1And as soon as the people were all gone over Jordan, the LORD spake unto Josua saying:
2Take you twelve men out of the people, of every tribe a man.
3And command you them saying: take you hence out of the midst of Jordan even out of the place where the priests stood in a readiness, twelve stones. And take ye them away with you and put them in the place where you lodge at night.
4And Josua called unto the twelve men which he had prepared of the children of Israel, of every tribe a man,
5and said unto them: get you before the ark of the LORD your God even into the midst of Jordan, and take up every man a stone upon his shoulder, according unto the number of the tribes of the children of Israel,
6that this may be a sign among you. And when your children ask their fathers in time to come saying: what mean ye with these stones?
7then say unto them, how that the water of Jordan divided at the presence of the ark of the appointment of the LORD: even while it went over Jordan, the water of Jordan divided. And these stones shall be a memorial unto the children of Israel for ever.
8And the children of Israel did even so as Josua commanded, and took up twelve stones out of the midst of Jordan, as the LORD said unto Josua according to the number of the tribes of the children of Israel, and carried them away with them unto the place where they lodged, and laid them down there.
9And thereto Josua set up twelve stones in the midst of Jordan in the place where the feet of the priests which bare the ark of the testament stood. And there they be even unto this day.
10For the priests that bare the ark stood in the midst of Jordan, until all was finished that the LORD commanded Josua to say unto the people, according to all that Moses charged Josua. And the people hasted and went over.
11When all the people were clean over, then went over the ark of the LORD, and also the priests before the people.
12And the children of Ruben, and the children of Gad, and half the tribe of Manasses went before the children of Israel armed, as Moses charged them.
13Upon a forty thousand trimmed for war, went before the LORD unto battle, even unto the wild fields of Jericho.
14That day the LORD magnified Josua in the sight of all Israel and they feared him, as they feared Moses all the days of his life.
15And the LORD spake unto Josua saying:
16command the priests that bear the ark of witness to come up out of Jordan.
17And Josua commanded the priests saying: Ascend up out of Jordan.
18And when the priests that bare the ark of the appointment of the LORD were ascended out of Jordan: as soon as the soles of the priests' feet were brought to dry land, the water of Jordan returned again to his place and went over all his banks as he did before.
19And the people came up out of Jordan the tenth day of the first month and pitched in Gilgal even in the east borders of Jericho.
20And the twelve stones which they took out of Jordan, Josua pitched in Gilgal.
21And he spake unto the children of Israel saying: when your children ask you in time to come saying: what mean these stones,
22shew your children and say: Israel came over this Jordan on dry land.
23For the LORD your God dried up the water of Jordan before you, until ye were over, as the LORD your God did unto the red sea, which he dried up before us till we were over,
24that all the people of the world may know the hand of the LORD how mighty it is, and that ye might fear the LORD your God for ever.