Then he told Israel, вЂњWhen your children ask, вЂWhat do these stones mean?вЂ™ tell them about the miracle of crossing the Jordan.вЂќ Fearing God and keeping His festivals Joshua set up the stones in Gilgal as a memorial of this crossing over the Jordan. They carried the stones out of the river. Each of the men was to pick up a stone from the Jordan where the priests stood. Joshua told Israel to choose a man from each of the 12 tribes.

It overflowed all its banks, just as it had before (Joshua 4:1-18). When their feet touched the other edge of the river, the waters of the Jordan returned. All Israel crossed over on dry ground.ДЄfter the people reached the other side, the priests carried the ark over. It was a miracle from God! The priests stood firmly on dry ground in the middle of the Jordan riverbed. When the priestsвЂ™ feet dipped into the edge of the river, the waters stopped. Joshua told them God would dry up the river for them so they could cross over. The river was overflowing its banks because of the spring rains. Joshua then told the priests to take the ark and go into the river before the people. They told the people, вЂњWhen you see the ark of the LORD and the priests carrying it, then you shall follow it.вЂќ Then JoshuaвЂ™s officers went through the camp and instructed the people how they were to cross over the river. Crossing the Jordan RiverДЄfter the spies gave their report, Joshua led Israel the short distance to the Jordan River. The people of this country are fearful because they have heard of us and what our God has done for usвЂќ (Joshua 2:23-24). They said, вЂњGod has delivered all of this land to us.

(Read more about this in the Bible story вЂњ Rahab and the Two Spies.вЂќ) They also told Joshua about the promise they had made to save her and her family. After the two spies Joshua had sent returned from Jericho, they told Joshua all they had seen and what had happened to them.

Jordan river bible story