Chapter 4
1
were clean passed Josh 3:17; Deut 27:2
2
twelve men Josh 3:12; Num 1:4-15, Num 13:2, Num 34:18; Deut 1:23; 1Kgs 18:31; Matt 10:1-5
3
the priests feet Josh 3:13
twelve stones Josh 24:27; Gen 28:22; Deut 27:1-26; 1Sam 7:12; Ps 103:2, Ps 11:4; Luke 19:40
leave them Josh 4:8, Josh 4:19-20
4
prepared Josh 4:2; Mark 3:14-19
6
a sign Josh 22:27; Exod 12:14, Exod 13:9, Exod 31:13; Num 16:38; Isa 55:13; Ezek 20:12, Ezek 20:20
when your Josh 4:21; Exod 12:26-27, Exod 13:14; Deut 6:20-21, Deut 11:19; Ps 44:1, Ps 71:18, Ps 78:3-8; Isa 38:19; Acts 2:39
in time to come Heb. to-morrow
7
the waters Josh 3:13-16
memorial Josh 4:6; Exod 12:14, Exod 28:12, Exod 30:16; Num 16:40; Ps 111:4; Isa 66:3 *marg. 1Cor 11:24
8
did so as Joshua Josh 4:2-5, Josh 1:16-18
9
set up twelve Exod 24:12, Exod 28:21; 1Kgs 18:31; Ps 111:2-4
and they are there These words might be written by Joshua at the close of his life, or perhaps be added by some later prophet. It seems from this verse, that there were two sorts of stones erected as a memorial of this great event. Twelve at Gilgal (Josh 4:20), and twelve in the bed of the Jordan; which last might have been placed on a base of strong stone work, so high as always to be visible, and serve to mark the very spot where the priests stood with the ark. Drs. Kennicott and Shuckford, however, would read here with the Syriac, mittoch, "from the midst," instead of bethoch, "in the midst;" and render, "And Joshua took up the twelve stones (taken) from the midst of Jordan," etc. But this reading is unsupported by any manuscript yet collated; and it appears wholly unnecessary. Gen 26:33; Deut 34:6; Judg 1:26; 1Sam 30:25; 2Sam 4:3; 2Chr 5:9; Matt 27:8; Matt 28:15
10
stood in the midst Josh 3:13, Josh 3:16-17; Isa 28:16
Moses Num 27:21-23; Deut 31:9
hasted Exod 12:39; Ps 119:60; Prov 27:1; Eccl 9:10; 2Cor 6:2; Heb 3:7-8
11
that the ark Josh 4:18, Josh 3:8, Josh 3:17
12
the children Josh 1:14; Num 32:20-32
13
prepared for war or, ready armed, Eph 6:11
to the plains Josh 5:10; 2Kgs 25:5; Jer 39:5, Jer 52:8
14
magnified Josh 1:16-18, Josh 3:7; 1Cor 10:2
they feared him Exod 14:31; 1Sam 12:18; 1Kgs 3:28; 2Chr 30:12; Prov 24:21; Rom 13:4
16
Josh 3:3-6; Exod 25:16-22; Rev 11:19
17
Come ye up Gen 8:16-18; Dan 3:26; Acts 16:23, Acts 16:35-39
18
the soles Josh 3:13, Josh 3:15
lifted up Heb. plucked up
that the waters As soon as the priests and the ark were come up out of Jordan, the waters of the river, which had stood on a heap, flowed down according to their natural and usual course, and again soon filled the channel. This make it abundantly evident, that the miraculous change which had been given to the river was not from any secret natural cause, but solely by the power of God, and for the sake of his chosen people; for when Israel's host had passed through, and the token of his presence was removed, immediately the waters went forward again, so that if it be asked, "What aileth thee, O Jordan, that thou wast driven back?" it must be answered, it was in obedience to the God of Israel, and in kindness to the Israel of God. Exod 14:26-28
and flowed Heb. went, Josh 3:15; 1Chr 12:15; Isa 8:8
19
first month Exod 12:2-3
Gilgal That is, the place afterwards called Gilgal; for it is so called here by anticipation. It was about ten furlongs east from Jericho, and fifty west from the Jordan. See Josephus and Calmet. Josh 5:9, Josh 10:6, Josh 10:43, Josh 15:7; 1Sam 11:14-15, 1Sam 15:33; Amos 4:4, Amos 5:5; Mic 6:5
20
Josh 4:3, Josh 4:8
21
When your Josh 4:6; Ps 105:2-5, Ps 145:4-7
in time to come Heb. to-morrow
22
Josh 3:17; Exod 14:29, Exod 15:19; Ps 66:5-6; Isa 11:15-16, Isa 44:27, Isa 51:10; Rev 16:12
23
as the Lord The parents must take that occasion to tell their children of the drying up of the Red Sea forty years before: "As the Lord your God did to the Red Sea." It greatly magnifies later mercies to compare them with those before enjoyed; for, by making the comparison, it appears that God is the same yesterday, to-day, and forever. Later blessings should also bring to remembrance former mercies, and revive thankfulness for them.
