the stones are still there but we just don't know where that camp was located other than the fact that it was east of Jericho. The stones themselves were not important as they were only a tool that God used to help His people remember what He had done for them. They were a reminder of the fact that God had made a way for them through His power and not by anything they did. These people were going to face many challenges especially in dealing with the false gods of the people of Canaan. The only way for them to overcome those challenges was to remember that there is only one God and He takes care of His people. The same thing is true for us today as there are so many distractions that we can easily lose sight of the fact that God is in control and He is able. When you are faced with a struggle, stop and go back to your Gilgal. This is the point in your life where you accepted Yeshua Messiah and received the gift of the Holy Spirit. Remember what He has done and you will have the strength and courage to face whatever is ahead.

Joshua 4:10 & 11

The cohanim carrying the ark stood in the Yarden riverbed until Y'hoshua had finished saying to the people everything that ADONAI had ordered him to say, in keeping with everything that Moshe had ordered Y'hoshua; then the people hurried across. When all the people had finished crossing, the ark of ADONAI passed on, and the cohanim, ahead of the people.

We see that the priests and the ark of the covenant stayed in the middle of the Jordan holding back the flood waters until all the people had crossed. This standing in the gap was a picture of what Yeshua did on the cross as well as what we are called to do as Christians. Today, we stand in the gap between God's righteous judgment and a world that does not know Him. Only God knows when the last of His children will accept Yeshua and judgment will begin. We must remember the importance of sharing our testimony so that others can get to their own "Gilgal".

Joshua 4:12 & 13

The descendants of Re'uven, the descendants of Gad and the half-tribe of M'nasheh went on, armed, ahead of the people of Isra'el, as Moshe had said to them; some 40,000 armed soldiers ready for battle crossed in the presence of ADONAI to the plains of Yericho.

We see that the Israelites crossed over prepared for war to take what God was giving them and we are reminded that we are to do our part here in this world. We have been given authority by Yeshua to walk in victory now as well as in the future. We also see that those that had their home on the other side of the Jordan went out ahead to fight for their brothers. This reminds us of the fact that we are to fight for our brothers and sisters. The Israelites had physical battles to look forward to but ours is more a spiritual battle. We struggle against the deception of the devil to show people the truth which is only found in Yeshua Messiah.

Joshua 4:14

That day ADONAI made Y'hoshua great in full view of all Isra'el. They were in awe of him, just as they had been in awe of Moshe all his life.

After seeing the favor of the Lord upon Y'hoshua, the people respected him and what God was doing through him. It is a crucial point to see that it was the Lord that exalted him and not the number of college degrees or certificates that he had. The same is true for us today, in that a true leader is prepared by the Lord and not a course, lecture, or any other man made thing.

Joshua 4:15-18

ADONAI said to Y'hoshua, "Order the cohanim carrying the ark for the testimony to come up out of the Yarden." So Y'hoshua ordered the cohanim, "Come up out of the Yarden!" The cohanim carrying the ark for the covenant of ADONAI came up from the Yarden riverbed, and as soon as the soles of the feet of the cohanim touched dry ground, the water of the Yarden returned to its place and the river overflowed its banks as it had before.

At his command the priests carried the ark out of the river and the waters went back to flooding. In this, we see the necessity of remaining in the will of God and directed by the power of the Holy Spirit. Our hope, provision and protection from the things of this world are all in Him and where He is. When we choose to do things that are outside of what is best for our lives (outside the will of God), then, we may be flooded with the consequences. We will still be saved for eternity but the effects can make it seem like a hell on earth. The best way to stay in His will is to remember that we are in a spiritual battle. A good soldier for Yeshua Messiah only follows the orders of His Master and doesn't go off on their own.

Joshua 4:19 & 20

The people came up out of the Yarden on the tenth day of the first month and camped at Gilgal, by the eastern boundary of Yericho. Those twelve stones which they took out of the Yarden, Y'hoshua piled up at Gilgal.

The tenth day of the first month was the day that was set aside for selecting the Passover lamb. This lamb was to be taken care of for four days until its sacrifice (see Exodus 12:3). We are reminded that, throughout the Bible, the number four is associated with trials and this was a reminder to the Jews that God would take care of them during their struggles in the Promised Land.

Did You Know?

