约书亚记 4
Chinese Contemporary Bible (Simplified)
堆石为证
4 民众都过河之后,耶和华对约书亚说: 2 “你去从民众中选出十二个人,每支派选一人, 3 吩咐他们从约旦河床祭司站立的地方取十二块石头,放在你们今天晚上住宿的地方。” 4 约书亚便召来他从以色列人中选的十二个人,对他们说: 5 “你们到约旦河床你们的上帝耶和华的约柜前面,每人扛一块石头回来,每个支派一块,一共十二块。 6 这些石头要在你们中间作记号。以后,倘若你们的子孙问你们,‘这些石头是什么意思?’ 7 你们就告诉他们,‘约旦河水在耶和华的约柜前曾经被截断,当约柜过河的时候,河水被截断了。这些石头要在以色列人当中作为永久的纪念。’”
8 以色列人就照约书亚的吩咐,也就是照耶和华对约书亚的吩咐,按以色列人支派的数目,从约旦河中取了十二块石头,搬来放在住宿的地方。 9 约书亚又在约旦河床抬约柜的祭司站立的地方立了十二块石头。石头至今还在那里。 10 抬约柜的祭司站在约旦河中间,一直站到耶和华吩咐约书亚交待民众做的每一件事都完成了,正如摩西对约书亚的吩咐。民众迅速过了河。 11 所有人都过河以后,祭司才抬着耶和华的约柜在民众注视之下过了河。 12 吕便支派、迦得支派和玛拿西半个支派的人照摩西从前的嘱咐,带着兵器走在以色列人的前面。 13 大约有四万全副武装的以色列人在耶和华面前过了河,前往耶利哥平原,准备作战。 14 那一天,耶和华使约书亚在以色列众人面前受尊重,他像摩西一样终生受民众敬畏。
15 耶和华对约书亚说: 16 “你去吩咐抬约柜的祭司从约旦河里上来。” 17 约书亚便吩咐他们上来。 18 抬耶和华约柜的祭司从河床上来,脚刚一踏上岸,约旦河的水立刻恢复了原状,像以往一样涨过两岸。
19 那天是一月十日。以色列人从约旦河上来之后,就在耶利哥东边的吉甲扎营。 20 约书亚把从约旦河取来的十二块石头立在吉甲, 21 并对以色列人说:“以后,你们的子孙问你们这堆石头是什么意思, 22 你们就告诉他们,‘这是代表以色列人曾在干地上走过约旦河。’ 23 因为你们的上帝耶和华为了让你们过河而使约旦河成为干地,就像祂从前为了让我们过红海而使海成为干地一样。 24 这是要让天下万民都知道耶和华有无比的能力,要让你们永远敬畏你们的上帝耶和华。”
約書亞記 4
Chinese Contemporary Bible (Traditional)
堆石為證
4 民眾都過河之後,耶和華對約書亞說: 2 「你去從民眾中選出十二個人,每支派選一人, 3 吩咐他們從約旦河床祭司站立的地方取十二塊石頭,放在你們今天晚上住宿的地方。」 4 約書亞便召來他從以色列人中選的十二個人,對他們說: 5 「你們到約旦河床你們的上帝耶和華的約櫃前面,每人扛一塊石頭回來,每個支派一塊,一共十二塊。 6 這些石頭要在你們中間作記號。以後,倘若你們的子孫問你們,『這些石頭是什麼意思?』 7 你們就告訴他們,『約旦河水在耶和華的約櫃前曾經被截斷,當約櫃過河的時候,河水被截斷了。這些石頭要在以色列人當中作為永久的紀念。』」
8 以色列人就照約書亞的吩咐,也就是照耶和華對約書亞的吩咐,按以色列人支派的數目,從約旦河中取了十二塊石頭,搬來放在住宿的地方。 9 約書亞又在約旦河床抬約櫃的祭司站立的地方立了十二塊石頭。石頭至今還在那裡。 10 抬約櫃的祭司站在約旦河中間,一直站到耶和華吩咐約書亞交待民眾做的每一件事都完成了,正如摩西對約書亞的吩咐。民眾迅速過了河。 11 所有人都過河以後,祭司才抬著耶和華的約櫃在民眾注視之下過了河。 12 呂便支派、迦得支派和瑪拿西半個支派的人照摩西從前的囑咐,帶著兵器走在以色列人的前面。 13 大約有四萬全副武裝的以色列人在耶和華面前過了河,前往耶利哥平原,準備作戰。 14 那一天,耶和華使約書亞在以色列眾人面前受尊重,他像摩西一樣終生受民眾敬畏。
15 耶和華對約書亞說: 16 「你去吩咐抬約櫃的祭司從約旦河裡上來。」 17 約書亞便吩咐他們上來。 18 抬耶和華約櫃的祭司從河床上來,腳剛一踏上岸,約旦河的水立刻恢復了原狀,像以往一樣漲過兩岸。
19 那天是一月十日。以色列人從約旦河上來之後,就在耶利哥東邊的吉甲紮營。 20 約書亞把從約旦河取來的十二塊石頭立在吉甲, 21 並對以色列人說:「以後,你們的子孫問你們這堆石頭是什麼意思, 22 你們就告訴他們,『這是代表以色列人曾在乾地上走過約旦河。』 23 因為你們的上帝耶和華為了讓你們過河而使約旦河成為乾地,就像祂從前為了讓我們過紅海而使海成為乾地一樣。 24 這是要讓天下萬民都知道耶和華有無比的能力,要讓你們永遠敬畏你們的上帝耶和華。」
Joshua 4
King James Version
4 And it came to pass, when all the people were clean passed over Jordan, that the Lord spake unto Joshua, saying,
2 Take you twelve men out of the people, out of every tribe a man,
3 And command ye them, saying, Take you hence out of the midst of Jordan, out of the place where the priests' feet stood firm, twelve stones, and ye shall carry them over with you, and leave them in the lodging place, where ye shall lodge this night.
