
TORAH
NEVI'IM
KETUVIM
Chapter 4
Translation and Transliteration of
Listen to this chapter in Hebrew:
- Commentary
- Buy E-book
- Buy the Israel Bible
1When the entire nation had finished crossing the Yarden, Hashem said to Yehoshua,
vai-HI ka-a-SHER-ta-MU kol-ha-GOY la-a-VOR et ha-YAR-den, va-YO-mer a-do-NAI el-y'-ho-SHU-a lay-MOR
אוַֽיְהִי֙ כַּאֲשֶׁר־תַּ֣מּוּ כׇל־הַגּ֔וֹי לַעֲב֖וֹר אֶת־הַיַּרְדֵּ֑ן וַיֹּ֣אמֶר יְהֹוָ֔ה אֶל־יְהוֹשֻׁ֖עַ לֵאמֹֽר׃
2“Select twelve men from among the people, one from each tribe,
K'-khu LA-khem min ha-aM sh'-NAYim a-SAHR a-na-SHEEM, eesh e-KHAD eesh e-KHAD mi-sha-VET.
בקְח֤וּ לָכֶם֙ מִן־הָעָ֔ם שְׁנֵ֥ים עָשָׂ֖ר אֲנָשִׁ֑ים אִישׁ־אֶחָ֥ד אִישׁ־אֶחָ֖ד מִשָּֽׁבֶט׃
3and instruct them as follows: Pick up twelve stones from the spot exactly in the middle of the Yarden, where the Kohanim' feet are standing; take them along with you and deposit them in the place where you will spend the night.”
v'-tza-VU o-TAM lay-MOR: se-U-la-KHEM mi-ZEH mi-TOCH ha-YAR-den, mi-ma-TZAV ra-G'-lei ha-ko-HE-nim, ha-KIN sh'-TEEM e-SREH a-va-NEEM, v'-ha-a-va-TEM o-TAM i-MA-khem, v'-hi-NAKH-tem o-TAM ba-ma-LON a-SHER-ta-LEE-nu-VO ha-la-Y-la. (Seh)
גוְצַוּ֣וּ אוֹתָם֮ לֵאמֹר֒ שְׂאֽוּ־לָכֶ֨ם מִזֶּ֜ה מִתּ֣וֹךְ הַיַּרְדֵּ֗ן מִמַּצַּב֙ רַגְלֵ֣י הַכֹּהֲנִ֔ים הָכִ֖ין שְׁתֵּים־עֶשְׂרֵ֣ה אֲבָנִ֑ים וְהַעֲבַרְתֶּ֤ם אוֹתָם֙ עִמָּכֶ֔ם וְהִנַּחְתֶּ֣ם אוֹתָ֔ם בַּמָּל֕וֹן אֲשֶׁר־תָּלִ֥ינוּ ב֖וֹ הַלָּֽיְלָה׃
4Yehoshua summoned the twelve men whom he had designated among the Israelites, one from each tribe;
vai-YIK-ra y'-ho-SHU-a el sh'-NAYM he-a-SAR a-YISH a-SHER he-KHEEN mi-b'-NAY yis-ra-AYL, a-YISH e-KHAD a-YISH e-KHAD mi-sha-VET
דוַיִּקְרָ֣א יְהוֹשֻׁ֗עַ אֶל־שְׁנֵ֤ים הֶעָשָׂר֙ אִ֔ישׁ אֲשֶׁ֥ר הֵכִ֖ין מִבְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל אִישׁ־אֶחָ֥ד אִישׁ־אֶחָ֖ד מִשָּֽׁבֶט׃
5and Yehoshua said to them, “Walk up to the Aron of Hashem your God, in the middle of the Yarden, and each of you lift a stone onto his shoulder—corresponding to the number of the tribes of Yisrael.
vai-YO-mer la-HEM y'-ho-SHU-a, i-v'-RU li-F'-nay a-ROn a-do-NAI e-lo-HAY-khem el TOCH ha-YAR-den, v'-ha-REE-mu LA-khem eesh e-VEN a-KHAT al-shikh-MO l'-mis-PAHR sh'-v'-TAY v'-NAY yis-ra-AYL
הוַיֹּ֤אמֶר לָהֶם֙ יְהוֹשֻׁ֔עַ עִ֠בְר֠וּ לִפְנֵ֨י אֲר֧וֹן יְהֹוָ֛ה אֱלֹהֵיכֶ֖ם אֶל־תּ֣וֹךְ הַיַּרְדֵּ֑ן וְהָרִ֨ימוּ לָכֶ֜ם אִ֣ישׁ אֶ֤בֶן אַחַת֙ עַל־שִׁכְמ֔וֹ לְמִסְפַּ֖ר שִׁבְטֵ֥י בְנֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃
6This shall serve as a symbol among you: in time to come, when your children ask, ‘What is the meaning of these stones for you?'
