Throughout history, mankind has set up standing stones in order to bring remembrance a significant event. In the book of Joshua, it is recorded that the Children of Isreal set up stones in the Jordan and Gilgal to be used to remind them and the coming generation of God’s faithfulness. Find out more as you listen to the following address.
Bible Scriptures: Darby Translation
Joshua 4:9 “And twelve stones did Joshua set up in the midst of the Jordan, in the place where the feet of the priests who bore the ark of the covenant had stood firm; and they are there to this day.”
Joshua 4:19-24 “19 And the people came up out of the Jordan on the tenth of the first month, and encamped in Gilgal, on the eastern extremity of Jericho.20 And those twelve stones which they had taken out of the Jordan did Joshua set up in Gilgal.21 And he spoke to the children of Israel, saying, When your children hereafter ask their fathers, saying, What [mean] these stones22 then ye shall let your children know, saying, On dry land did Israel come over this Jordan;23 because Jehovah your God dried up the waters of the Jordan from before you, until ye had passed over, as Jehovah your God did to the Red sea, which he dried up from before us, until we had passed over;24 that all peoples of the earth might know the hand of Jehovah, that it is mighty; that ye might fear Jehovah your God continually.”
Joshua 8:30-35 “30 Then Joshua built an altar to Jehovah the God of Israel, in mount Ebal,31 as Moses the servant of Jehovah had commanded the children of Israel, as it is written in the book of the law of Moses, an altar of whole stones, over which iron had not been lifted up. And they offered up burnt-offerings on it to Jehovah, and sacrificed peace-offerings.
32 And he wrote there on the stones a copy of the law of Moses, which he had written before the children of Israel.33 And all Israel, and their elders, and their officers and judges, stood on this side and on that side of the ark before the priests the Levites, who bore the ark of the covenant of Jehovah, as well the stranger as the home-born [Israelite]; half of them toward mount Gerizim, and the other half of them toward mount Ebal; as Moses the servant of Jehovah had commanded, that they should bless the people of Israel, in the beginning.34 And afterwards he read all the words of the law, the blessing and the curse, according to all that is written in the book of the law.35 There was not a word of all that Moses had commanded which Joshua read not before the whole congregation of Israel, and the women, and the children, and the strangers that lived among them.”
Joshua 24:15 “15 And if it seem evil unto you to serve Jehovah, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods whom your fathers that were on the other side of the river served, or the gods of the Amorite, in whose land ye dwell; but as for me and my house, we will serve Jehovah.”
Joshua 24:23-28 “23 Now therefore put away the strange gods that are among you, and incline your heart unto Jehovah the God of Israel.24 And the people said unto Joshua, Jehovah our God will we serve, and to his voice will we hearken
25 So Joshua made a covenant with the people that day, and set them a statute and an ordinance in Shechem.26 And Joshua wrote these words in the book of the law of God, and took a great stone, and set it up there under the oak that was by the sanctuary of Jehovah.27 And Joshua said unto all the people, Behold, this stone shall be a witness unto us, for it hath heard all the words of Jehovah which he spoke unto us; and it shall be a witness against you, lest ye deny your God.28 And Joshua dismissed the people, every man to his inheritance.”