Joshua 4:23
For the LORD your God dried up the waters of the Jordan for you until you passed over, as the LORD your God did to the Red Sea, which he dried up for us until we passed over,
English Standard Version (ESV)
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This verse doesn't just recall two miracles; it highlights God's enduring faithfulness by intentionally linking the present generation's crossing of the Jordan to their ancestors' escape from Egypt. Joshua includes himself in the "us" who saw the Red Sea parted, powerfully signifying that God's covenantal care extends to all His people, across generations, making His past acts relevant to their present reality.
This verse comes at the conclusion of the account of the Israelites crossing the Jordan River into the Promised Land. Joshua is explaining to the people, particularly the younger generation, the significance of the twelve stones they've taken from the riverbed. He's emphasizing that this miracle, like the crossing of the Red Sea generations before, is a powerful reminder of God's faithfulness and ability to deliver His people.
Why does Joshua remind the Israelites of the Red Sea crossing when they're standing on dry ground in the Jordan?
Joshua 4:23 deliberately links two monumental acts of God: the crossing of the Red Sea and the crossing of the Jordan River. This isn't just a historical recap; it's a powerful theological statement.
God's Unchanging Faithfulness
The text emphasizes that the same God who parted the Red Sea for their ancestors was now parting the Jordan for them. This continuity speaks volumes about God's faithfulness. He isn't a one-hit wonder; His power and commitment to His people endure across generations.
"Us" and "Them"
Joshua uses the pronoun "us" when referring to the Red Sea event. This is significant because most of the people present had not personally experienced it. Yet, Joshua includes them. This inclusion highlights that the covenant blessings and divine interventions are passed down. As commentators note, those in their parents' loins, or those who would benefit from the deliverance, are included in "us." It's a way of saying, "This miracle was for your fathers, and by extension, it is for you."
Continuity of God's People
This connection reinforces that Israel is one continuous people in God's eyes. The act at the Red Sea secured their deliverance from slavery, and the act at the Jordan secured their entrance into the Promised Land. Both were foundational moments, and linking them assures the people that God's plan and power remain consistent for His chosen people.
Why erect a pile of stones as a memorial? What's the real purpose behind these physical reminders?
The twelve stones taken from the Jordan aren't just random rocks; they are a tangible, intentional monument. Joshua 4:19-24, and specifically verse 23, explains their purpose – to serve as a reminder for future generations.
A Catalyst for Questions
As Calvin points out, the stones were arranged in a way that would naturally provoke questions from children: "What do these stones mean?" This arrangement was key. A simple heap wouldn't spark curiosity, but a deliberate monument would.
Understand the original words
YHWH · Hebrew Proper Noun
The covenant name of the one true God, signifying His eternal self-existence, faithfulness, and relationship with His people.
Elohim · Hebrew Proper Noun
The supreme Being who created and sustains the universe, and who has entered into a covenant relationship with His people. It emphasizes His power, sovereignty, and authority.
This verse directly links the miraculous Jordan River crossing to the earlier Red Sea crossing, emphasizing God's consistent power and faithfulness across generations and reminding the new generation that God's deliverance of their ancestors was also for them.
c. 1446 BC
Exodus from Egypt and Red Sea Crossing
God miraculously parts the Red Sea, allowing the Israelites to escape Egyptian bondage. This event becomes a foundational miracle for the nation.
c. 1406 BC
Wandering in the Wilderness
Following the Red Sea miracle, the Israelites wander for 40 years in the desert due to their disobedience, during which time the generation that left Egypt largely perishes.
c. 1406 BC
Conquest of Canaan Begins
Under Joshua's leadership, the Israelites begin the military campaign to take possession of the Promised Land after Moses' death.
c. 1406 BC— this verse
Jordan River Crossing
The waters of the Jordan River miraculously stop flowing as the Ark of the Covenant is carried by priests, allowing the entire Israelite nation to cross into Canaan.
This passage describes God drying up the Red Sea, the very event Joshua references as a precedent for the Jordan crossing. It highlights God's power to deliver His people from impossible situations.
Psalm 114:3-5This psalm poetically recounts the miracles of the Red Sea and the Jordan River, directly linking them as divine acts. It emphasizes the earth's reaction to God's power, reinforcing the magnitude of these events mentioned in Joshua.
