Joshua 4:19-24 New English Translation
19 The people went up from the Jordan on the tenth day of the first month[a] and camped in Gilgal on the eastern border of Jericho. 20 Now Joshua set up in Gilgal the[b] twelve stones they had taken from the Jordan. 21 He told the Israelites, “When your children someday ask their fathers, ‘What do these stones represent?’[c] 22 explain to[d] your children, ‘Israel crossed the Jordan River[e] on dry ground.’ 23 For the Lord your God dried up the water of the Jordan before you while you crossed over. It was just like when the Lord your God dried up the Red Sea before us while we crossed it.[f] 24 He has done this so[g] all the nations[h] of the earth might recognize the Lord’s power[i] and so you might always obey[j] the Lord your God.”
Read full chapterFootnotes
- Joshua 4:19 sn The first month was the month Abib (= late March-early April in the modern calendar). The preparations for Passover also began on the tenth day of the first month (Exod 12:2-3).
- Joshua 4:20 tn Heb “these,” referring specifically to the twelve stones mentioned in vv. 3-7.
- Joshua 4:21 tn Heb “What are these stones?”
- Joshua 4:22 tn Heb “make known to.”
- Joshua 4:22 tn Heb “crossed this Jordan”; the word “River” is not in the Hebrew text, but has been supplied to clarify the meaning.
- Joshua 4:23 tn Heb “just as the Lord your God did to the Red Sea when he dried [it] up before us while we crossed over.”
- Joshua 4:24 tn Heb “in order that.”
- Joshua 4:24 tn Or “peoples.”
- Joshua 4:24 tn Heb “know the hand of the Lord that it is strong.”
- Joshua 4:24 tn Heb “fear.”
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