Twelve Stones from the Jordan

1  וַיְהִי֙ (And it came to pass), כַּאֲשֶׁר־ (when) תַּ֣מּוּ (had finished) כָל־ (all) הַגּ֔וֹי (the people) לַעֲב֖וֹר (passing over) אֶת־ (-) הַיַּרְדֵּ֑ן פ (the Jordan), וַיֹּ֣אמֶר (that spoke) יְהוָ֔ה (YHWH) אֶל־ (to) יְהוֹשֻׁ֖עַ (Joshua), לֵאמֹֽר׃ (saying), 2  קְח֤וּ (Take) לָכֶם֙ (for yourselves) מִן־ (from) הָעָ֔ם (the people) שְׁנֵ֥ים (two) עָשָׂ֖ר (and ten) אֲנָשִׁ֑ים (men), אִישׁ־ (man) אֶחָ֥ד (one) אִישׁ־ (man), אֶחָ֖ד (one) מִשָּֽׁבֶט׃ (from a tribe). 3  וְצַוּ֣וּ (And command) אוֹתָם֮ (them), לֵאמֹר֒ (saying), שְׂאֽוּ־ (Take) לָכֶ֨ם (for yourselves) מִזֶּ֜ה (from this place) מִתּ֣וֹךְ (out of the midst) הַיַּרְדֵּ֗ן (of the Jordan), מִמַּצַּב֙ (from the place) רַגְלֵ֣י (feet) הַכֹּהֲנִ֔ים (the priests’) הָכִ֖ין (where stood firm), שְׁתֵּים־ (two) עֶשְׂרֵ֣ה (and ten) אֲבָנִ֑ים (stones), וְהַעֲבַרְתֶּ֤ם (and you⁺ shall carry over) אוֹתָם֙ (them) עִמָּכֶ֔ם (with you⁺) וְהִנַּחְתֶּ֣ם (and leave) אוֹתָ֔ם (them) בַּמָּל֕וֹן (in the lodging place), אֲשֶׁר־ (which) תָּלִ֥ינוּ (you⁺ lodge) ב֖וֹ (in it) הַלָּֽיְלָה׃ס (tonight).

4  וַיִּקְרָ֣א (And called) יְהוֹשֻׁ֗עַ (Joshua) אֶל־ (to) שְׁנֵ֤ים (two) הֶֽעָשָׂר֙ (and ten) אִ֔ישׁ (men), אֲשֶׁ֥ר (whom) הֵכִ֖ין (he had appointed) מִבְּנֵ֣י (from the sons) יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל (of Israel), אִישׁ־ (man) אֶחָ֥ד (one) אִישׁ־ (man), אֶחָ֖ד (one) מִשָּֽׁבֶט׃ (from a tribe). 5  וַיֹּ֤אמֶר (And said) לָהֶם֙ (to them) יְהוֹשֻׁ֔עַ (Joshua) עִ֠בְרוּ (Pass over) לִפְנֵ֨י (before the face of) אֲר֧וֹן (the ark) יְהוָ֛ה (of YHWH) אֱלֹֽהֵיכֶ֖ם (your⁺ God) אֶל־ (into) תּ֣וֹךְ (the midst) הַיַּרְדֵּ֑ן (of the Jordan), וְהָרִ֨ימוּ (and take up) לָכֶ֜ם (for yourselves) אִ֣ישׁ (a man) אֶ֤בֶן (stone) אַחַת֙ (one) עַל־ (on) שִׁכְמ֔וֹ (his shoulder), לְמִסְפַּ֖ר (by the number) שִׁבְטֵ֥י (of the tribes) בְנֵי־ (of the sons) יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ (of Israel), 6  לְמַ֗עַן (so that) תִּֽהְיֶ֛ה (may be) זֹ֥את (this) א֖וֹת (a sign) בְּקִרְבְּכֶ֑ם (among you⁺) כִּֽי־ (when) יִשְׁאָל֨וּן (ask) בְּנֵיכֶ֤ם (your⁺ children) מָחָר֙ (hereafter), לֵאמֹ֔ר (saying), מָ֛ה (What are) הָאֲבָנִ֥ים (stones) הָאֵ֖לֶּה (these) לָכֶֽם׃ (to you⁺)? 7  וַאֲמַרְתֶּ֣ם (And you⁺ shall say) לָהֶ֗ם (to them) אֲשֶׁ֨ר (that) נִכְרְת֜וּ (were cut off) מֵימֵ֤י (the waters) הַיַּרְדֵּן֙ (of the Jordan) מִפְּנֵי֙ (from the face) אֲר֣וֹן (of the ark) בְּרִית־ (of the covenant) יְהוָ֔ה (of YHWH). בְּעָבְרוֹ֙ (When it passed over) בַּיַּרְדֵּ֔ן (the Jordan), נִכְרְת֖וּ (were cut off) מֵ֣י (the waters) הַיַּרְדֵּ֑ן (of the Jordan). וְ֠הָיוּ (And shall be) הָאֲבָנִ֨ים (the stones) הָאֵ֧לֶּה (these) לְזִכָּר֛וֹן (for a memorial) לִבְנֵ֥י (to the sons) יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל (of Israel) עַד־ (even to) עוֹלָֽם׃ (forever).

