set up twelve: Exodus 24:12, Exodus 28:21; 1 Kings 18:31; Psalms 111:2-4
and they are there: These words might be written by Joshua at the close of his life, or perhaps be added by some later prophet. It seems from this verse, that there were two sorts of stones erected as a memorial of this great event. Twelve at Gilgal (Joshua 4:20), and twelve in the bed of the Jordan; which last might have been placed on a base of strong stone work, so high as always to be visible, and serve to mark the very spot where the priests stood with the ark. Drs. Kennicott and Shuckford, however, would read here with the Syriac, mittoch:, "from the midst," instead of bethoch:, "in the midst;" and render, "And Joshua took up the twelve stones (taken) from the midst of Jordan," etc. But this reading is unsupported by any manuscript yet collated; and it appears wholly unnecessary. Genesis 26:33; Deuteronomy 34:6; Judges 1:26; 1 Samuel 30:25; 2 Samuel 4:3; 2 Chronicles 5:9; Matthew 27:8; Matthew 28:15