Joshua 4
יהושע פרק ד׳
Section: נביאים · נביאים ראשונים | Book: Joshua | Chapter: 4 of 24 | Day: 4 of 742
Date: February 15, 2026
קלאוד על הנ״ך
Joshua chapter 4 focuses on memorializing the miraculous Jordan crossing through the establishment of a stone monument. Once the entire nation has crossed, God commands Joshua to select twelve men—one from each tribe—to take twelve stones from the exact spot in the Jordan where the priests stood with the Ark. These stones are to be carried to the place where Israel will camp that night and set up as an eternal memorial.
The chapter emphasizes the pedagogical purpose of this monument. Joshua explains that when future generations ask, “What do these stones mean to you?” (מָה הָאֲבָנִים הָאֵלֶּה לָכֶם), their parents will tell them the story of how God dried up the Jordan before the Ark of the Covenant. The question-and-answer format echoes the Passover Seder tradition, where children’s questions prompt retelling of the Exodus. Memory in the Torah is never merely nostalgic—it is active transmission of faith across generations.
The text notes that about 40,000 armed men from the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and half of Manasseh crossed over first, ready for battle—fulfilling their promise to Moses to help their brothers conquer the land before settling in their own territories east of the Jordan. Once all Israel has crossed, the priests carrying the Ark emerge from the riverbed, and the moment their feet touch dry ground, the Jordan’s waters return to their normal course, overflowing as before.
The chapter concludes with a summary of the event’s significance: “On that day God exalted Joshua in the sight of all Israel, and they revered him as they had revered Moses all the days of his life.” The crossing is dated to the tenth day of the first month—exactly forty years after the Israelites set aside the Passover lamb in Egypt. Israel camps at Gilgal, east of Jericho, where Joshua sets up the twelve stones. The dual purpose of the memorial is stated clearly: “so that all the peoples of the earth may know how mighty is the hand of the LORD, and so that you may fear the LORD your God forever.” The monument serves both as testimony to the nations and as a perpetual reminder for Israel.
פרק ד׳ · Chapter 4
פסוק א׳ · Verse 1
Hebrew:
וַֽיְהִי֙ כַּאֲשֶׁר־תַּ֣מּוּ כׇל־הַגּ֔וֹי לַעֲב֖וֹר אֶת־הַיַּרְדֵּ֑ן {פ}וַיֹּ֣אמֶר יְהֹוָ֔ה אֶל־יְהוֹשֻׁ֖עַ לֵאמֹֽר׃
English:
When the entire nation had finished crossing the Jordan, GOD said to Joshua,
פסוק ב׳ · Verse 2
Hebrew:
קְח֤וּ לָכֶם֙ מִן־הָעָ֔ם שְׁנֵ֥ים עָשָׂ֖ר אֲנָשִׁ֑ים אִישׁ־אֶחָ֥ד אִישׁ־אֶחָ֖ד מִשָּֽׁבֶט׃
English:
“Select twelve individuals from among the people, one from each tribe,
פסוק ג׳ · Verse 3
Hebrew:
וְצַוּ֣וּ אוֹתָם֮ לֵאמֹר֒ שְׂאֽוּ־לָ��ֶ֨ם מִזֶּ֜ה מִתּ֣וֹךְ הַיַּרְדֵּ֗ן מִמַּצַּב֙ רַגְלֵ֣י הַכֹּהֲנִ֔ים הָכִ֖ין שְׁתֵּים־עֶשְׂרֵ֣ה אֲבָנִ֑ים וְהַעֲבַרְתֶּ֤ם אוֹתָם֙ עִמָּכֶ֔ם וְהִנַּחְתֶּ֣ם אוֹתָ֔ם בַּמָּל֕וֹן אֲשֶׁר־תָּלִ֥ינוּ ב֖וֹ הַלָּֽיְלָה׃ {ס}
English:
and instruct them as follows: Pick up twelve stones from the spot exactly in the middle of the Jordan, where the priests’ feet are standing; take them along with you and deposit them in the place where you will spend the night.”