Deuteronomy 31:3This verse states that God will not fail or forsake Israel, just as He had proven Himself in the past. It frames the Jordan crossing as another instance of God's faithfulness, building on the foundation of the Red Sea deliverance.
Joshua 3:14-17This passage immediately precedes the crossing of the Jordan and describes the priests carrying the Ark of the Covenant into the waters. It sets the stage for the miracle by showing Israel's obedience and God's immediate intervention.
calvinJoshua 4:19-24: "And the people came up out of Jordan on the tenth day of the first month, and encamped in Gilgal, in the east border of Jericho."
- And the people came up, etc Why the day on which they entered the land, and first encamped in it, is marked, we shall see in next chapter. But the name of Gilgal is given to the first station by anticipation, for this new name was afterwards given to it by Joshua on the renewal of circumcision; its etymology will be explained in its own place. Mo…
jfbJoshua 4:14-24: "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."
Jos 4:14-24. God Magnifies Joshua.14-17. On that day the Lord magnified Joshua in the sight of all Israel—It appeared clear from the chief part he acted, that he was the divinely appointed leader; for even the priests did not enter the river or quit their position, except at his command; and thenceforward his authority was as firmly established…
This verse doesn't just recall two miracles; it highlights God's enduring faithfulness by intentionally linking the present generation's crossing of the Jordan to their ancestors' escape from Egypt. Joshua includes himself in the "us" who saw the Red Sea parted, powerfully signifying that God's covenantal care extends to all His people, across generations, making His past acts relevant to their present reality.
This verse comes at the conclusion of the account of the Israelites crossing the Jordan River into the Promised Land. Joshua is explaining to the people, particularly the younger generation, the significance of the twelve stones they've taken from the riverbed. He's emphasizing that this miracle, like the crossing of the Red Sea generations before, is a powerful reminder of God's faithfulness and ability to deliver His people.
This verse comes at the conclusion of the account of the Israelites crossing the Jordan River into the Promised Land. Joshua is explaining to the people, particularly the younger generation, the significance of the twelve stones they've taken from the riverbed. He's emphasizing that this miracle, like the crossing of the Red Sea generations before, is a powerful reminder of God's faithfulness and ability to deliver His people.
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The "Why" Behind the "What"
When the children asked, parents were meant to recount the miracle of the Jordan drying up. This act of storytelling, prompted by the stones, kept the memory of God's power alive. It wasn't just about remembering an event; it was about understanding God's character and His covenant promises.
Preserving Divine Action
In a world without widespread writing or easily accessible historical records, physical monuments were vital. They served as anchors for faith, ensuring that miraculous interventions weren't forgotten. As Henry suggests, it's a duty for parents to tell their children of God's works, and these stones were a tool for that very purpose.
Joshua wasn't just concerned with Israel's memory. What wider audience was this miracle intended to reach?
Joshua 4:24 explicitly states a crucial reason for the miracle: "that all peoples of the earth may know that the hand of the LORD is mighty, that you may fear the LORD your God forever."
A Global Testimony
This verse broadens the scope beyond mere Israelite remembrance. The drying of the Jordan was a public demonstration of God's power intended to be known by surrounding nations. It was a declaration that Yahweh, the God of Israel, was supreme and all-powerful.
Fear and Acknowledgment
While the purpose for Israel was to instill a lifelong fear and reverence for God, the purpose for the nations was slightly different. For the nations, it was meant to elicit acknowledgment of His might. As commentators note, even unbelievers would be forced to confess God's power, though this knowledge wouldn't necessarily lead them to salvation, unlike the internal "fear" commanded of Israel.
Divine Reputation
This highlights God's concern for His own reputation in the world. He works wonders not only for the blessing of His people but also to make His name known and feared among all peoples. The miracle served as a powerful advertisement for the God of Israel.
c. 1406 BC
Establishment of Gilgal
The Israelites set up their first camp in Canaan at Gilgal, where Joshua erects the memorial stones from the Jordan River.
"For the LORD your God dried up the waters of the Jordan for you until you passed over, as the LORD your God did to the Red Sea, which he dried up for us until we passed over," — This verse doesn't just recall two miracles; it highlights God's enduring faithfulness by intentionally linking the present generation's crossing of the Jordan to their ancestors' escape from Egypt.…
