BibleWord.ai› Bible› Joshua› Chapter 4› Verse 2

Joshua 4:2

Old Testament Historical ASV (1901)

What does Joshua 4:2 say?

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

The verse

Take you twelve men out of the people, out of every tribe a man,
Joshua 4:2 — American Standard Version

Context — Joshua 4

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
1And it came to pass, when all the nation were clean passed over the Jordan, that Jehovah spake unto Joshua, saying,
2Take you twelve men out of the people, out of every tribe a man,
3and command ye them, saying, Take you hence out of the midst of the Jordan, out of the place where the priests` feet stood firm, twelve stones, and carry them over with you, and lay them down in the lodging-place, where ye shall lodge this night.
4Then Joshua called the twelve men, whom he had prepared of the children of Israel, out of every tribe a man:
5and Joshua said unto them, Pass over before the ark of Jehovah 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;
← Joshua 4:1Joshua 4:3 →
← Full Chapter 4 Joshua Overview

What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“Take you twelve men out of the people, etc.] Joshua had before this ordered twelve men to be taken from among them, which seems to have been done of himself; and now he has a direction from God for it, and what to employ them in: out of every tribe a man; so that what they did was in the name of the several tribes, and as representing them.”
Read attributed excerpt →
Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“Take you twelve men - The order is given in the plural, because no doubt the tribes themselves were to choose their own representatives, the choice being approved by Joshua Joshua 4:4. These twelve would be left with Joshua on the hither bank of the river, waiting to receive his orders after the rest of the people had made their way across Joshua 3:17; Joshua 4:1. return to 'Top of Page'”
Read attributed excerpt →
Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“Out of every tribe a man - For the greater evidence, and the more effectual spreading the report of this marvellous work among all the tribes. Joshua 4:3”
Read attributed excerpt →
Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · Modern study notes
“4:2 The twelve men represented Jacob’s twelve sons. The tribe of Levi was not counted because the Levites settled in designated cities among the other tribes (Gen 49:5-7; Num 1:49-52; 18:20). However, the number of tribes remained at twelve because Joseph’s two sons (Ephraim and Manasseh) were accounted as separate tribes (Gen 48:5).”
Read attributed excerpt →
Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“twelve men: Jos 3:12; Num 1:4-15, Num 13:2, Num 34:18; Deu 1:23; Kg1 18:31; Mat 10:1-5 Joshua 4:3”
Read attributed excerpt →

Related study paths

Read Joshua 4 in contextBrowse Hebrew word studiesOpen this verse in the study reader

Sources and verification