1 W hen all the nation had completely crossed over the Jordan, Yahweh spoke to Joshua, saying,

When all the nation had fully passed over the Jordan, the Lord said to Joshua,

2 “ Take twelve men out of the people, a man out of every tribe,

Take twelve men from among the people, one man out of every tribe,

3 a nd command them, saying, ‘Take from out of the middle of the Jordan, out of the place where the priests’ feet stood firm, twelve stones, and carry them over with you, and lay them down in the place where you’ll camp tonight.’”

And command them, Take twelve stones out of the midst of the Jordan from the place where the priests’ feet stood firm; carry them over with you and leave them at the place where you lodge tonight.

4 T hen Joshua called the twelve men, whom he had prepared of the children of Israel, a man out of every tribe.

Then Joshua called the twelve men of the Israelites whom he had appointed, a man from each tribe.

5 J oshua said to them, “Cross before the ark of Yahweh your God into the middle of the Jordan, and each of you pick up a stone and put it on your shoulder, according to the number of the tribes of the children of Israel;

And Joshua said to them, Pass over before the ark of the Lord your God in the midst of the Jordan, and take up every man of you a stone on his shoulder, as is the number of the tribes of the Israelites,

6 t hat this may be a sign among you, that when your children ask in the future, saying, ‘What do you mean by these stones?’

That this may be a sign among you when your children ask in time to come, What do these stones mean to you?

7 t hen you shall tell them, ‘Because the waters of the Jordan were cut off before the ark of Yahweh’s covenant. When it crossed over the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off. These stones shall be for a memorial to the children of Israel forever.’”

Then you shall tell them that the waters of the Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of the Lord; when it passed over the Jordan, the waters of Jordan were cut off. So these stones shall be to the Israelites a memorial forever.

8 T he children of Israel did as Joshua commanded, and took up twelve stones out of the middle of the Jordan, as Yahweh spoke to Joshua, according to the number of the tribes of the children of Israel. They carried them over with them to the place where they camped, and laid them down there.

And the Israelites did as Joshua commanded, and took up twelve stones out of the midst of the Jordan, according to the number of the tribes of the Israelites, as the Lord told Joshua, and carried them over with them to the place where they lodged and laid them down there.

9 J oshua set up twelve stones in the middle of the Jordan, in the place where the feet of the priests who bore the ark of the covenant stood; and they are there to this day.

And Joshua set up twelve stones in the midst of the Jordan in the place where the feet of the priests bearing the ark of the covenant had stood. And they are there to this day.

10 F or the priests who bore the ark stood in the middle of the Jordan, until everything was finished that Yahweh commanded Joshua to speak to the people, according to all that Moses commanded Joshua; and the people hurried and passed over.

For the priests who bore the ark stood in the midst of the Jordan until everything was finished that the Lord commanded Joshua to tell the people, according to all that Moses had commanded Joshua. The people passed over in haste.

11 W hen all the people had completely crossed over, Yahweh’s ark crossed over, with the priests, in the presence of the people.

When all the people had passed over, the ark of the Lord and the priests went over in the presence of the people.

12 T he children of Reuben, and the children of Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh, crossed over armed before the children of Israel, as Moses spoke to them.

And the sons of Reuben, Gad, and half the tribe of Manasseh passed over armed before the Israelites, as Moses had bidden them;

13 A bout forty thousand men, ready and armed for war passed over before Yahweh to battle, to the plains of Jericho.

About 40, 000 prepared for war passed over before the Lord to the plains of Jericho for battle.

14 O n that day, Yahweh magnified Joshua in the sight of all Israel; and they feared him, as they feared Moses, all the days of his life.

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

15 Y ahweh spoke to Joshua, saying,

And the Lord said to Joshua,

16 “ Command the priests who bear the ark of the testimony, that they come up out of the Jordan.”

Order the priests bearing the ark of the Testimony to come up out of the Jordan.

17 J oshua therefore commanded the priests, saying, “Come up out of the Jordan!”

So Joshua commanded the priests, Come up out of the Jordan.

18 W hen the priests who bore the ark of Yahweh’s covenant had come up out of the middle of the Jordan, and the soles of the priests’ feet had been lifted up to the dry ground, the waters of the Jordan returned to their place, and went over all its banks, as before.

And when the priests who bore the ark of the covenant of the Lord had come up out of the midst of the Jordan, and the soles of their feet were lifted up to the dry land, the waters of the Jordan returned to their place and flowed over all its banks as they had before.

19 T he people came up out of the Jordan on the tenth day of the first month, and encamped in Gilgal, on the east border of Jericho.

And the people came up out of the Jordan on the tenth day of the first month and encamped in Gilgal on the east border of Jericho.

20 J oshua set up those twelve stones, which they took out of the Jordan, in Gilgal.

And those twelve stones which they took out of the Jordan Joshua set up in Gilgal.

21 H e spoke to the children of Israel, saying, “When your children ask their fathers in time to come, saying, ‘What do these stones mean?’

And he said to the Israelites, When your children ask their fathers in time to come, What do these stones mean?

22 T hen you shall let your children know, saying, ‘Israel came over this Jordan on dry land.

You shall let your children know, Israel came over this Jordan on dry ground.

23 F or Yahweh your God dried up the waters of the Jordan from before you, until you had crossed over, as Yahweh your God did to the Red Sea, which he dried up from before us, until we had crossed over;

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,

24 t hat all the peoples of the earth may know that Yahweh’s hand is mighty; that you may fear Yahweh your God forever.’”

That all the peoples of the earth may know that the hand of the Lord is mighty and that you may reverence and fear the Lord your God forever.