Jos 4:3-9, 10:27, 2Sa 18:17-18, 2Ki 3:25 | TSK | STEP | the priest's fees. twelve stones. leave them.

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 (ver. 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 MS. yet collated; and it appears wholly unnecessary.

Ge 26:33; De 34:6; Jud 1:26; 1Sa 30:25; 2Sa 4:3; 2Ch 5:9; Mt 27:8

Mt 28:15

Joshua 10:27

they took.

8:29; De 21:23; 2Sa 18:17

until this very day.

4:9; 7:26

2 Samuel 18:17-18

laid.This was the ancient method of burying, whether heroes or traitors; the heap of stones being designed to perpetuate the memory of the event, whether good or bad. The Arabs in general make use of no other monument than a heap of stones over a grave. Thus, in an Arabic poem, it is related, that Hatim the father, and Adi the grandfather of Kais, having been murdered, at a time before Kais was capable of reflection, his mother kept it a profound secret; and in order to guard him against having any suspicion, she collected a parcel of stone on two hillocks in the neighbourhood, and told her son that the one was the grave of his father, and the other of his grandfather. The ancient cairns in Ireland and Scotland, and the tumuli in England, are of this kind.

Jos 7:26; 8:29; 10:27; Pr 10:7; Jer 22:18,19

reared up.

1Sa 15:12

the king's.

Ge 14:17

I have no son.

14:27; Job 18:16,17; Ps 109:13; Jer 22:30

he called.

Ge 11:4; 1Sa 15:12; Ps 49:11; Da 4:30

Absalom's place.Josephus says there was in his time, about two furlongs from Jerusalem, a marble pillar called Absalom's hand, as it is in the Hebrew, (See note on 1 Sa 15:12;) and there is one shown to the present day, in the valley of Jehoshaphat, which, though comparatively a modern structure, probably occupies the site of the original one set up by Absalom.

Ge 11:9; Ac 1:18,19

2 Kings 3:25

beat down.

19; Jud 9:45; 2Sa 8:2; Isa 37:26,27

stopped.

Ge 26:15,18; 2Ch 32:4

and felled.

De 20:19,20

only in, etc. Heb. until he left the stones thereof inKir-haraseth. Kir-haraseth. Supposed to be the same as Ar, or Areopolis, the capital of Moab.

De 2:9; Isa 16:7,11; Jer 48:31,36

Kir-heres.