Joshua 4:12 — Meaning and Application

King James Version

“And the children of Reuben, and the children of Gad, and half the tribe of Manasseh, passed over armed before the children of Israel, as Moses spake unto them:”

Joshua 4:12

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Understanding the surrounding verses prevents misinterpretation:

For the priests which bare the ark stood in the midst of Jordan, until every thing was finished that the LORD commanded Joshua to speak unto the people, according to all that Moses commanded Joshua: and the people hasted and passed over.

And it came to pass, when all the people were clean passed over, that the ark of the LORD passed over, and the priests, in the presence of the people.

And the children of Reuben, and the children of Gad, and half the tribe of Manasseh, passed over armed before the children of Israel, as Moses spake unto them:

About forty thousand prepared for war passed over before the LORD unto battle, to the plains of Jericho. {prepared: or, ready armed}

On that day the LORD magnified Joshua in the sight of all Israel; and they feared him, as they feared Moses, all the days of his life.

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Joshua 4:1

"And it came to pass, when all the people were clean passed over Jordan, that the LORD spake unto Joshua, saying,"

Joshua 4:2

"Take you twelve men out of the people, out of every tribe a man,"

Joshua 4:3

"And command ye them, saying, Take you hence out of the midst of Jordan, out of the place where the priests' feet stood firm, twelve stones, and ye shall carry them over with you, and leave them in the lodging place, where ye shall lodge this night."

Joshua 4:4

"Then Joshua called the twelve men, whom he had prepared of the children of Israel, out of every tribe a man:"

Joshua 4:5

"And Joshua said unto them, Pass over before the ark of the LORD your God into the midst of Jordan, and take ye up every man of you a stone upon his shoulder, according unto the number of the tribes of the children of Israel:"

Joshua 4:6

"That this may be a sign among you, {that} when your children ask {their fathers} in time to come, saying, What {mean} ye by these stones? {in time...: Heb. to morrow}"

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