Our chapter continues to record the Hebrews passing into Canaan via the Jordan River which
had wondrously split. Abravanel makes things clearer, so we better understand the two
memorials – one in the Jordan River and one in Gilgal.
“And it came to pass, when all the nation were clean passed over the Jordan,
that the LORD spoke unto Joshua, saying: Take you twelve men out of the
people, out of every tribe a man.”
The narrative of the crossing began in the previous chapter. In it, we read about the central role
of those priests holding the ark: “And you shall command the priests that bear the ark of the
Covenant, saying: When you come to the brink of the waters of the Jordan, you shall stand still
in the Jordan.” No sooner had the priests entered the Jordan than its waters stopped rushing.
Accordingly, the priests remained dry, as the river paused its natural course, just north of where
the men planted themselves.
The splitting river waters called for a fitting memorial. Joshua, following God’s directive,
convened twelve tribal representatives. The leader entrusted them with the mission. “And you
shall command them, saying: Take you hence out of the midst of the Jordan, out of the place
where the priests' feet stood, twelve stones made ready, and carry them over with you, and lay
them down in the lodging place, where you shall lodge this night.” The Hebrew’s first lodging
place in Canaan was in Gilgal. This becomes apparent toward the end of our chapter: “And
those twelve stones, which they took out of the Jordan, did Joshua set up in Gilgal.”
Chronologically, Abravanel teaches, here’s what transpired. First, the priests entered the
Jordan, whose waters ceased flowing. Second, the entire encampment crossed the dry river, as
our chapter’s lead verse conveys: “And it came to pass, when all the nation were clean passed
over the Jordan…” The priests and holy ark then exited the Jordan, assuming their position at
the camp’s vanguard.
At that juncture, twelve burly tribal representatives returned to where the priests had stood, all
the while the Jordan didn’t flow. Each man hoisted a heavy rock or boulder: “And Joshua said
unto them: Pass on before the ark of the LORD your God into the midst of the Jordan, and take
you up every man of you a stone upon his shoulder, according unto the number of the tribes of
the children of Israel” This verse adds something that the earlier verse had not. What is new?
Placing stones “upon the shoulder” had not been indicated earlier. Abravanel deduces that
Joshua’s twelve designates lifted and lugged stones of considerable weight. Had that not been
the case, the men could have grabbed the rocks with their hands.
As for the rationale behind taking twelve boulders from the river, the intent is forthcoming.
“That this may be a sign among you, that when your children ask in time to come, saying: What
mean you by these stones? Then you shall say unto them: Because the waters of the Jordan
were cut off before the ark of the Covenant of the LORD; when it passed over the Jordan…and
these stones shall be for a memorial unto the Children of Israel forever.”
So far in this essay, we have been discussing the stone memorial soon to be erected in Gilgal.
But what about the second one placed in the Jordan? “Joshua also set up twelve stones in the
midst of the Jordan, in the place where the feet of the priests that bore the ark of the Covenant
stood. And they are there unto this day.” Abravanel asks: If the Hebrews “replaced” missing
boulders from the Jordan, putting them where the priests had stood, well, that wouldn’t be
much of memorial. Why? The first stones had been strewn flat on the river floor or bed. Had
men put twelve boulders on the bottom of a gushing river, of course, no one would see them,
defeating the whole commemorative purpose.
A close read, Abravanel suggests, answers the question. “Joshua also set up…” Namely, Joshua
requested the men to stack each boulder upon the other, hence creating a sizeable structure
that would jut out of the river. People standing on either of the Jordan could see the manmade
stone formation, and know precisely what miracle God had wrought on behalf of the Chosen
People.