1 When all the nation had completely crossed over the Jordan, Yahweh spoke to Joshua, saying, 2 "Take twelve men out of the people, a man out of every tribe, 3 and command them, saying, ‘Take from out of the middle of the Jordan, out of the place where the priests’ feet stood firm, twelve stones, carry them over with you, and lay them down in the place where you’ll camp tonight.’"

4 Then Joshua called the twelve men whom he had prepared of the children of Israel, a man out of every tribe. 5 Joshua said to them, "Cross before the ark of Yahweh your God into the middle of the Jordan, and each of you pick up a stone and put it on your shoulder, according to the number of the tribes of the children of Israel; 6 that this may be a sign among you, that when your children ask in the future, saying, ‘What do you mean by these stones?’ 7 then you shall tell them, ‘Because the waters of the Jordan were cut off before the ark of Yahweh’s covenant. When it crossed over the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off. These stones shall be for a memorial to the children of Israel forever.’"

8 The children of Israel did as Joshua commanded, and took up twelve stones out of the middle of the Jordan, as Yahweh spoke to Joshua, according to the number of the tribes of the children of Israel. They carried them over with them to the place where they camped, and laid them down there. 9 Joshua set up twelve stones in the middle of the Jordan, in the place where the feet of the priests who bore the ark of the covenant stood; and they are there to this day. 10 For the priests who bore the ark stood in the middle of the Jordan until everything was finished that Yahweh commanded Joshua to speak to the people, according to all that Moses commanded Joshua; and the people hurried and passed over. 11 When all the people had completely crossed over, Yahweh’s ark crossed over with the priests in the presence of the people.

12 The children of Reuben, and the children of Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh crossed over armed before the children of Israel, as Moses spoke to them. 13 About forty thousand men, ready and armed for war, passed over before Yahweh to battle, to the plains of Jericho. 14 On that day, Yahweh magnified Joshua in the sight of all Israel; and they feared him, as they feared Moses, all the days of his life.

15 Yahweh spoke to Joshua, saying, 16 "Command the priests who bear the ark of the covenant, that they come up out of the Jordan."

17 Joshua therefore commanded the priests, saying, "Come up out of the Jordan!" 18 When the priests who bore the ark of Yahweh’s covenant had come up out of the middle of the Jordan, and the soles of the priests’ feet had been lifted up to the dry ground, the waters of the Jordan returned to their place, and went over all its banks, as before. 19 The people came up out of the Jordan on the tenth day of the first month, and encamped in Gilgal, on the east border of Jericho.

20 Joshua set up those twelve stones, which they took out of the Jordan, in Gilgal. 21 He spoke to the children of Israel, saying, "When your children ask their fathers in time to come, saying, ‘What do these stones mean?’ 22 Then you shall let your children know, saying, ‘Israel came over this Jordan on dry land. 23 For Yahweh your God dried up the waters of the Jordan from before you until you had crossed over, as Yahweh your God did to the Red Sea, which he dried up from before us, until we had crossed over, 24 that all the peoples of the earth may know that Yahweh’s hand is mighty, and that you may fear Yahweh your God forever.’"

1 全国的人都完全过了约旦河以后， 耶和华就吩咐约书亚说：

2 "你要从人民中选十二个人， 每支派一人，

3 吩咐他们说： ‘你们要从这里， 就是约旦河中间， 祭司的脚所站的地方， 取十二块石头， 把它们带过来， 放在你们今夜要住宿的地方。’"

4 于是， 约书亚把他从以色列人中挑选的十二个人， 每支派一人， 都召了来。

5 约书亚对他们说： "你们走到约旦河中间， 在耶和华你们的 神的约柜前面， 按着以色列十二支派的数目， 每人拿起一块石头， 扛在自己的肩上；

6 这可以在你们中间作记号； 如果日后你们的子孙问你们， 说： ‘这些石头对你们有什么意思？’

7 你们就可以告诉他们： ‘这是因为约旦河的水在耶和华的约柜前被截断了； 约柜过约旦河的时候， 约旦河的水被截断了。所以这些石头要给以色列人作记念， 直到永远。’"

8 以色列人就照着约书亚吩咐的行了； 他们照着耶和华吩咐约书亚的， 按着以色列十二支派的数目， 从约旦河中间取了十二块石头， 把它们带过去， 到他们住宿的地方， 就放在那里。

9 约书亚又在约旦河中间， 在抬约柜的祭司的脚所站的地方， 竖立十二块石头； 那些石头到今日还在那里。

10 抬约柜的祭司站在约旦河中间， 直到耶和华吩咐约书亚告诉人民的一切事， 就是照着摩西吩咐约书亚的一切事， 都办完了， 人民就急忙过去了。

11 全体人民都过了河以后， 耶和华的约柜和祭司才在人民的面前过去。

12 流本人、迦得人和玛拿西半个支派的人， 都照着摩西吩咐他们的， 拿起武器， 在以色列人前面过河去了。

13 他们约有四万人， 都装备好， 预备打仗， 在耶和华面前走过去， 来到耶利哥的平原， 等候作战。

14 那一天耶和华使约书亚在以色列众人眼中成为尊大； 在他一生的日子， 人民敬畏他， 好像敬畏摩西一样。

15 耶和华吩咐约书亚说：

16 "吩咐抬约柜的祭司从约旦河上来。"

17 于是约书亚吩咐祭司说： "你们从约旦河上来。"

18 抬耶和华约柜的祭司从约旦河中间上来的时候， 祭司的脚掌一提起来踏在干地上， 约旦河的水就流回原处， 像以前一样涨过两岸。

19 正月初十， 人民从约旦河上来以后， 就在吉甲， 在耶利哥的东边安营。

20 约书亚把他们从约旦河取来的那十二块石头， 竖立在吉甲。

21 约书亚对以色列人说： "如果日后你们的子孙问他们的父亲说： ‘这些石头是什么意思？’

22 那时， 你们就要告诉你们的子孙， 说： ‘以色列人曾经在干地上走过了这约旦河。’

23 因为耶和华你们的 神在你们面前使约旦河的水干了， 直到你们都过了河， 好像耶和华你们的 神从前对红海所行的， 在我们面前使红海干了， 直到我们都过了河一样；

24 好使地上万民都认识耶和华的手， 是有能力的手， 也要使你们永远敬畏耶和华你们的 神。"