The Hebrew word for "stone," even (אבן), is traditionally understood by Jewish teachers as a combination of two smaller words: av (אב), meaning "father," and ben (בן), meaning "son." It's a fitting picture for this chapter — stones set up specifically so that a father could pass the story of God's faithfulness on to his son.

Joshua 4:21-23

Then he said to the people of Isra'el, "In the future, when your children ask their fathers what these stones mean, you are to explain it to them by saying, 'Isra'el came over this Yarden on dry land. For ADONAI your God dried up the water in the Yarden from in front of you, until you had crossed, just as ADONAI your God did to the Sea of Suf, which he dried up from in front of us, until we had crossed.

Y'hoshua told the people what they were to tell the future generations. He also reminds them that it was equal to what He had done when He brought them out of Egypt. We notice that it was all about remembering what God had done on their behalf. That was their testimony; what is yours?

Joshua 4:24

From this all the peoples of the earth can know that the hand of ADONAI is strong, and you can fear ADONAI your God forever.'"

As we see, God's purpose in doing this was for all mankind. As Christians, we all benefit from Israel's testimony of deliverance as it builds us up in our faith. For those who do not accept Yeshua Messiah, it is a warning that lets them know that it is not a good idea to mess with God's people. For Israel, it was a reminder to them that there is no other god like the Lord. They had entered a land where there were all kinds of idols and they were to remember the difference between an idol and the Lord God.

🎓 Continue Your Hebraic Journey

Joshua chapter 4 is one lesson in the Walk with Yeshua Joshua course. Continue your study by watching the companion teaching that explores the Hebrew language, covenant themes, and Messianic connections found in Israel's memorial at Gilgal.

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Messianic Themes

• Remembrance as worship. The stones existed so Israel would not forget what ADONAI had done — the same purpose Yeshua gave the bread and cup at His last Passover meal: "do this in remembrance of me" (Luke 22:19).
• Living stones. Twelve stones taken from the place where the priests stood picture believers themselves, described by Peter as "living stones" being built into a spiritual house (1 Peter 2:4-5).
• Twelve as foundation. The twelve tribes memorialized in stone anticipate the twelve foundations of the New Jerusalem, each inscribed with the names of the twelve apostles (Revelation 21:14).
• Testimony to the next generation. Joshua's instruction to explain the stones to future children mirrors the call given to every believer to pass on their own testimony of what Messiah has done.
• A monument to grace, not achievement. The stones commemorate what God did, not what Israel accomplished — a picture of salvation itself, received rather than earned.

Related Scriptures

• Genesis 31 — Jacob and Laban set up a stone memorial as a witness between them, an earlier example of a physical marker tied to covenant.
• Deuteronomy 6:20-25 — Moses instructs Israel on how to answer when their children ask about God's commands and His deliverance.
• Exodus 12:24-27 — Parents are told how to explain the Passover to their children in the years to come.
• Luke 22:19 — Yeshua institutes communion, telling His disciples to eat the bread "in remembrance of me."
• 1 Peter 2:4-5 — Believers described as living stones being built into a spiritual house.
• Revelation 21:12-14 — The New Jerusalem's foundations and gates bear the names of the twelve tribes and twelve apostles.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why were there two sets of twelve stones?

One set was carried out of the riverbed to Gilgal, where the people would camp and future generations would see it. The other was set up inside the Jordan itself, at the spot where the priests had stood, marking the place of the miracle even though it would remain underwater.

Where exactly was Gilgal?

Its precise location is not certain today, though it was somewhere on the plains east of Jericho. What mattered to the text was not preserving an exact GPS location but preserving the testimony connected to the place.

Why does the chapter emphasize that the stones are "there to this day"?

This phrase signals that the account was written down, at least in part, after some time had passed — and that the memorial was still standing as living, verifiable evidence of what had happened, not just a story being told.

Reflection Questions

1. What "stones" — physical reminders or markers — has God given you to remember what He's done in your life?
2. Who in your life is the next generation you're responsible for passing your testimony to?
3. Why do you think God chose a physical object, rather than just a story, to preserve this memory?
4. How does communion function in a similar way to the stones at Gilgal?
5. What is your own "Gilgal" — the place or moment you can return to when you need to remember God's faithfulness?