8  וַיַּעֲשׂוּ־ (And did) כֵ֣ן (so) בְּנֵי־ (the sons) יִשְׂרָאֵ֘ל (of Israel) כַּאֲשֶׁ֣ר (as) צִוָּ֣ה (had commanded) יְהוֹשֻׁעַ֒ (Joshua), וַיִּשְׂא֡וּ (and they took up) שְׁתֵּֽי־ (two) עֶשְׂרֵ֨ה (and ten) אֲבָנִ֜ים (stones) מִתּ֣וֹךְ (from the midst) הַיַּרְדֵּ֗ן (of the Jordan), כַּאֲשֶׁ֨ר (as) דִּבֶּ֤ר (had spoken) יְהוָה֙ (YHWH) אֶל־ (to) יְהוֹשֻׁ֔עַ (Joshua), לְמִסְפַּ֖ר (according to the number) שִׁבְטֵ֣י (of the tribes) בְנֵֽי־ (of the sons) יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל (of Israel), וַיַּעֲבִר֤וּם (and they carried them over) עִמָּם֙ (with them) אֶל־ (to) הַמָּל֔וֹן (the lodging place), וַיַּנִּח֖וּם (and laid them down) שָֽׁם׃ (there).

9  וּשְׁתֵּ֧ים (And two) עֶשְׂרֵ֣ה (and ten) אֲבָנִ֗ים (stones) הֵקִ֣ים (set up) יְהוֹשֻׁעַ֮ (Joshua) בְּת֣וֹךְ (in the midst) הַיַּרְדֵּן֒ (of the Jordan), תַּ֗חַת (under the) מַצַּב֙ (standing place) רַגְלֵ֣י (of the feet) הַכֹּהֲנִ֔ים (of the priests) נֹשְׂאֵ֖י (bearing) אֲר֣וֹן (the ark) הַבְּרִ֑ית (of the covenant). וַיִּ֣הְיוּ (And they are) שָׁ֔ם (there) עַ֖ד (to) הַיּ֥וֹם (the day) הַזֶּֽה׃ (this).

