Joshua 4:2

EXPOSITION

THE MEMORIAL .—

Twelve stones. The commemoration of events by the setting up of huge stones was by no means peculiar to the Jews, though it was often used by them, as, for instance, Genesis 28:18 ; Genesis 35:14 , 1 Samuel 7:12 . Almost every nation has adopted it. The Egyptian obelisks, the stones at Hamath, supposed to be of Hittite origin, the dolmens and other megalithic monuments of the Celts, the Logan or rocking stones, are cases in point. The Scandinavians filled their country with them. Our own Stonehenge and the Avebury stones are supposed by some to be, not temples nor burial places, but memorials of some battle. The command here given to Joshua was regarding what was to be done by the twelve men, who ( Joshua 5:4 ; cf. Joshua 3:12 ) were already chosen. The form of the command is merely another instance of the common Hebrew practice of repetition.