4 Then Joshua called the twelve men, whom he had prepared of the children of Israel, out of every tribe a man:
5 And Joshua said unto them, Pass over before the ark of the Lord your God into the midst of 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:
6 That this may be a sign among you, that when your children ask their fathers in time to come, saying, What mean ye by these stones?
7 Then ye shall answer them, That the waters of Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of the Lord; when it passed over Jordan, the waters of Jordan were cut off: and these stones shall be for a memorial unto the children of Israel for ever.
8 And the children of Israel did so as Joshua commanded, and took up twelve stones out of the midst of Jordan, as the Lord spake unto Joshua, according to the number of the tribes of the children of Israel, and carried them over with them unto the place where they lodged, and laid them down there.
9 And Joshua set up twelve stones in the midst of Jordan, in the place where the feet of the priests which bare the ark of the covenant stood: and they are there unto this day.
10 For the priests which bare the ark stood in the midst of Jordan, until everything was finished that the Lord commanded Joshua to speak unto the people, according to all that Moses commanded Joshua: and the people hasted and passed over.
11 And it came to pass, when all the people were clean passed over, that the ark of the Lord passed over, and the priests, in the presence of the people.
12 And the children of Reuben, and the children of Gad, and half the tribe of Manasseh, passed over armed before the children of Israel, as Moses spake unto them:
13 About forty thousand prepared for war passed over before the Lord unto battle, to the plains of Jericho.
14 On that day the Lord magnified Joshua in the sight of all Israel; and they feared him, as they feared Moses, all the days of his life.
15 And the Lord spake unto Joshua, saying,
16 Command the priests that bear the ark of the testimony, that they come up out of Jordan.
17 Joshua therefore commanded the priests, saying, Come ye up out of Jordan.
18 And it came to pass, when the priests that bare the ark of the covenant of the Lord were come up out of the midst of Jordan, and the soles of the priests' feet were lifted up unto the dry land, that the waters of Jordan returned unto their place, and flowed over all his banks, as they did before.
