Twelve Stones Pitched in Gilgal - Joshua 4:20

In the book of Joshua, we learned how, “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”, and in chapter four and verse twenty of the book of Joshua, we learn how, “those twelve stones, which they took out of Jordan, did Joshua pitch in Gilgal" where we read,

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

The verse reads, “And those twelve stones, which they took out of Jordan, …” Joshua or the writer began with the words, “and those twelve stones” which means “and the twelve large rocks”, “which they took out” or “that they, the twelve men, lay hold of, seized, took and removed” “of Jordan” which means “from Jordan whose name means descender and was the river of Palestine running from the roots of Anti-Lebanon to the Dead Sea a distance of approximately 200 miles (320 km)”. Joshua or the writer referred to the “twelve” large rocks that the “twelve men” removed from the middle of the “Jordan” river. 

 

The verse goes on to say, “… did Joshua pitch in Gilgal..” Joshua continued with the words, “did Joshua” or “did Joshua whose name means Jehovah is salvation” “pitch in Gilgal” which means “arise, stand and establish within Gilgal whose name means ‘a wheel or rolling’ and was the first site of an Israelite camp west of the Jordan, east of Jericho, here Samuel was judge, and Saul was made king; later used for illicit worship”. Joshua or the writer shared how “Joshua” established the “twelve stones” within the camp of “Gilgal”.

When we think through the words in this verse, we learn how “Joshua” took the “twelve stones” removed from the middle of the “Jordan” river and established them at “Gilgal” where the people of Israel would observe them as a memorial to the miracle performed by Jehovah God. God wants all of us to remember what He did for us when He sent His Son Jesus into the world to die on the cross for the sins of all mankind and raised Him from the dead after three days. When we yield to Him as our personal “Savior and Lord”, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and teach us to be mindful of acts and deeds performed in our lives by Jehovah God through His Holy Spirit.

Next time we learn what the people of Israel were to say when their children ask, “what mean these stones?”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

See more devotionals on the website "thewordfortodaywithray.com" or look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".