Verse by Verse Commentary: Joshua 4:4 – 5:4
Joshua 4:4
Verse: Then Joshua called the twelve men whom he had prepared of the children of Israel out of every tribe a man English Explanation: Joshua selects one representative from each of the twelve tribes. This ensures that the entire nation is unified in the act of remembrance. It highlights leadership and collective responsibility in witnessing God’s miracle. Urdu Explanation: یوشع نے ان بارہ آدمیوں کو بلایا جنہیں اس نے بنی اسرائیل کے ہر قبیلے سے ایک ایک شخص کر کے تیار کیا تھا۔ یہ اس بات کی علامت تھی کہ پورا ملک اس معجزے کا گواہ ہے۔
Joshua 4:5
Verse: And Joshua said unto them Pass over before the ark of the LORD your God into the midst of Jordan and take ye up every man of you a stone upon his shoulder according unto the number of the tribes of the children of Israel English Explanation: The men are instructed to go into the dry riverbed where the Ark stands. Each man must carry a heavy stone on his shoulder, symbolizing the weight and permanence of the testimony they are carrying out of the water. Urdu Explanation: یوشع نے ان سے کہا کہ خداوند اپنے خدا کے عہد کے صندوق کے سامنے سے ہوتے ہوئے یردن کے بیچ میں جاؤ اور ہر شخص اپنے کندھے پر ایک پتھر اٹھائے۔ یہ پتھر بنی اسرائیل کے بارہ قبیلوں کی تعداد کے مطابق تھے۔
Joshua 4:6
Verse: That this may be a sign among you that when your children ask their fathers in time to come saying What mean ye by these stones English Explanation: God values “teaching moments.” These stones were not just rubble; they were designed to provoke curiosity in future generations, providing parents an opportunity to share the story of God’s faithfulness. Urdu Explanation: تاکہ یہ تمہارے درمیان ایک نشان رہے۔ جب مستقبل میں تمہاری اولاد اپنے باپ دادا سے پوچھے گی کہ ان پتھروں کا کیا مطلب ہے؟
Joshua 4:7
Verse: Then ye shall answer them That the waters of Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of the LORD when it passed over Jordan the waters of Jordan were cut off and these stones shall be for a memorial unto the children of Israel for ever English Explanation: The purpose of the memorial is defined: to testify that the river stopped flowing by divine power. It serves as an everlasting reminder of God’s intervention on behalf of His people. Urdu Explanation: تب تم انہیں جواب دینا کہ خداوند کے عہد کے صندوق کے سامنے یردن کا پانی تھم گیا تھا۔ یہ پتھر بنی اسرائیل کے لیے ہمیشہ کی یادگار ہوں گے۔
Joshua 4:8
Verse: And the children of Israel did so as Joshua commanded and took up twelve stones out of the midst of Jordan as the LORD spake unto Joshua according to the number of the tribes of the children of Israel and carried them over with them unto the place where they lodged and laid them down there English Explanation: Obedience is emphasized here. The representatives did exactly as told, transporting the physical evidence of the miracle from the riverbed to their first campsite. Urdu Explanation: بنی اسرائیل نے ویسا ہی کیا جیسا یوشع نے حکم دیا تھا۔ انہوں نے یردن کے بیچ سے بارہ پتھر اٹھائے اور انہیں اس جگہ لے گئے جہاں انہوں نے رات گزاری اور وہاں انہیں رکھ دیا۔
Joshua 4:9
Verse: And Joshua 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 and they are there unto this day English Explanation: A second memorial was created. Joshua placed twelve stones inside the river where the priests stood. While the Gilgal stones were visible, these were often submerged, representing the hidden work of God in the depths. Urdu Explanation: یوشع نے یردن کے عین وسط میں بھی بارہ پتھر نصب کیے جہاں عہد کا صندوق اٹھانے والے کاہن کھڑے ہوئے تھے۔ وہ پتھر آج کے دن تک وہاں موجود ہیں۔
Joshua 4:10
Verse: For the priests which bare the ark stood in the midst of Jordan until everything was finished that the LORD commanded Joshua to speak unto the people according to all that Moses commanded Joshua and the people hasted and passed over English Explanation: The priests remained in the danger zone (the riverbed) until every citizen crossed safely. This displays the courage of the spiritual leaders and the urgency of the people. Urdu Explanation: کاہن جو صندوق اٹھائے ہوئے تھے یردن کے بیچ میں اس وقت تک کھڑے رہے جب تک وہ سب کچھ مکمل نہ ہو گیا جس کا حکم خداوند نے یوشع کو دیا تھا۔ لوگ جلدی سے پار اتر گئے۔
Joshua 4:11
Verse: And it came to pass when all the people were clean passed over that the ark of the LORD passed over and the priests in the presence of the people English Explanation: Once the safety of the people was secured, the Ark—the symbol of God’s presence—followed them. God led them in and God saw them out. Urdu Explanation: جب سب لوگ پار اتر گئے تو خداوند کا صندوق اور کاہن بھی لوگوں کے دیکھتے دیکھتے پار آ گئے۔
Joshua 4:12
Verse: And the children of Reuben and the children of Gad and half the tribe of Manasseh passed over armed before the children of Israel as Moses spake unto them English Explanation: These tribes had already inherited land east of the Jordan, yet they kept their promise to Moses to lead the vanguard and help their brothers conquer the West. Urdu Explanation: روبن، جاد اور منسی کے آدھے قبیلے کے لوگ مسلح ہو کر بنی اسرائیل کے آگے پار اترے، جیسا کہ موسیٰ نے ان سے کہا تھا۔
Joshua 4:13
Verse: About forty thousand prepared for war passed over before the LORD unto battle to the plains of Jericho English Explanation: A massive, organized military force moved into enemy territory. They were not just refugees; they were an army “prepared for war” under God’s authority. Urdu Explanation: تقریباً چالیس ہزار جنگ کے لیے تیار سپاہی خداوند کے حضور یرِیحو کے میدانوں کی طرف لڑائی کے لیے پار اترے۔