פסוק ד׳ · Verse 4
Hebrew:
וַיִּקְרָ֣א יְהוֹשֻׁ֗עַ אֶל־שְׁנֵ֤ים הֶעָשָׂר֙ אִ֔ישׁ אֲשֶׁ֥ר הֵכִ֖ין מִבְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל אִישׁ־אֶחָ֥ד אִישׁ־אֶחָ֖ד מִשָּֽׁבֶט׃
English:
Joshua summoned the twelve men whom he had designated among the Israelites, one from each tribe;
פסוק ה׳ · Verse 5
Hebrew:
וַיֹּ֤אמֶר לָהֶם֙ יְהוֹשֻׁ֔עַ עִ֠בְר֠וּ לִפְנֵ֨י אֲר֧וֹן יְהֹוָ֛ה אֱלֹהֵיכֶ֖ם אֶל־תּ֣וֹךְ הַיַּרְדֵּ֑ן וְהָרִ֨ימוּ לָכֶ֜ם אִ֣ישׁ אֶ֤בֶן אַחַת֙ עַל־שִׁכְמ֔וֹ לְמִסְפַּ֖ר שִׁבְטֵ֥י בְנֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃
English:
and Joshua said to them, “Walk up to the Ark of the ETERNAL your God, in the middle of the Jordan, and each of you lift a stone onto his shoulder—corresponding to the number of the tribes of Israel.
פסוק ו׳ · Verse 6
Hebrew:
לְמַ֗עַן תִּֽהְיֶ֛ה זֹ֥את א֖וֹת בְּקִרְבְּכֶ֑ם כִּֽי־יִשְׁאָל֨וּן בְּנֵיכֶ֤ם מָחָר֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר מָ֛ה הָֽאֲבָנִ֥ים הָאֵ֖לֶּה לָכ��ֽם׃
English:
This shall serve as a symbol among you: in time to come, when your children ask, ‘What is the meaning of these stones for you?’
פסוק ז׳ · Verse 7
Hebrew:
וַאֲמַרְתֶּ֣ם לָהֶ֗ם אֲשֶׁ֨ר נִכְרְת֜וּ מֵימֵ֤י הַיַּרְדֵּן֙ מִפְּנֵי֙ אֲר֣וֹן בְּרִית־יְהֹוָ֔ה בְּעׇבְרוֹ֙ בַּיַּרְדֵּ֔ן נִכְרְת֖וּ מֵ֣י הַיַּרְדֵּ֑ן וְ֠הָי֠וּ הָאֲבָנִ֨ים הָאֵ֧לֶּה לְזִכָּר֛וֹן לִבְנֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל עַד־עוֹלָֽם׃
English:
you shall tell them, ‘The waters of the Jordan were cut off because of the Ark of GOD’s Covenant; when it passed through the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off.’ And so these stones shall serve the people of Israel as a memorial for all time.”
פסוק ח׳ · Verse 8
Hebrew:
וַיַּעֲשׂוּ־כֵ֣ן בְּנֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵל֮ כַּאֲשֶׁ֣ר צִוָּ֣ה יְהוֹשֻׁ֒עַ֒ וַיִּשְׂא֡וּ שְׁתֵּֽי־עֶשְׂרֵ֨ה אֲבָנִ֜ים מִתּ֣וֹךְ הַיַּרְדֵּ֗ן כַּאֲשֶׁ֨ר דִּבֶּ֤ר יְהֹוָה֙ אֶל־יְהוֹשֻׁ֔עַ לְמִסְפַּ֖ר שִׁבְטֵ֣י בְנֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל וַיַּעֲבִר֤וּם עִמָּם֙ אֶל־הַמָּל֔וֹן וַיַּנִּח֖וּם שָֽׁם׃
English:
The Israelites did as Joshua ordered. They picked up twelve stones, corresponding to the number of the tribes of Israel, from the middle of the Jordan—as GOD had charged Joshua—and they took them along with them to their night encampment and deposited them there.
פסוק ט׳ · Verse 9
Hebrew:
וּשְׁתֵּ֧ים עֶשְׂרֵ֣ה אֲבָנִ֗ים הֵקִ֣ים יְהוֹשֻׁ֘עַ֮ בְּת֣וֹךְ הַיַּרְדֵּן֒ תַּ֗חַת מַצַּב֙ רַגְלֵ֣י הַכֹּהֲנִ֔ים נֹשְׂאֵ֖י אֲר֣וֹן הַבְּרִ֑ית וַיִּ֣הְיוּ שָׁ֔ם עַ֖ד הַיּ֥וֹם הַזֶּֽה׃
English:
Joshua also set up twelve stones in the middle of the Jordan, at the spot where the feet of the priests bearing the Ark of the Covenant had stood; and they have remained there to this day.