which he dried Exod 14:21; Neh 9:11; Ps 77:16-19, Ps 78:13; Isa 43:16, Isa 63:12-14
24
all the people Exod 9:16; Deut 28:10; 1Sam 17:46; 1Kgs 8:42-43; 2Kgs 5:15, 2Kgs 19:19; Ps 106:8; Dan 3:26-29, Dan 4:34-35, Dan 6:26-27
that it is Exod 15:16; 1Chr 29:12; Ps 89:13
ye might Exod 14:31, Exod 20:20; Deut 6:2; Ps 76:6-8, Ps 89:7; Jer 10:6-7, Jer 32:40
for ever Heb. all days
1
were clean passed Josh 3:17; Deut 27:2
2
twelve men Josh 3:12; Num 1:4-15, Num 13:2, Num 34:18; Deut 1:23; 1Kgs 18:31; Matt 10:1-5
3
the priests feet Josh 3:13
twelve stones Josh 24:27; Gen 28:22; Deut 27:1-26; 1Sam 7:12; Ps 103:2, Ps 11:4; Luke 19:40
leave them Josh 4:8, Josh 4:19-20
4
prepared Josh 4:2; Mark 3:14-19
6
a sign Josh 22:27; Exod 12:14, Exod 13:9, Exod 31:13; Num 16:38; Isa 55:13; Ezek 20:12, Ezek 20:20
when your Josh 4:21; Exod 12:26-27, Exod 13:14; Deut 6:20-21, Deut 11:19; Ps 44:1, Ps 71:18, Ps 78:3-8; Isa 38:19; Acts 2:39
in time to come Heb. to-morrow
7
the waters Josh 3:13-16
memorial Josh 4:6; Exod 12:14, Exod 28:12, Exod 30:16; Num 16:40; Ps 111:4; Isa 66:3 *marg. 1Cor 11:24
8
did so as Joshua Josh 4:2-5, Josh 1:16-18
9
set up twelve Exod 24:12, Exod 28:21; 1Kgs 18:31; Ps 111:2-4
and they are there These words might be written by Joshua at the close of his life, or perhaps be added by some later prophet. It seems from this verse, that there were two sorts of stones erected as a memorial of this great event. Twelve at Gilgal (Josh 4:20), and twelve in the bed of the Jordan; which last might have been placed on a base of strong stone work, so high as always to be visible, and serve to mark the very spot where the priests stood with the ark. Drs. Kennicott and Shuckford, however, would read here with the Syriac, mittoch, "from the midst," instead of bethoch, "in the midst;" and render, "And Joshua took up the twelve stones (taken) from the midst of Jordan," etc. But this reading is unsupported by any manuscript yet collated; and it appears wholly unnecessary. Gen 26:33; Deut 34:6; Judg 1:26; 1Sam 30:25; 2Sam 4:3; 2Chr 5:9; Matt 27:8; Matt 28:15
10
stood in the midst Josh 3:13, Josh 3:16-17; Isa 28:16
Moses Num 27:21-23; Deut 31:9
hasted Exod 12:39; Ps 119:60; Prov 27:1; Eccl 9:10; 2Cor 6:2; Heb 3:7-8
11
that the ark Josh 4:18, Josh 3:8, Josh 3:17
12
the children Josh 1:14; Num 32:20-32
13
prepared for war or, ready armed, Eph 6:11
to the plains Josh 5:10; 2Kgs 25:5; Jer 39:5, Jer 52:8
14
magnified Josh 1:16-18, Josh 3:7; 1Cor 10:2
they feared him Exod 14:31; 1Sam 12:18; 1Kgs 3:28; 2Chr 30:12; Prov 24:21; Rom 13:4
16
Josh 3:3-6; Exod 25:16-22; Rev 11:19
17
Come ye up Gen 8:16-18; Dan 3:26; Acts 16:23, Acts 16:35-39
18
the soles Josh 3:13, Josh 3:15
lifted up Heb. plucked up
that the waters As soon as the priests and the ark were come up out of Jordan, the waters of the river, which had stood on a heap, flowed down according to their natural and usual course, and again soon filled the channel. This make it abundantly evident, that the miraculous change which had been given to the river was not from any secret natural cause, but solely by the power of God, and for the sake of his chosen people; for when Israel's host had passed through, and the token of his presence was removed, immediately the waters went forward again, so that if it be asked, "What aileth thee, O Jordan, that thou wast driven back?" it must be answered, it was in obedience to the God of Israel, and in kindness to the Israel of God. Exod 14:26-28
and flowed Heb. went, Josh 3:15; 1Chr 12:15; Isa 8:8
19
first month Exod 12:2-3
Gilgal That is, the place afterwards called Gilgal; for it is so called here by anticipation. It was about ten furlongs east from Jericho, and fifty west from the Jordan. See Josephus and Calmet. Josh 5:9, Josh 10:6, Josh 10:43, Josh 15:7; 1Sam 11:14-15, 1Sam 15:33; Amos 4:4, Amos 5:5; Mic 6:5
20
Josh 4:3, Josh 4:8
21
When your Josh 4:6; Ps 105:2-5, Ps 145:4-7
in time to come Heb. to-morrow
22
Josh 3:17; Exod 14:29, Exod 15:19; Ps 66:5-6; Isa 11:15-16, Isa 44:27, Isa 51:10; Rev 16:12
23
as the Lord The parents must take that occasion to tell their children of the drying up of the Red Sea forty years before: "As the Lord your God did to the Red Sea." It greatly magnifies later mercies to compare them with those before enjoyed; for, by making the comparison, it appears that God is the same yesterday, to-day, and forever. Later blessings should also bring to remembrance former mercies, and revive thankfulness for them.
which he dried Exod 14:21; Neh 9:11; Ps 77:16-19, Ps 78:13; Isa 43:16, Isa 63:12-14
24
all the people Exod 9:16; Deut 28:10; 1Sam 17:46; 1Kgs 8:42-43; 2Kgs 5:15, 2Kgs 19:19; Ps 106:8; Dan 3:26-29, Dan 4:34-35, Dan 6:26-27
that it is Exod 15:16; 1Chr 29:12; Ps 89:13
ye might Exod 14:31, Exod 20:20; Deut 6:2; Ps 76:6-8, Ps 89:7; Jer 10:6-7, Jer 32:40
for ever Heb. all days