God did not allow Moses to lead the people into the Promised Land because he had failed to honor God at Rephadim (Exodus 17, Deuteronomy 32:50-51). God also gave the Jews types and patterns for their understanding. While the Greek mind seeks after wisdom, the Jews require a sign (1 Corinthians 1:22). We know that God provided signs to his people, to reveal Himself, His will and His ways, and to prepare them to recognize their promised coming Messiah.

The typological lessons in this account provide an eternal, but disheartening, perspective. This 12 stones was a memorial to God’s justice. This 12 stone memorial would perish in the waters of the Jordan, just as the Egyptian army had perished in the waters of the Red Sea so many years before. They would never inquire about it, once the Jordan waters flowed again. This pile of 12 stone was never to be seen by future generations. Consider this and decide for yourself what is the meaning of these 12 stones. I believe it offers a profound teaching as well as a warning and a motivation for all Christians. What I present is my biblical reasoning on this. The Bible does not tell us the meaning of this memorial, but I believe it can be reasoned and understood by typology and symbolism in the Bible. We are told in Joshua 4 that while the priests held the Ark of the Covenant, standing in the middle of the Jordan River, Joshua was to “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…” (Joshua 4:9) They offer an important and motivating message. The stones in the midst of the riverbed are seldom, if ever, preached about, but these 12 stones are something everyone should know about. You’ve likely never heard about the other twelve stones. And these stones shall be for a memorial to the children of Israel forever.” The Other 12 Stones in the Midst of the Jordan Joshua 4:6-7 “that this may be a sign among you when your children ask in time to come, saying, ‘What do these stones mean to you?’ Then you shall answer them that the waters of the Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of the LORD when it crossed over the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off. When looked upon this memorial would cause the people to remember the Lord’s goodness, when He led them into the Promised Land. It was to serve as a sign and a call to remembrance for all generations for the people of Israel. I understand the meaning of the 12 stones on the west bank of the Jordan River in Joshua 4, but what about the other 12 stones that Joshua placed in the middle of the Jordan? Why did he put them there? Answerīefore we discuss the 12 stones submerged in the Jordan River, let’s remember the 12 stone memorial piled high on the west bank of the River Jordan at Gilgal.

Scripture stones of remembrance