19 And the people came up out of Jordan on the tenth day of the first month, and encamped in Gilgal, in the east border of Jericho.
20 And those twelve stones, which they took out of Jordan, did Joshua pitch in Gilgal.
21 And he spake unto the children of Israel, saying, When your children shall ask their fathers in time to come, saying, What mean these stones?
22 Then ye shall let your children know, saying, Israel came over this Jordan on dry land.
23 For the Lord your God dried up the waters of Jordan from before you, until ye were passed over, as the Lord your God did to the Red sea, which he dried up from before us, until we were gone over:
24 That all the people of the earth might know the hand of the Lord, that it is mighty: that ye might fear the Lord your God for ever.
Yehoshua 4
Orthodox Jewish Bible
4 And it came to pass, when Kol HaGoy had completely passed over the Yarden, that Hashem spoke unto Yehoshua, saying,
2 Take you Shneym Asar Anashim out of HaAm, out of every Shevet an ish,
3 And command ye them, saying, Take you from here out of the middle of the Yarden, out of the place where the feet of the Kohanim stood firm, twelve avanim (stones), and ye shall carry them over with you, and leave them in the malon (lodging place), where ye shall lodge halailah (tonight).
4 Then Yehoshua called the Shneym Asar Ish, whom he had prepared of the Bnei Yisroel, out of every tribe an Ish;
5 And Yehoshua said unto them, Pass over before the Aron Hashem Eloheichem into the middle of the Yarden, and take you up every ish of you an even (stone) upon his shoulder, according unto the number of the Shivtei Bnei Yisroel;
6 That this may be an ot among you, that when your banim ask in time to come, saying, What mean ye by these avanim?
7 Then ye shall answer them, That the waters of the Yarden were cut off from before the Aron Brit Hashem; when it passed over the Yarden, the waters of the Yarden were cut off; and these avanim shall be for a zikaron (memorial) unto the Bnei Yisroel ad olam (forever).
8 And the Bnei Yisroel did so just as Yehoshua commanded, and took up Shtei Esreh Avanim out of the middle of the Yarden, just as Hashem spoke unto Yehoshua, according to the number of the Shivtei Bnei Yisroel, and carried them over with them unto the malon where they lodged, and laid them down there.
9 And Yehoshua set up Shteym Esreh Avanim in the middle of the Yarden, in the place where the feet of the Kohanim bearing the Aron HaBrit stood; and they are there unto this day.
10 For the Kohanim bearing the Aron stood in the middle of the Yarden, until everything was finished that Hashem commanded Yehoshua to speak unto HaAm, according to all that Moshe commanded Yehoshua; and HaAm hurried and crossed over.
11 And it came to pass, when Kol HaAm had completely crossed over, that the Aron Hashem crossed over, and the Kohanim, ahead of HaAm.
12 And the Bnei Reuven, and the Bnei Gad, and the half-tribe of Menasheh, crossed over armed ahead of the Bnei Yisroel, just as Moshe directed them;
13 About forty thousand, battle-ready, crossed over before Hashem for milchamah, to the plains of Yericho.
14 On Yom Hahu Hashem magnified Yehoshua in the eyes of Kol Yisroel; and they feared him, just as they feared Moshe, all the days of his life.
15 And Hashem spoke unto Yehoshua, saying,
16 Command the Kohanim bearing the Aron HaEdut, so that they come up out of the Yarden.
17 Yehoshua therefore commanded the Kohanim, saying, Come ye up out of the Yarden.
18 And it came to pass, when the Kohanim bearing the Aron Brit Hashem were come up out of the middle of the Yarden, and the soles of the feet of the Kohanim were set on dry land, that the waters of the Yarden returned unto their place, and overflowed all its banks, as they did before.
19 And HaAm came up out of the Yarden on the tenth day of the chodesh harishon, and camped at Gilgal, by the eastern border of Yericho.
