Verse-by-Verse Bible Commentary

Adam Clarke Commentary

Take you twelve men - From Joshua 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.

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible

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 Joshua 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 Joshua 3:17; Joshua 4:1.

John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible

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.

Hawker's Poor Man's Commentary

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. Isaiah 6:8.

Wesley's Explanatory Notes

Take you twelve men out of the people, out of every tribe a man,

Out of every tribe a man — For the greater evidence, and the more effectual spreading the report of this marvellous work among all the tribes.

John Trapp Complete Commentary

Joshua 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 Joshua 22:30.

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible

For the greater evidence and certainty, and the more effectual spreading of the report of this marvellous work among all the tribes.

George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary

Choose. Hebrew, "take," as [in] chap. iii. 12. Those twelve men were ordered to attend the ark, and to observe the miracle with care: these are chosen to carry the stones for the monuments. (Salien) --- Calmet supposes that they are the same people, and that the former verse might be translated, "the Lord had said." But this does not agree with the context. Hebrew, "and it came to pass, when all the people were clean passed over the Jordan, that the Lord spake." The former injunction was given before they entered the river. Hebrew, "the ark passeth...Now therefore take," &c. (Haydock) --- One was selected from the tribe of Levi, and one from that of Joseph, so that all the twelve tribes were represented. (Menochius)

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes

men. PI of "ish or "enosh. See App-14.

man. Hebrew. "lsh. App-14.

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Unabridged

Take you twelve men out of the people, out of every tribe a man,

Take you twelve men - each representing a tribe. They had been previously chosen for this service (Joshua 3:12), and the repetition of the command is made here solely to introduce the account of its execution. Though Joshua had been divinely instructed to erect a commemorative pile, the representatives were not apprised of the work they were to do until the time of the passage.

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

twelve men

3:12; Numbers 1:4-15; 13:2; 34:18; Deuteronomy 1:23; 1 Kings 18:31; Matthew 10:1-5