פסוק י״ · Verse 10
Hebrew:
וְהַכֹּהֲנִ֞��ם נֹשְׂאֵ֣י הָֽאָר֗וֹן עֹמְדִים֮ בְּת֣וֹךְ הַיַּרְדֵּן֒ עַ֣ד תֹּ֣ם כׇּֽל־הַ֠דָּבָ֠ר אֲשֶׁר־צִוָּ֨ה יְהֹוָ֤ה אֶת־יְהוֹשֻׁ֙עַ֙ לְדַבֵּ֣ר אֶל־הָעָ֔ם כְּכֹ֛ל אֲשֶׁר־צִוָּ֥ה מֹשֶׁ֖ה אֶת־יְהוֹשֻׁ֑עַ וַיְמַהֲר֥וּ הָעָ֖ם וַיַּעֲבֹֽרוּ׃
English:
The priests who bore the Ark remained standing in the middle of the Jordan until all the instructions that GOD had ordered Joshua to convey to the people had been carried out. And so the people speedily crossed over, just as Moses had assured Joshua in his charge to him.ajust as Moses had assured Joshua in his charge to him Connection of clause uncertain; cf. Deut. 31.7–8.
פסוק י״א · Verse 11
Hebrew:
וַיְהִ֛י כַּֽאֲשֶׁר־תַּ֥ם כׇּל־הָעָ֖ם לַעֲב֑וֹר וַיַּעֲבֹ֧ר אֲרוֹן־יְהֹוָ֛ה וְהַכֹּהֲנִ֖ים לִפְנֵ֥י הָעָֽם׃
English:
And when all the people finished crossing, the Ark of GOD and the priests advanced to the head of the people.
פסוק י״ב · Verse 12
Hebrew:
וַ֠יַּעַבְר֠וּ בְּנֵֽי־רְאוּבֵ֨ן וּבְנֵי־גָ֜ד וַחֲצִ֨י שֵׁ֤בֶט הַֽמְנַשֶּׁה֙ חֲמֻשִׁ֔ים לִפְנֵ֖י בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל כַּאֲשֶׁ֛ר דִּבֶּ֥ר אֲלֵיהֶ֖ם מֹשֶֽׁה׃
English:
The Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh went across armedbarmed Meaning of Heb. uncertain. in the van of the Israelites, as Moses had charged them.cas Moses had charged them See Num. 32.20–22.
פסוק י״ג · Verse 13
Hebrew:
כְּאַרְבָּעִ֥ים אֶ֖לֶף חֲלוּצֵ֣י הַצָּבָ֑א עָבְר֞וּ לִפְנֵ֤י יְהֹוָה֙ לַמִּלְחָמָ֔ה אֶ֖ל עַֽרְב֥וֹת יְרִיחֽוֹ׃ {ס}
English:
About forty thousand shock troops went across, at GOD’s behest, to the steppes of Jericho for battle.
פסוק י״ד · Verse 14
Hebrew:
בַּיּ֣וֹם הַה֗וּא גִּדַּ֤ל יְהֹוָה֙ אֶת־יְהוֹשֻׁ֔עַ בְּעֵינֵ֖י כׇּל־יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל וַיִּֽרְא֣וּ אֹת֔וֹ כַּאֲשֶׁ֛ר יָֽרְא֥וּ אֶת־מֹשֶׁ֖ה כׇּל־יְמֵ֥י חַיָּֽיו׃ {פ}
English:
On that day GOD exalted Joshua in the sight of all Israel, so that they revered him all his days as they had revered Moses.
פסוק ט״ו · Verse 15
Hebrew:
וַיֹּ֣אמֶר יְהֹוָ֔ה אֶל־יְהוֹשֻׁ֖עַ לֵאמֹֽר׃
English:
GOD said to Joshua,
פסוק ט״ז · Verse 16
Hebrew:
צַוֵּה֙ אֶת־הַכֹּ֣הֲנִ֔ים נֹשְׂאֵ֖י אֲר֣וֹן הָעֵד֑וּת וְיַעֲל֖וּ מִן־הַיַּרְדֵּֽן׃
English:
“Command the priests who bear the Ark of the Pact to come up out of the Jordan.”
פסוק י״ז · Verse 17
Hebrew:
וַיְצַ֣ו יְהוֹשֻׁ֔עַ אֶת־הַכֹּהֲנִ֖ים לֵאמֹ֑ר עֲל֖וּ מִן־הַיַּרְדֵּֽן׃
English:
So Joshua commanded the priests, “Come up out of the Jordan.”