l'-ma-AN ti-HE-yeh ZOT ot b'-kir-B'-KHEM, KEE yish-A-lun b'-nay-KHEM ma-KHAR lay-MOR: ma ha-a-va-NEEM ha-E-leh la-KHEM
ולְמַ֗עַן תִּֽהְיֶ֛ה זֹ֥את א֖וֹת בְּקִרְבְּכֶ֑ם כִּֽי־יִשְׁאָל֨וּן בְּנֵיכֶ֤ם מָחָר֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר מָ֛ה הָֽאֲבָנִ֥ים הָאֵ֖לֶּה לָכֶֽם׃
7you shall tell them, ‘The waters of the Yarden were cut off because of the Aron Brit Hashem; when it passed through the Yarden, the waters of the Yarden were cut off.' And so these stones shall serve the people of Yisrael as a memorial for all time.”
va-a-mar-TEM la-HEM a-SHER nikh-ru-TU mei-MEI ha-YAR-den mi-p'-NEI a-RON b'-REET a-do-NAI b'-o-v'-RO ba-YAR-den nikh-ru-TU mei ha-YAR-den v'-ha-YU ha-a-va-NEEM ha-E-leh l'-zi-KA-ron li-v'-NAY yis-ra-AYL ad-o-LAM
זוַאֲמַרְתֶּ֣ם לָהֶ֗ם אֲשֶׁ֨ר נִכְרְת֜וּ מֵימֵ֤י הַיַּרְדֵּן֙ מִפְּנֵי֙ אֲר֣וֹן בְּרִית־יְהֹוָ֔ה בְּעׇבְרוֹ֙ בַּיַּרְדֵּ֔ן נִכְרְת֖וּ מֵ֣י הַיַּרְדֵּ֑ן וְ֠הָי֠וּ הָאֲבָנִ֨ים הָאֵ֧לֶּה לְזִכָּר֛וֹן לִבְנֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל עַד־עוֹלָֽם׃
8The Israelites did as Yehoshua ordered. They picked up twelve stones, corresponding to the number of the tribes of Yisrael, from the middle of the Yarden—as Hashem had charged Yehoshua—and they took them along with them to their night encampment and deposited them there.
vai-ya-a-SU-khen b'-NAY yis-ra-AYL ka-a-SHER tzi-VAH y'-ho-SHU-a vai-yi-SU sh'-tay-AY-sh'-REH a-va-NEEM mi-tokh ha-yar-DAYN ka-a-SHER di-BER a-do-NAI el y'-ho-SHU-a l'-mis-PAHR sh'-v'-TAY b'-NAY yis-ra-AYL vai-ya-a-VEE-rum i-MAHM el ha-ma-LOHN vai-ya-NI-kh'-UM SHAM
חוַיַּעֲשׂוּ־כֵ֣ן בְּנֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵל֮ כַּאֲשֶׁ֣ר צִוָּ֣ה יְהוֹשֻׁ֒עַ֒ וַיִּשְׂא֡וּ שְׁתֵּֽי־עֶשְׂרֵ֨ה אֲבָנִ֜ים מִתּ֣וֹךְ הַיַּרְדֵּ֗ן כַּאֲשֶׁ֨ר דִּבֶּ֤ר יְהֹוָה֙ אֶל־יְהוֹשֻׁ֔עַ לְמִסְפַּ֖ר שִׁבְטֵ֣י בְנֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל וַיַּעֲבִר֤וּם עִמָּם֙ אֶל־הַמָּל֔וֹן וַיַּנִּח֖וּם שָֽׁם׃
9Yehoshua also set up twelve stones in the middle of the Yarden, at the spot where the feet of the Kohanim bearing the Aron HaBrit had stood; and they have remained there to this day.
u-sh'-TEEM e-s'-RAY a-va-NEEM hay-KIM y'-ho-SHU-a b'-to-KH ha-yar-DAYN, ta-KHAT ma-TZAV rag-LAY ha-ko-ha-NEEM no-s'-AY a-ROHN ha-b'-REET, va-YI-h'-yu SHAM ad ha-YOM ha-ZEH.
טוּשְׁתֵּ֧ים עֶשְׂרֵ֣ה אֲבָנִ֗ים הֵקִ֣ים יְהוֹשֻׁ֘עַ֮ בְּת֣וֹךְ הַיַּרְדֵּן֒ תַּ֗חַת מַצַּב֙ רַגְלֵ֣י הַכֹּהֲנִ֔ים נֹשְׂאֵ֖י אֲר֣וֹן הַבְּרִ֑ית וַיִּ֣הְיוּ שָׁ֔ם עַ֖ד הַיּ֥וֹם הַזֶּֽה׃
10The Kohanim who bore the Aron remained standing in the middle of the Yarden until all the instructions that Hashem had ordered Yehoshua to convey to the people had been carried out. And so the people speedily crossed over, just as Moshe had assured Yehoshua in his charge to him.
