Crossing the Jordan and the Memorial Stones

Joshua and all Israel came from Shittim to the Jordan and camped there before crossing. After three days, the officers went through the camp and told the people to watch for the ark of God’s covenant carried by the Levitical priests. They were to follow it, but keep a clear distance, because they had never gone this way before.

Joshua told the people to make themselves ready, because the next day the Lord would do wonders among them. He told the priests to carry the ark ahead. Then Joshua said this would show that the living God was among them. Twelve men, one from each tribe, were appointed, and Joshua said the Jordan would stop when the priests’ feet rested in the water.

The Jordan was overflowing its banks at harvest time. But when the priests carrying the ark stepped into the edge of the river, the water from upstream stood in a heap far away, and the water flowing down was cut off. The priests stood firm on dry ground in the middle, and all Israel crossed over near Jericho until the whole nation had passed.

When all the nation had crossed, the Lord told Joshua to command twelve men, one from each tribe, to take twelve stones from the middle of the Jordan, from the place where the priests’ feet had stood firm. Each man carried one stone on his shoulder to the camp. These stones would be a sign for the future, so children could ask what they meant and hear how the Jordan was cut off before the ark.

Joshua also set up twelve stones in the middle of the Jordan where the priests had stood. The priests remained there until everything was finished. Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh crossed armed before Israel, about forty thousand men ready for battle. On that day the Lord magnified Joshua in the sight of all Israel.

Then Joshua told the priests to come up out of the Jordan. As soon as their feet came onto the dry ground, the river returned to its place and overflowed its banks as before. On the tenth day of the first month, the people camped at Gilgal on the east border of Jericho, and Joshua set up the twelve stones there.

At Gilgal, Joshua explained the meaning of the stones. In years to come, when children asked, Israel was to tell them that they had crossed the Jordan on dry land. God had done this as he had done at the Red Sea, so that all the peoples of the earth might know his hand is mighty and that Israel would fear the Lord always. What helps you remember what God has done?