פסוק י״ח · Verse 18
Hebrew:
וַ֠יְהִ֠י (בעלות) [כַּעֲל֨וֹת] הַכֹּהֲנִ֜ים נֹשְׂאֵ֨י אֲר֤וֹן בְּרִית־יְהֹוָה֙ מִתּ֣וֹךְ הַיַּרְדֵּ֔ן נִתְּק֗וּ כַּפּוֹת֙ רַגְלֵ֣י הַכֹּהֲנִ֔ים אֶ֖ל הֶחָרָבָ֑ה וַיָּשֻׁ֤בוּ מֵֽי־הַיַּרְדֵּן֙ לִמְקוֹמָ֔ם וַיֵּלְכ֥וּ כִתְמוֹל־שִׁלְשׁ֖וֹם עַל־כׇּל־גְּדוֹתָֽיו׃
English:
As soon as the priests who bore the Ark of GOD’s Covenant came up out of the Jordan, and the feet of the priests stepped onto the dry ground, the waters of the Jordan resumed their course, flowing over its entire bed as before.
פסוק י״ט · Verse 19
Hebrew:
וְהָעָ֗ם עָלוּ֙ מִן־הַיַּרְדֵּ֔ן בֶּעָשׂ֖וֹר לַחֹ֣דֶשׁ הָרִאשׁ֑וֹן וַֽיַּחֲנוּ֙ בַּגִּלְגָּ֔ל בִּקְצֵ֖ה מִזְרַ֥ח יְרִיחֽוֹ׃
English:
The people came up from the Jordan on the tenth day of the first month, and encamped at Gilgal on the eastern border of Jericho.
פסוק כ׳ · Verse 20
Hebrew:
וְאֵת֩ שְׁתֵּ֨ים עֶשְׂרֵ֤ה הָֽאֲבָנִים֙ הָאֵ֔לֶּה אֲשֶׁ֥ר לָקְח֖וּ מִן־הַיַּרְדֵּ֑ן הֵקִ֥ים יְהוֹשֻׁ֖עַ בַּגִּלְגָּֽל׃
English:
And Joshua set up in Gilgal the twelve stones they had taken from the Jordan.
פסוק כ״א · Verse 21
Hebrew:
וַיֹּ֛אמֶר אֶל־בְּנֵ֥י יִש��ְרָאֵ֖ל לֵאמֹ֑ר אֲשֶׁר֩ יִשְׁאָל֨וּן בְּנֵיכֶ֤ם מָחָר֙ אֶת־אֲבוֹתָ֣ם לֵאמֹ֔ר מָ֖ה הָאֲבָנִ֥ים הָאֵֽלֶּה׃
English:
He charged the Israelites as follows: “In time to come, when your children ask their parents, ‘What is the meaning of those stones?’
פסוק כ״ב · Verse 22
Hebrew:
וְהוֹדַעְתֶּ֖ם אֶת־בְּנֵיכֶ֣ם לֵאמֹ֑ר בַּיַּבָּשָׁה֙ עָבַ֣ר יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל אֶת־הַיַּרְדֵּ֖ן הַזֶּֽה׃
English:
tell your children: ‘Here the Israelites crossed the Jordan on dry land.’
פסוק כ״ג · Verse 23
Hebrew:
אֲשֶׁר־הוֹבִישׁ֩ יְהֹוָ֨ה אֱלֹהֵיכֶ֜ם אֶת־מֵ֧י הַיַּרְדֵּ֛ן מִפְּנֵיכֶ֖ם עַֽד־עׇבְרְכֶ֑ם כַּאֲשֶׁ֣ר עָשָׂה֩ יְהֹוָ֨ה אֱלֹהֵיכֶ֧ם לְיַם־ס֛וּף אֲשֶׁר־הוֹבִ֥ישׁ מִפָּנֵ֖ינוּ עַד־עׇבְרֵֽנוּ׃
English:
For the ETERNAL your God dried up the waters of the Jordan before you until you crossed, just as the ETERNAL your God did to the Sea of Reeds, which dried up before us until we crossed.
פסוק כ״ד · Verse 24
Hebrew:
לְ֠מַ֠עַן דַּ֜עַת כׇּל־עַמֵּ֤י הָאָ֙רֶץ֙ אֶת־יַ֣ד יְהֹוָ֔ה כִּ֥י חֲזָקָ֖ה הִ֑יא לְמַ֧עַן יְרָאתֶ֛ם אֶת־יְהֹוָ֥ה אֱלֹהֵיכֶ֖ם כׇּל־הַיָּמִֽים׃ {פ}
English:
Thus all the peoples of the earth shall know how mighty is GOD’s hand, and you shall fear the ETERNAL your God always.”