10  וְהַכֹּהֲנִ֞ים (And the priests) נֹשְׂאֵ֣י (who bore) הָאָר֗וֹן (the ark) עֹמְדִים֮ (stood) בְּת֣וֹךְ (in the midst) הַיַּרְדֵּן֒ (of the Jordan), עַ֣ד (until) תֹּ֣ם (the completion) כָּֽל־ (of all) הַ֠דָּבָר (-) אֲשֶׁר־ (that) צִוָּ֨ה (had commanded) יְהוָ֤ה (YHWH) אֶת־ (-) יְהוֹשֻׁ֙עַ֙ (Joshua) לְדַבֵּ֣ר (to speak) אֶל־ (to) הָעָ֔ם (the people), כְּכֹ֛ל (according to all) אֲשֶׁר־ (that) צִוָּ֥ה (had commanded) מֹשֶׁ֖ה (Moses) אֶת־ (-) יְהוֹשֻׁ֑עַ (Joshua). וַיְמַהֲר֥וּ (And hurried) הָעָ֖ם (the people) וַֽיַּעֲבֹֽרוּ׃ (and passed over). 11  וַיְהִ֛י (And it came to pass), כַּֽאֲשֶׁר־ (when) תַּ֥ם (had finished) כָּל־ (all) הָעָ֖ם (the people) לַֽעֲב֑וֹר (passing over), וַיַּעֲבֹ֧ר (and passed over) אֲרוֹן־ (the ark) יְהוָ֛ה (of YHWH) וְהַכֹּהֲנִ֖ים (and the priests) לִפְנֵ֥י (before the faces) הָעָֽם׃ (of the people). 12  וַ֠יַּעַבְרוּ (And passed over) בְּנֵי־ (the men) רְאוּבֵ֨ן (of Reuben), וּבְנֵי־ (and the men) גָ֜ד (of Gad), וַחֲצִ֨י (and half) שֵׁ֤בֶט (the tribe) הַֽמְנַשֶּׁה֙ (of Manasseh), חֲמֻשִׁ֔ים (armed) לִפְנֵ֖י (before the faces) בְּנֵ֣י (of the sons) יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל (of Israel), כַּאֲשֶׁ֛ר (as) דִּבֶּ֥ר (had spoken) אֲלֵיהֶ֖ם (to them) מֹשֶֽׁה׃ (Moses). 13  כְּאַרְבָּעִ֥ים (About forty) אֶ֖לֶף (thousand) חֲלוּצֵ֣י (armed ones) הַצָּבָ֑א (of the host) עָבְר֞וּ (passed over) לִפְנֵ֤י (before the face) יְהוָה֙ (of YHWH) לַמִּלְחָמָ֔ה (for battle) אֶ֖ל (to) עַֽרְב֥וֹת (the plains) יְרִיחֽוֹ׃ס (of Jericho).

14  בַּיּ֣וֹם (On day) הַה֗וּא (that) גִּדַּ֤ל (exalted) יְהוָה֙ (YHWH) אֶת־ (-) יְהוֹשֻׁ֔עַ (Joshua) בְּעֵינֵ֖י (in the eyes) כָּל־ (of all) יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל (Israel), וַיִּֽרְא֣וּ (and they feared) אֹת֔וֹ (him) כַּאֲשֶׁ֛ר (as) יָרְא֥וּ (they had feared) אֶת־ (-) מֹשֶׁ֖ה (Moses), כָּל־ (all) יְמֵ֥י (the days) חַיָּֽיו׃פ (of his life).

15  וַיֹּ֣אמֶר (And spoke) יְהוָ֔ה (YHWH) אֶל־ (to) יְהוֹשֻׁ֖עַ (Joshua), לֵאמֹֽר׃ (saying), 16  צַוֵּה֙ (Command) אֶת־ (-) הַכֹּ֣הֲנִ֔ים (the priests) נֹשְׂאֵ֖י (who bear) אֲר֣וֹן (the ark) הָעֵד֑וּת (of the Testimony), וְיַעֲל֖וּ (and to come up) מִן־ (from) הַיַּרְדֵּֽן׃ (the Jordan).

17  וַיְצַ֣ו (And commanded) יְהוֹשֻׁ֔עַ (Joshua) אֶת־ (-) הַכֹּהֲנִ֖ים (the priests), לֵאמֹ֑ר (saying), עֲל֖וּ (Come up) מִן־ (from) הַיַּרְדֵּֽן׃ (the Jordan).

18  וַ֠יְהִי (And it came to pass), בַּעֲלוֹת (when had come) הַכֹּהֲנִ֜ים (the priests) נֹשְׂאֵ֨י (who bore) אֲר֤וֹן (the ark) בְּרִית־ (of the covenant) יְהוָה֙ (of YHWH) מִתּ֣וֹךְ (from the midst) הַיַּרְדֵּ֔ן (of the Jordan), נִתְּק֗וּ (having touched) כַּפּוֹת֙ (the soles) רַגְלֵ֣י (of feet) הַכֹּהֲנִ֔ים (of the priests) אֶ֖ל (unto) הֶחָרָבָ֑ה (the dry land), וַיָּשֻׁ֤בוּ (that returned) מֵֽי־ (the waters) הַיַּרְדֵּן֙ (of the Jordan) לִמְקוֹמָ֔ם (to their place), וַיֵּלְכ֥וּ (and overflowed) כִתְמוֹל־ (as yesterday) שִׁלְשׁ֖וֹם (and the day before yesterday) עַל־ (over) כָּל־ (all) גְּדוֹתָֽיו׃ (its banks).