Joshua 4:14
Verse: On that day the LORD magnified Joshua in the sight of all Israel and they feared him as they feared Moses all the days of his life English Explanation: This miracle served to validate Joshua’s leadership. God gave him the same spiritual authority and respect that had been afforded to Moses. Urdu Explanation: اس دن خداوند نے تمام اسرائیل کی نظر میں یوشع کو عظمت بخشی اور وہ اس کا ویسا ہی احترام کرنے لگے جیسا موسیٰ کا کرتے تھے۔
Joshua 4:15-17
Verses: And the LORD spake unto Joshua saying Command the priests that bear the ark of the testimony that they come up out of Jordan Joshua therefore commanded the priests saying Come ye up out of Jordan English Explanation: Even the exit from the river was governed by divine command. Joshua waits for God’s word before ordering the priests to step onto the bank. Urdu Explanation: خوند نے یوشع سے کہا کہ کاہنوں کو حکم دے کہ وہ یردن سے باہر نکل آئیں۔ یوشع نے کاہنوں کو حکم دیا کہ اوپر آ جاؤ۔
Joshua 4:18
Verse: And it came to pass when the priests that bare the ark of the covenant of the LORD were come up out of the midst of Jordan and the soles of the priests’ feet were lifted up unto the dry land that the waters of Jordan returned unto their place and flowed over all his banks as they did before English Explanation: The miracle ended exactly as it began. As soon as the soles of the priests’ feet touched the shore, the natural laws resumed, and the river flooded again, sealing the Israelites in the Promised Land. Urdu Explanation: جیسے ہی کاہنوں کے قدم خشک زمین پر پڑے، یردن کا پانی اپنی جگہ واپس آ گیا اور پہلے کی طرح اپنے کناروں سے باہر بہنے لگا۔
Joshua 4:19
Verse: And the people came up out of Jordan on the tenth day of the first month and encamped in Gilgal in the east border of Jericho English Explanation: The timing is significant; this was exactly 40 years since the Exodus began. They camped at Gilgal, which would become their primary base of operations. Urdu Explanation: پہلے مہینے کے دسویں دن لوگ یردن سے اوپر آئے اور یرِیحو کی مشرقی سرحد پر جلجال میں خیمہ زن ہوئے۔
Joshua 4:20-22
Verses: And those twelve stones which they took out of Jordan did Joshua pitch in Gilgal And he spake unto the children of Israel saying When your children shall ask their fathers in time to come saying What mean these stones Then ye shall let your children know saying Israel came over this Jordan on dry land English Explanation: Joshua sets up the permanent monument. He reiterates the mission: these stones are a visual aid for future history lessons about God’s power. Urdu Explanation: یوشع نے وہ بارہ پتھر جلجال میں نصب کیے اور کہا کہ جب تمہاری اولاد پوچھے کہ یہ کیا ہے، تو انہیں بتانا کہ اسرائیل خشک زمین پر سے یردن پار کر کے آیا ہے۔
Joshua 4:23-24
Verses: For the LORD your God dried up the waters of Jordan from before you until ye were passed over as the LORD your God did to the Red sea which he dried up from before us until we were gone over That all the people of the earth might know the hand of the LORD that it is mighty that ye might fear the LORD your God for ever English Explanation: The Jordan miracle is linked to the Red Sea miracle. The goal is global: that the whole world would recognize God’s might and that Israel would remain in awe of Him. Urdu Explanation: تاکہ زمین کی تمام قومیں جان لیں کہ خداوند کا ہاتھ قدرت والا ہے اور تم ہمیشہ اپنے خدا سے ڈرتے رہو۔
Joshua 5:1
Verse: And it came to pass when all the kings of the Amorites which were on the side of Jordan westward and all the kings of the Canaanites which were by the sea heard that the LORD had dried up the waters of Jordan from before the children of Israel until we were passed over that their heart melted neither was there spirit in them any more because of the children of Israel English Explanation: The psychological warfare was won before the physical battle began. The Canaanite kings were paralyzed by fear, realizing that Israel’s God controlled nature itself. Urdu Explanation: جب اموریوں اور کنعانیوں کے بادشاہوں نے سنا کہ خداوند نے یردن کو خشک کر دیا ہے، تو ان کے دل پگھل گئے اور ان کی ہمت جواب دے گئی۔
Joshua 5:2-3
Verses: At that time the LORD said unto Joshua Make thee sharp knives and circumcise again the children of Israel the second time And Joshua made him sharp knives and circumcised the children of Israel at the hill of the foreskins English Explanation: Before the conquest, God required spiritual preparation. Circumcision was the sign of the covenant. A new generation, born in the wilderness, had to be formally brought into that covenant. Urdu Explanation: اس وقت خداوند نے یوشع سے کہا کہ پتھر کی چھریاں بنا اور بنی اسرائیل کی دوسری بار ختنہ کر۔ یوشع نے ایسا ہی کیا۔
Joshua 5:4
Verse: And this is the cause why Joshua did circumcise All the people that came out of Egypt that were males even all the men of war died in the wilderness by the way after they came out of Egypt English Explanation: This explains the necessity: the original generation that left Egypt had perished due to unbelief. This new generation needed to be set apart for God before taking the land. Urdu Explanation: اس کی وجہ یہ تھی کہ وہ تمام مرد اور جنگجو جو مصر سے نکلے تھے، بیابان میں وفات پا چکے تھے۔ اب نئی نسل کو اس عہد میں شامل کرنا ضروری تھا۔