Joshua 4 Summary - 5 Minute Bible Study

Joshua 4 Summary - A Quick Overview

WHEN:

• The Israelites were in the wilderness from approximately 1490-1450 B.C., which places the events recorded in Joshua 4 at approximately 1450 B.C.

• The Israelites crossed Jordan on the 10th day of the 1st month (4:19).

CHARACTERS:

• Joshua - Moses’ assistant while he led the people in the wilderness. God selected Joshua to lead the Israelites after Moses’ death.

• The Levitical Priests – The specific priests mentioned in Joshua 3-4 were from the family of Kohath and they were responsible for transporting the Ark of the Covenant.

• 12 Israelite Men – Joshua chose a representative from each tribe of Israel to help commemorate the Jordan River crossing.  

WHERE:

• The Israelites broke camp at Shittim and moved to the banks of the Jordan River across from Jericho.

• The waters of the Jordan River were stopped-up near the city of Adam when God miraculously dried out the riverbed to allow the Israelites to cross.

• After crossing the Jordan, the Israelites camped at Gilgal.

OUTLINE:

• THE ISRAELITES CROSS JORDAN AND SET UP 2 MEMORIALS (4:1-24):

  • In Joshua 3, God supernaturally dried up the riverbed of the Jordan River to allow the Israelites to cross to the west bank.

  • Joshua 4 picks up when the crossing was nearly complete.

  • When all the Israelites were safely on the west side of the river, God told Joshua to have one man from each tribe go back to the riverbed and take a stone from the place where the priests stood with the Ark of the Covenant.  

  • The stones were to be carried to the place where the Israelites would make camp.

  • When this was complete, Joshua went to the river and selected 12 stones of his own. He set the stones up in the river to mark the location of their miraculous crossing.

  • The Bible tells us “the Lord exalted Joshua in the sight of all Israel” on the day of the crossing, and “they stood in awe of him” just as they had stood in awe of Moses.

  • The text also mentions that the fighting men of Reuben, Gad, and half the tribe of Manasseh crossed the river in keeping with their promise to Moses (1:12-14).

  • When everything was complete, God told Joshua to have the priests who carried the Ark of the Covenant exit the river.

  • As soon as their feet touched the riverbank, the water of the river returned to its normal state.

  • The people camped at Gilgal on the east border of Jericho.

  • Joshua took the 12 stones carried by the 12 tribal representatives and set them up in Gilgal.

  • He told the Israelites the stones would stand as a memorial for future generations of God’s miracle at the Jordan River.
    

APPLICATION:

• We collect souvenirs to remind us of the places we’ve travelled.

• We fill our houses with trinkets to remind us of important memories.

• We have picture frames full of family members to remind us of our time with them.

• Why do we not fill our houses with things (memorials) that remind us of God’s goodness to us?

• Have you ever considered somehow documenting moments of God’s kindness to you and setting them up in your house to encourage your mind to thankfulness and praise?