What is the definition of Joshua 4:5?

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:

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Explanation: Okay, let’s break down this verse from Joshua 4:5. It’s a really important passage about how to defeat an enemy! Here's what it means in simpler terms:
The Basic Idea:
This verse is telling the Israelites to prepare to attack the city of Jericho 💎before💎 they even go into battle.
Let's unpack it piece by piece: 💎
“And Joshua said unto them…”
– Joshua is giving instructions to the people. He’s explaining what needs to happen. 💎
“…Pass over before the ark of the LORD your God…”
– This means they need to move 💎past💎 the city of Jericho, completely avoiding it. Think of it like a detour or a stealthy approach. It's a crucial step because they don’t want to be seen approaching the city. 💎
“…into the midst of Jordan…”
– They have to go through the Jordan River, which is a massive obstacle. 💎
“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.”
– This is where it gets more complex. Joshua is assigning each tribe (a group of people) a specific task: 💎
“take ye up every man of you…”
- Each person has to carry a “stone” on their shoulder. 💎
“…upon his shoulder…”
- They’re placing the stones 💎on💎 their shoulders, like carrying them. 💎
“…according unto the number of the tribes of the children of Israel.”
– This is the key! The number of stones each tribe gets is based on how many people are in their tribe according to Jewish law (the Torah). It’s a symbolic way of showing that they must be completely united and equal.
In short, Joshua is telling the Israelites to prepare a strategic maneuver: they need to move past Jericho without letting them know they're coming, and each tribe needs to contribute equally to the attack.

Why was this verse important?
It’s a powerful reminder of God’s plan for Israel. It shows that God is using a strategy that includes both military action 💎and💎 a demonstration of unity and order. It was a significant step in the story of the Israelites' conquest of Canaan (the land to the east). ---
Do you want me to:
💎 Explain another part of this verse? 💎 Discuss its significance within the larger context of the Old Testament? 💎 Give you some historical background about the situation when Joshua was giving this command?