The Camp at Gilgal

19  וְהָעָ֗ם (And the people) עָלוּ֙ (came up) מִן־ (from) הַיַּרְדֵּ֔ן (the Jordan) בֶּעָשׂ֖וֹר (on the tenth) לַחֹ֣דֶשׁ (of the month) הָרִאשׁ֑וֹן (first), וַֽיַּחֲנוּ֙ (and they camped) בַּגִּלְגָּ֔ל (in Gilgal) בִּקְצֵ֖ה (on the border) מִזְרַ֥ח (east) יְרִיחֽוֹ׃ (of Jericho). 20  וְאֵת֩ (And) שְׁתֵּ֨ים (two) עֶשְׂרֵ֤ה (and ten) הָֽאֲבָנִים֙ (stones) הָאֵ֔לֶּה (these) אֲשֶׁ֥ר (that) לָקְח֖וּ (they took) מִן־ (out) הַיַּרְדֵּ֑ן (of the Jordan), הֵקִ֥ים (set up) יְהוֹשֻׁ֖עַ (Joshua) בַּגִּלְגָּֽל׃ (in Gilgal).

21  וַיֹּ֛אמֶר (And he spoke) אֶל־ (to) בְּנֵ֥י (the sons) יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל (of Israel), לֵאמֹ֑ר (saying), אֲשֶׁר֩ (When) יִשְׁאָל֨וּן (ask) בְּנֵיכֶ֤ם (your⁺ sons) מָחָר֙ (hereafter) אֶת־ (-) אֲבוֹתָ֣ם (their fathers) לֵאמֹ֔ר (saying), מָ֖ה (What are) הָאֲבָנִ֥ים (the stones) הָאֵֽלֶּה׃ (these)? 22  וְהוֹדַעְתֶּ֖ם (And you⁺ shall let know), אֶת־ (-) בְּנֵיכֶ֣ם (your⁺ sons) לֵאמֹ֑ר (saying), בַּיַּבָּשָׁה֙ (On the dry land) עָבַ֣ר (passed over) יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל (Israel) אֶת־ (-) הַיַּרְדֵּ֖ן (the Jordan) הַזֶּֽה׃ (this). 23  אֲשֶׁר־ (For) הוֹבִישׁ֩ (dried up) יְהוָ֨ה (YHWH) אֱלֹהֵיכֶ֜ם (your⁺ God) אֶת־ (-) מֵ֧י (the waters) הַיַּרְדֵּ֛ן (of the Jordan) מִפְּנֵיכֶ֖ם (before your⁺ faces) עַֽד־ (until) עָבְרְכֶ֑ם (you⁺ had passed over), כַּאֲשֶׁ֣ר (as) עָשָׂה֩ (did) יְהוָ֨ה (YHWH) אֱלֹהֵיכֶ֧ם (your⁺ God), לְיַם־ (to the Sea) ס֛וּף (Red) אֲשֶׁר־ (which) הוֹבִ֥ישׁ (He dried up) מִפָּנֵ֖ינוּ (before us) עַד־ (until) עָבְרֵֽנוּ׃ (we had passed over), 24  לְ֠מַעַן (that) דַּ֜עַת (may know) כָּל־ (all) עַמֵּ֤י (the peoples) הָאָ֙רֶץ֙ (of the earth) אֶת־ (-) יַ֣ד (the hand) יְהוָ֔ה (of YHWH), כִּ֥י (that) חֲזָקָ֖ה (mighty) הִ֑יא (it is), לְמַ֧עַן (so that) יְרָאתֶ֛ם (you⁺ may fear) אֶת־ (-) יְהוָ֥ה (YHWH) אֱלֹהֵיכֶ֖ם (your⁺ God) כָּל־ (all) הַיָּמִֽים׃ס (the days).