Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Joshua 4:2
Take you twelve men out of the people, out of every tribe a man,
Take you twelve men – The order is given in the plural, because no doubt the tribes themselves were to choose their own representatives, the choice being approved by Joshua Jos 4:4. These twelve would be left with Joshua on the hither bank of the river, waiting to receive his orders after the rest of the people had made their way across Jos 3:17; Jos 4:1.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 2. Take you twelve men] From Jos 3:12, it appears that the twelve men had been before appointed, one taken out of each of the twelve tribes; and now they are employed for that purpose for which they had been before selected.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
For the greater evidence and certainty, and the more effectual spreading of the report of this marvellous work among all the tribes.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
Take you twelve men out of the people,…. Joshua had before this ordered twelve men to be taken from among them, which seems to have been done of himself; and now he has a direction from God for it, and what to employ them in:
out of every tribe a man; so that what they did was in the name of the several tribes, and as representing them.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Observe, it was not to be the work of every one, but special characters selected for this service. Oh! it is sweet to see our calling. And very sweet to run on Jesus’s errands when sent by him. Isa 6:8 .
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Jos 4:2 Take you twelve men out of the people, out of every tribe a man,
Ver. 2. Out of every tribe a man. ] For the two tribes and half planted beyond Jordan were also concerned, as being of the same body and way of worship. See Jos 22:30 .
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
men. PI of ‘ish or ‘enosh. See App-14.
man. Hebrew. ‘lsh. App-14.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
twelve men: Jos 3:12, Num 1:4-15, Num 13:2, Num 34:18, Deu 1:23, 1Ki 18:31, Mat 10:1-5
Reciprocal: Exo 24:4 – according Jos 4:4 – prepared Jos 4:8 – did so as Joshua Jos 18:4 – three
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Jos 4:2-5. Take you out of every tribe a man For the greater evidence, and the more effectual spreading the report of this marvellous work among the tribes. Where ye shall lodge this night That is, in Gilgal, as is expressed, Jos 4:19-20. Whom he had prepared That is, appointed for that work, and commanded to be ready for it. Pass over before the ark Or, Pass back again directly unto the ark. These twelve men, it seems, re- entered the channel of Jordan, and, being dispensed from the prohibition to approach the ark, came near the place where the priests stood, and each loaded himself with a stone as large as he could carry, and such as might afterward attest to each several tribe that he had seen the bed of the river dry, and the miracle prolonged till the entire execution of the commands of God.