| NET Bible | Holman Christian Standard Bible |
| 1When the entire nation was on the other side, the LORD told Joshua, | 1After the entire nation had finished crossing the Jordan, the LORD spoke to Joshua: " |
| 2"Select for yourselves twelve men from the people, one per tribe. | 2Choose 12 men from the people, one man for each tribe, |
| 3Instruct them, 'Pick up twelve stones from the middle of the Jordan, from the very place where the priests stand firmly, and carry them over with you and put them in the place where you camp tonight.'" | 3and command them: Take 12 stones from this place in the middle of the Jordan where the priests are standing, carry them with you, and set them down at the place where you spend the night." |
| 4Joshua summoned the twelve men he had appointed from the Israelites, one per tribe. | 4So Joshua summoned the 12 men he had selected from the Israelites, one man for each tribe, |
| 5Joshua told them, "Go in front of the ark of the LORD your God to the middle of the Jordan. Each of you is to put a stone on his shoulder, according to the number of the Israelite tribes. | 5and said to them, "Go across to the ark of the LORD your God in the middle of the Jordan. Each of you lift a stone onto his shoulder, one for each of the Israelite tribes, |
| 6The stones will be a reminder to you. When your children ask someday, 'Why are these stones important to you?' | 6so that this will be a sign among you. In the future, when your children ask you, 'What do these stones mean to you?' |
| 7tell them how the water of the Jordan stopped flowing before the ark of the covenant of the LORD. When it crossed the Jordan, the water of the Jordan stopped flowing. These stones will be a lasting memorial for the Israelites." | 7you should tell them, 'The waters of the Jordan were cut off in front of the ark of the LORD's covenant. When it crossed the Jordan, the Jordan's waters were cut off.' Therefore these stones will always be a memorial for the Israelites." |
| 8The Israelites did just as Joshua commanded. They picked up twelve stones, according to the number of the Israelite tribes, from the middle of the Jordan as the LORD had instructed Joshua. They carried them over with them to the camp and put them there. | 8The Israelites did just as Joshua had commanded them. The 12 men took stones from the middle of the Jordan, one for each of the Israelite tribes, just as the LORD had told Joshua. They carried them to the camp and set them down there. |
| 9Joshua also set up twelve stones in the middle of the Jordan in the very place where the priests carrying the ark of the covenant stood. They remain there to this very day. | 9Joshua also set up 12 stones in the middle of the Jordan where the priests who carried the ark of the covenant were standing. The stones are there to this day. |
| 10Now the priests carrying the ark of the covenant were standing in the middle of the Jordan until everything the Lord had commanded Joshua to tell the people was accomplished, in accordance with all that Moses had commanded Joshua. The people went across quickly, | 10The priests carrying the ark continued standing in the middle of the Jordan until everything was completed that the LORD had commanded Joshua to tell the people, in keeping with all that Moses had commanded Joshua. The people hurried across, |
| 11and when all the people had finished crossing, the ark of the LORD and the priests crossed as the people looked on. | 11and after everyone had finished crossing, the priests with the ark of the LORD crossed in the sight of the people. |
| 12The Reubenites, Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh crossed over armed for battle ahead of the Israelites, just as Moses had instructed them. | 12The Reubenites, Gadites, and half the tribe of Manasseh went in battle formation in front of the Israelites, as Moses had instructed them. |
| 13About forty thousand battle-ready troops marched past the LORD to fight on the plains of Jericho. | 13About 40,000 equipped for war crossed to the plains of Jericho in the LORD's presence. |
| 14That day the LORD brought honor to Joshua before all Israel. They respected him all his life, just as they had respected Moses. | 14On that day the LORD exalted Joshua in the sight of all Israel, and they revered him throughout his life, as they had revered Moses. |
| 15The LORD told Joshua, | 15The LORD told Joshua, " |
| 16"Instruct the priests carrying the ark of the covenantal laws to come up from the Jordan." | 16Command the priests who carry the ark of the testimony to come up from the Jordan." |
| 17So Joshua instructed the priests, "Come up from the Jordan!" | 17So Joshua commanded the priests, "Come up from the Jordan." |
| 18The priests carrying the ark of the covenant of the LORD came up from the middle of the Jordan, and as soon as they set foot on dry land, the water of the Jordan flowed again and returned to flood stage. | 18When the priests carrying the ark of the LORD's covenant came up from the middle of the Jordan, and their feet stepped out on solid ground, the waters of the Jordan resumed their course, flowing over all the banks as before. |
| 19The people went up from the Jordan on the tenth day of the first month and camped in Gilgal on the eastern border of Jericho. | 19The people came up from the Jordan on the tenth day of the first month, and camped at Gilgal on the eastern limits of Jericho. |
| 20Now Joshua set up in Gilgal the twelve stones they had taken from the Jordan. | 20Then Joshua set up in Gilgal the 12 stones they had taken from the Jordan, |
| 21He told the Israelites, "When your children someday ask their fathers, 'What do these stones represent?' | 21and he said to the Israelites, "In the future, when your children ask their fathers, 'What is the meaning of these stones?' |
| 22explain to your children, 'Israel crossed the Jordan River on dry ground.' | 22you should tell your children, 'Israel crossed the Jordan on dry ground.' |
| 23For the LORD your God dried up the water of the Jordan before you while you crossed over. It was just like when the LORD your God dried up the Red Sea before us while we crossed it. | 23For the LORD your God dried up the waters of the Jordan before you until you had crossed over, just as the LORD your God did to the Red Sea, which He dried up before us until we had crossed over. |
| 24He has done this so all the nations of the earth might recognize the LORD's power and so you might always obey the LORD your God." | 24This is so that all the people of the earth may know that the LORD's hand is mighty, and so that you may always fear the LORD your God." |
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