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The Scriptorium

Twelve Men, Twelve Stones

Hey, why are those guys going back into the river?

Joshua 4 (1)

And it came to pass, when all the people had completely crossed over the Jordan, that the L
ORD spoke to Joshua, saying: “Take for yourselves twelve men from the people, one man from every tribe, and command them, saying, ‘Take for yourselves twelve stones from here, out of the midst of the Jordan, from the place where the priests’ feet stood firm. You shall carry them over with you and leave them in the lodging place where you lodge tonight.’” Joshua 4.1-3

Reflect.
1.  Now the twelve men appointed in chapter 3 will accomplish their assigned task. Why do you suppose God thought it necessary to reiterate in verse 2 the instructions He had given in Joshua 3.12? 

2.  The instructions of Joshua 3.12 are here expanded (v. 3). This is typical of how God has led His people thus far – only as much instruction as needed. Was God teaching the people to wait on Him?

Think about it.
We note again the repetition of “all” and “completely crossed over” from Joshua 3.17. That seems to be important. But Israel is not yet finished at the Jordan River. The twelve who were appointed in Joshua 3.12 are now given more detailed instructions concerning their commission.

Twelve men – one from each of the twelve tribes – are to return to the dry river bed and retrieve twelve stones, one each. The stones are to be collected from a particular place and deposited in a particular place. We can imagine the people of Israel looking back from the west bank of the Jordan and wondering about this strange undertaking. Why are these men heading back into the river bed? What are they doing?

The people would not be told the meaning of this effort until the end of chapter 4. They would have had time to watch these men at work, view the stones as they were set down in the camp, and observe as Joshua assembled the stones into a heap (and as he piled up twelve more stones back in the river bed). There must have been much murmuring and speculating about the meaning of this project. Sometimes it pleases God to leave us to wonder for a while, until, by further revelation, He reveals the beauty and significance of His frequently strange or curious commands.

This is what the New Testament does for the Old, and what Jesus does for the whole story of Israel.

Meditate and discuss.
1.  What do you make of that pointed repetition in verse 1 of the words of Joshua 3.17? For now, make a mental note of that phrase “all Israel” or “all the people.” It will become important later on in the book of Joshua. 

2.  The place from which the stones were to be selected is significant, as was the place where they were to be deposited. Explain.

3.  These stones would have been fairly heavy and probably rather large (v. 5). What can you imagine was going on in the minds of God’s people as they watched these twelve men struggling with these stones?

“The twelve patriarchs destined to become twelve tribes were arranged to be a type and pattern of the number of the apostles. So were the twelve fountains in the desert and twelve stones taken from the bed of the Jordan. We leave it to the student of the law to find deeper proof of all this.” Peter Chrysologus (380-450 AD)

Lord, thank You for tearing out my heart of stone and giving me a heart of flesh (Ezek. 36.26, 27), so that I…


Pray Psalm 116.1-14.
Here is a psalm celebrating the saving work of God. Like the stones Israel gathered from the Jordan, this psalm can remind us of God’s grace and mercy and lead us to renew our confession of faith and commitment to Him.

Psalm 116.1-14 (Mit Freuden Zart: All Praise to God Who Reigns Above)
I love the Lord because He hears my cries and pleas for mercy.
Because He bends to me His ears, my prayers shall ever thus be.
The snares of death encompassed me; hell’s grip could not unloosened be;
Distress and anguish pressed me.

I called to God, “O Lord, I pray, my soul redeem with favor!”
The Lord is gracious in His way, and righteous is our Savior.
His mercy to the simple flies; He lifted me up to the skies –
I rest in Him forever!

Full well the Lord has dealt with me; my soul from death He delivered.
My weeping eyes, my stumbling feet, He has redeemed forever.
Forever I before His face shall walk with those who know His grace,
And dwell with them forever.

Afflicted, I believe His Word, though lying men would undo me.
What shall I render to the Lord for all His blessings to me?
Salvation’s cup I lift above and call upon the God of love
And pay my vows most truly.

T. M. Moore

Where does the book of Joshua fit in the ongoing story of God’s covenant? Our workbook, God’s Covenant, can help you discover the place in God’s work of redemption not only of Joshua but of all the books of the Bible. God’s Covenant is a valuable resource to guide you in all your studies in God’s Word. To order your copy, click here.

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Except as indicated, Scripture taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. All psalms for singing adapted from The Ailbe Psalter. All quotations from Church Fathers from Ancient Christian Commentary Series, General Editor Thomas C. Oden (Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 2006).

T.M. Moore

T. M. Moore is principal of The Fellowship of Ailbe, a spiritual fellowship in the Celtic Christian tradition. He and his wife, Susie, make their home in the Champlain Valley of Vermont.
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