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Joshua 3:12

Old Testament Historical ASV (1901)

What does Joshua 3:12 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “Now therefore take you twelve men out of the tribes of Israel, for every tribe a man.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

Now therefore take you twelve men out of the tribes of Israel, for every tribe a man.
Joshua 3:12 — American Standard Version

Context — Joshua 3

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
9And Joshua said unto the children of Israel, Come hither, and hear the words of Jehovah your God.
10And Joshua said, Hereby ye shall know that the living God is among you, and that he will without fail drive out from before you the Canaanite, and the Hittite, and the Hivite, and the Perizzite, and the Girgashite, and the Amorite, and the Jebusite.
11Behold, the ark of the covenant of the Lord of all the earth passeth over before you into the Jordan.
12Now therefore take you twelve men out of the tribes of Israel, for every tribe a man.
13And it shall come to pass, when the soles of the feet of the priests that bear the ark of Jehovah, the Lord of all the earth, shall rest in the waters of the Jordan, that the waters of the Jordan shall be cut off, even the waters that come down from above; and they shall stand in one heap.
14And it came to pass, when the people removed from their tents, to pass over the Jordan, the priests that bare the ark of the covenant being before the people;
15and when they that bare the ark were come unto the Jordan, and the feet of the priests that bare the ark were dipped in the brink of the water (for the Jordan overfloweth all its banks all the time of harvest,)
← Joshua 3:11Joshua 3:13 →
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What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“Now therefore take ye twelve men, etc.] For what end and purpose is not mentioned. Abarbinel is of opinion, that they were chosen and appointed, that every man might pitch upon and take a place for his tribe to encamp in, when they came on the other side Jordan: whether this was Joshua’s view or no is not certain; however, the use he made of these, thus provided by divine direction, is related (<060402>Joshua 4:2-4); and these were to be taken out of the tribes of Israel, out of every tribe a man; Levi not reckoned, having no part in the land; and so we find that tribe left out in other accounts, when there was a choice of twelve men out of each of the tribes, (<041304>Numbers 13:4 34:19).”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“Twelve men - For the work described, Jos 4:2-3. Joshua 3:13”
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Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · Modern study notes
“3:12 Joshua told the people to choose twelve men but did not reveal what this group of men would be doing (4:2-8).”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“Jos 4:2, Jos 4:9 Joshua 3:13”
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Related study paths

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Sources and verification