Joshua 4:19-24

The Purpose of the Memorial Joshua 4:19-24

19 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.
20 And those twelve stones, which they took out of Jordan, did Joshua pitch in Gilgal.
21 And he spake unto the children of Israel, saying, When your children shall ask their fathers in time to come, saying, What mean these stones?
22 Then ye shall let your children know, saying, Israel came over this Jordan on dry land,
23 For the Lord your God dried up the waters of Jordan from before you, until ye were passed over, as the Lord your God did to the Red Sea, which he dried up from before us, until we were gone over:
24 That all the people of the earth might know the hand of the Lord, that it is mighty: that ye might fear the Lord your God for ever.

15.

On what day did the people cross the Jordan? Joshua 4:19

The month Abib was the first month of the Jewish calendar. In latter times this month was called Nisan. It was in this month that the Passover fell as God had given directions for its institution (Exodus 12:18). This first month of the Jewish calendar corresponds to the March and April of the Julian calendar, being the latter part of the month of March and the first part of the month of April. The crossing occurred at the end of the forty years of wilderness wandering and would thus be in the forty-first year after the people left Egypt.

16.

Where was Gilgal? Joshua 4:19

Gilgal was the first camp established by the Israelites on the west side of the Jordan River in the land of Canaan. The place received its name from the events which are recorded in chapter 5 of Joshua. The spot must not have been far from Jericho, and it is called by the name of Geliloth in Joshua 18:17. This was one of the points on Samuel's circuit as he moved about when he judged Israel (1 Samuel 7:16). It was here that Agag, the king of the Amalekites, was slain (1 Samuel 15:33). At least two other places in Israel bear this same name. One was some four miles from Bethel and Shiloh (2 Kings 2:1-2; 2 Kings 4:38). Another is often referred to as a regal Gilgal since a king lived there. This one is mentioned in Joshua 12:23.

17.

What was the chief end of the miracle? Joshua 4:22

The miracle effectually confirmed the authority of Joshua in the eyes of Israel. The people feared him all the days of his life as they had feared Moses. The immediate end of the miracle, however, was to enable the people to cross the Jordan quickly and easily. The indirect benefit was that the government of Joshua was established. Another benefit also revealed to the Canaanites the omnipotence of the God of Israel. The miracle also would serve as an impulse to the Israelites to fear the Lord their God always (Exodus 14:4; Exodus 14:18; Exodus 6:6; see also Exodus 3:19; Exodus 6:1; Exodus 14:31).

18.

What was the purpose of the memorial? Joshua 4:24

The twelve stones were to be a sign in Israel. They were to serve as a memorial of the miraculous crossing of the Jordan to all succeeding generations.
The purpose of the memorial was really twofold:

1.

That the people of the earth might know God

2.

That Israel might fear God and know these truths:

a.

The Lord's power is unlimited

b.

The Lord's power would be used for them

c.

Their leader, Joshua, was working under God

Although Israel was not commissioned as a nation of evangelists, they were to be concerned for foreign people; and this memorial not only was to remind the Israelites of God's power but also to help other nations to know God.