20 And those twelve avanim, which they took out of the Yarden, did Yehoshua set in a pile at Gilgal.
21 And he spoke unto the Bnei Yisroel, saying, When your banim shall ask their avot in time to come, saying, What mean these avanim?
22 Then ye shall let your banim know, saying, Yisroel crossed over this Yarden on yabashah (dry land [Gn 1:9]).
23 For Hashem Eloheichem dried up the waters of the Yarden from before you, until ye were passed over, just as Hashem Eloheichem did to Yam Suf, which He dried up from before us, until we were crossed over;
24 So that Kol Ammei HaAretz (all the peoples of the earth) might know the Yad Hashem, that it is chazakah; so that ye might fear Hashem Eloheichem kol hayamim (all the days, forever).
Joshua 4
Common English Bible
Twelve stones at Gilgal
4 When the entire nation had finished crossing over the Jordan, the Lord said to Joshua, 2 “Pick twelve men from the people, one man per tribe. 3 Command them, ‘Pick up twelve stones from right here in the middle of the Jordan, where the feet of the priests had been firmly planted. Bring them across with you and put them down in the camp where you are staying tonight.’”
4 Joshua called for the twelve men he had appointed from the Israelites, one man per tribe. 5 Joshua said to them, “Cross over into the middle of the Jordan, up to the Lord your God’s chest. Each of you, lift up a stone on his shoulder to match the number of the tribes of the Israelites. 6 This will be a symbol among you. In the future your children may ask, ‘What do these stones mean to you?’ 7 Then you will tell them that the water of the Jordan was cut off before the Lord’s covenant chest. When it crossed over the Jordan, the water of the Jordan was cut off. These stones will be an enduring memorial for the Israelites.”
8 The Israelites did exactly what Joshua ordered. They lifted twelve stones from the middle of the Jordan, matching the number of the tribes of the Israelites, exactly as the Lord had said to Joshua. They brought them over to the camp and put them down there. 9 Joshua also set up twelve stones in the middle of the Jordan where the feet of the priests had stood while carrying the covenant chest. They are still there today.
Crossing completed
10 Meanwhile, the priests carrying the chest were standing in the middle of the Jordan. They stood there until every command that the Lord had ordered Joshua to tell the people had been carried out. This was exactly what Moses had commanded Joshua. The people crossed over quickly. 11 As soon as all the people had finished crossing, the Lord’s chest crossed over. The priests then moved to the front of the people. 12 The people of Reuben, the people of Gad, and half the tribe of Manasseh crossed over, organized for war ahead of the Israelites, exactly as Moses had told them. 13 Approximately forty thousand armed for war crossed over in the Lord’s presence to the plains of Jericho, ready for battle. 14 The Lord made Joshua great in the opinion of all Israel on that day. So they revered him in the same way that they had revered Moses during all of his life.
15 The Lord said to Joshua, 16 “Command the priests carrying the chest containing the testimony to come up out of the Jordan.”
17 So Joshua commanded the priests, “Come up from the Jordan.” 18 The priests carrying the Lord’s covenant chest came up from the middle of the Jordan, and the soles of their feet touched dry ground. At that moment, the water of the Jordan started flowing again. It ran as before, completely over its banks. 19 The people came up out of the Jordan on the tenth day of the first month.[a] They camped at Gilgal on the east border of Jericho.
Stones at Gilgal
20 Joshua set up at Gilgal those twelve stones they had taken from the Jordan. 21 He said to the Israelites, “In the future your children will ask their parents, ‘What about these stones?’ 22 Then you will let your children know: ‘Israel crossed over the Jordan here on dry ground.’ 23 This was because the Lord your God dried up the water of the Jordan before you until you crossed over. This was exactly what the Lord your God did to the Reed Sea.[b] He dried it up before us until we crossed over. 24 This happened so that all the earth’s peoples might know that the Lord’s power is great and that you may always revere the Lord your God.”
Footnotes
- Joshua 4:19 March–April, Nisan
- Joshua 4:23 Or Red Sea
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