Joshua

Joshua leads the Israelites into the Promised Land, conquering it through many battles.

Chapter 4

1 And it came to pass, when all the people were clean passed over Jordan, that the LORD spake unto Joshua, saying,

*Then, after everyone crossed the Jordan River, God spoke to Joshua, saying,

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

*Choose twelve people from among all the tribes, one person from each tribe.

3 And command ye them, saying, Take you hence out of the midst of Jordan, out of the place where the priests’ feet stood firm, twelve stones, and ye shall carry them over with you, and leave them in the lodging place, where ye shall lodge this night.

*Tell them to take twelve stones from where the priests' feet were in the Jordan River and bring them along. Then, place them in the spot where they will stay for the night.

4 Then Joshua called the twelve men, whom he had prepared of the children of Israel, out of every tribe a man:

*Then Joshua gathered the twelve men, chosen from the tribes of Israel, with one man from each tribe.

5 And Joshua said unto them, Pass over before the ark of the LORD your God into the midst of Jordan, and take you up every man of you a stone upon his shoulder, according unto the number of the tribes of the children of Israel:

*Joshua told them, "Cross the river in front of God's ark and go to the middle of Jordan. Each of you should pick up a stone on your shoulder, based on the number of Israel's tribes' children."

6 That this may be a sign among you, that when your children ask their fathers in time to come, saying, What mean ye by these stones?

*So that it's clear for you, when your kids question their parents later about these rocks, they'll ask what they represent.

7 Then ye shall answer them, That the waters of Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of the LORD; when it passed over Jordan, the waters of Jordan were cut off: and these stones shall be for a memorial unto the children of Israel for ever.

*Then you will tell them that the Jordan River stopped flowing when the Lord's covenant ark crossed it. This happened as a reminder for the Israelites forever, using these stones.

8 And the children of Israel did so as Joshua commanded, and took up twelve stones out of the midst of Jordan, as the LORD spake unto Joshua, according to the number of the tribes of the children of Israel, and carried them over with them unto the place where they lodged, and laid them down there.

*The Israelite kids followed Joshua's instructions and collected twelve stones from the Jordan River, as God told Joshua based on the number of Israel's tribes. They then brought these stones to their campsite and placed them there.

9 And Joshua set up twelve stones in the midst of Jordan, in the place where the feet of the priests which bare the ark of the covenant stood: and they are there unto this day.

*Joshua put up twelve stones in the middle of the Jordan River. This happened at the spot where the priests' feet, who carried the special box called the ark of the agreement, touched the ground. These stones are still there today.

10 For the priests which bare the ark stood in the midst of Jordan, until everything was finished that the LORD commanded Joshua to speak unto the people, according to all that Moses commanded Joshua: and the people hasted and passed over.

*The priests carrying the ark stayed in the middle of the Jordan River. They waited until God told Joshua everything he needed to say to the people, just like Moses instructed. Then, quickly, the people crossed the river.

11 And it came to pass, when all the people were clean passed over, that the ark of the LORD passed over, and the priests, in the presence of the people.

*Then, after everyone had crossed, the Lord's ark and the priests went across, while everyone watched.

12 And the children of Reuben, and the children of Gad, and half the tribe of Manasseh, passed over armed before the children of Israel, as Moses spake unto them:

*The children of Reuben, Gad, and half of Manasseh went across with weapons, following Moses' instructions, in front of the other Israelites.

13 About forty thousand prepared for war passed over before the LORD unto battle, to the plains of Jericho.

*About 40,000 people got ready for fighting went, led by God, to fight at a place called Jericho's plains.

14 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.

*On that day, God made Joshua seem more important to everyone in Israel. They respected him just as much as they respected Moses for the rest of his life.

15 And the LORD spake unto Joshua, saying,

*And the Lord spoke to Joshua, saying,

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

*Tell the priests carrying the important box to step out of the river Jordan.

17 Joshua therefore commanded the priests, saying, Come ye up out of Jordan.

*Joshua instructed the priests, "Please climb out of the river."

18 And it came to pass, when the priests that bare the ark of the covenant of the LORD were come up out of the midst of Jordan, and the soles of the priests’ feet were lifted up unto the dry land, that the waters of Jordan returned unto their place, and flowed over all his banks, as they did before.

*When the priests carrying the Lord's agreement box came out of the river Jordan and put their feet on the dry land, the river went back to its normal flow and covered all its banks like it used to.

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.

*On the 10th day of the first month, the people left Jordan and set camp in Gilgal, near Jericho's eastern border.

20 And those twelve stones, which they took out of Jordan, did Joshua pitch in Gilgal.

*Joshua placed the twelve stones from Jordan at 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?

*He told the Israelites, "When your future generations ask your ancestors, 'What do these stones mean?'"

22 Then ye shall let your children know, saying, Israel came over this Jordan on dry land.

*Then tell your kids, "Israel crossed the river without water, walking on dry ground."

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:

*For your God made the Jordan River dry so you could cross it, just like how He made the Red Sea dry for us to cross.

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.

*So that everyone on Earth can see how powerful the LORD's hand is and always be afraid of Him in a good way.

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