Joshua 4:6-7

4:6 The stones ¹  will be a reminder to you. ²  When your children ask someday, ‘Why are these stones important to you?’ 4:7 tell them how the water of the Jordan stopped flowing ³  before the ark of the covenant of the Lord. When it crossed the Jordan, the water of the Jordan stopped flowing. ⁴  These stones will be a lasting memorial for the Israelites.”

Joshua 4:21-24

4:21 He told the Israelites, “When your children someday ask their fathers, ‘What do these stones represent?’ ⁵  4:22 explain ⁶  to your children, ‘Israel crossed the Jordan River ⁷  on dry ground.’ 4:23 For the Lord your God dried up the water of the Jordan before you while you crossed over. It was just like when the Lord your God dried up the Red Sea before us while we crossed it. ⁸  4:24 He has done this so ⁹  all the nations ¹⁰  of the earth might recognize the Lord’s power ¹¹  and so you might always obey ¹²  the Lord your God.”

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¹ tn Heb “that this may be”; the referent of “this” (the twelve stones) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

² tn Heb “in order that this might be a sign among you.”

³ tn Heb “were cut off from before.”

⁴ tn Heb “how the waters descending from above stood still.”

⁵ tn Heb “What are these stones?”

⁶ tn Heb “make known.”

⁷ tn Heb “crossed this Jordan”; the word “River” is not in the Hebrew text, but has been supplied to clarify the meaning.

⁸ tn Heb “just as the Lord your God did to the Red Sea when he dried [it] up before us while we crossed over.”

⁹ tn Heb “in order that.”

¹⁰ tn Or “peoples.”

¹¹ tn Heb “know the hand of the Lord that it is strong.”

¹² tn Heb “fear.”