v'-ha-ko-HA-neem no-s'-AY ha-a-ROn o-m'-DEEM b'-TOCH ha-YAR-den, AD TOM kol ha-DA-var a-SHER tzi-VA a-do-NAI et y'-ho-SHU-a l'-da-BAYR el ha-AHM, k'-KOL a-SHER tzi-VA mo-SHE et y'-ho-SHU-a, va-y'-ma-ha-ru ha-AHM va-ya-a-VO-ru
יוְהַכֹּהֲנִ֞ים נֹשְׂאֵ֣י הָֽאָר֗וֹן עֹמְדִים֮ בְּת֣וֹךְ הַיַּרְדֵּן֒ עַ֣ד תֹּ֣ם כׇּֽל־הַ֠דָּבָ֠ר אֲשֶׁר־צִוָּ֨ה יְהֹוָ֤ה אֶת־יְהוֹשֻׁ֙עַ֙ לְדַבֵּ֣ר אֶל־הָעָ֔ם כְּכֹ֛ל אֲשֶׁר־צִוָּ֥ה מֹשֶׁ֖ה אֶת־יְהוֹשֻׁ֑עַ וַיְמַהֲר֥וּ הָעָ֖ם וַיַּעֲבֹֽרוּ׃
11And when all the people finished crossing, the Aron of Hashem and the Kohanim advanced to the head of the people.
vai-HI ka-a-SHER-tam kol-ha-AM la-a-VOR, va-ya-a-VOR a-ron a-do-NAI v'-ha-ko-ha-NEEM lif-NEI ha-AM
יאוַיְהִ֛י כַּֽאֲשֶׁר־תַּ֥ם כׇּל־הָעָ֖ם לַעֲב֑וֹר וַיַּעֲבֹ֧ר אֲרוֹן־יְהֹוָ֛ה וְהַכֹּהֲנִ֖ים לִפְנֵ֥י הָעָֽם׃
12The Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Menashe went across armed in the van of the Israelites, as Moshe had charged them.
vai-YA-a-v'-RU b'-NAY r'-U-ven u-b'-NAY gad va-kha-TZI sh'-vet ha-m'-na-SHE cha-MU-sheem lif-NAY b'-NAY yis-ra-AYL ka-a-SHER di-BER a-LAY-hem mo-SHE
יבוַ֠יַּעַבְר֠וּ בְּנֵֽי־רְאוּבֵ֨ן וּבְנֵי־גָ֜ד וַחֲצִ֨י שֵׁ֤בֶט הַֽמְנַשֶּׁה֙ חֲמֻשִׁ֔ים לִפְנֵ֖י בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל כַּאֲשֶׁ֛ר דִּבֶּ֥ר אֲלֵיהֶ֖ם מֹשֶֽׁה׃
13About forty thousand shock troops went across, at the instance of Hashem, to the steppes of Yericho for battle.
k'-ar-BA-eem e-LEF kha-loo-TZEI ha-tza-VA a-VO-ru li-f'-NAY a-do-NAI la-mil-kha-MAH el ar-VOT yi-ri-KHO. (s)
יגכְּאַרְבָּעִ֥ים אֶ֖לֶף חֲלוּצֵ֣י הַצָּבָ֑א עָבְר֞וּ לִפְנֵ֤י יְהֹוָה֙ לַמִּלְחָמָ֔ה אֶ֖ל עַֽרְב֥וֹת יְרִיחֽוֹ׃
14On that day Hashem exalted Yehoshua in the sight of all Yisrael, so that they revered him all his days as they had revered Moshe.
ba-YOM ha-HU gi-DAL a-do-NAI et y'-ho-SHU-a b'-ay-NAY kol yis-ra-AYL va-yi-RO-u o-TO ka-a-SHER ya-RO-u et mo-SHE kol y'-MEI kha-YAV.
ידבַּיּ֣וֹם הַה֗וּא גִּדַּ֤ל יְהֹוָה֙ אֶת־יְהוֹשֻׁ֔עַ בְּעֵינֵ֖י כׇּל־יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל וַיִּֽרְא֣וּ אֹת֔וֹ כַּאֲשֶׁ֛ר יָֽרְא֥וּ אֶת־מֹשֶׁ֖ה כׇּל־יְמֵ֥י חַיָּֽיו׃
15Hashem said to Yehoshua,
va-YO-mer a-do-NAI el y'-ho-SHU-a lay-MOR
טווַיֹּ֣אמֶר יְהֹוָ֔ה אֶל־יְהוֹשֻׁ֖עַ לֵאמֹֽר׃
16“Command the Kohanim who bear the Aron HaBrit to come up out of the Yarden.”
TZA-ve et ha-ko-HA-neem no-se-EI a-ron ha-e-DU, v'-ya-a-LU min ha-YAR-den
טזצַוֵּה֙ אֶת־הַכֹּ֣הֲנִ֔ים נֹשְׂאֵ֖י אֲר֣וֹן הָעֵד֑וּת וְיַעֲל֖וּ מִן־הַיַּרְדֵּֽן׃
17So Yehoshua commanded the Kohanim, “Come up out of the Yarden.”
vai-TZAV y'-ho-SHU-a et ha-ko-ha-NEEM lay-MOR: a-LU min ha-yar-DEN
יזוַיְצַ֣ו יְהוֹשֻׁ֔עַ אֶת־הַכֹּהֲנִ֖ים לֵאמֹ֑ר עֲל֖וּ מִן־הַיַּרְדֵּֽן׃
18As soon as the Kohanim who bore the Aron Brit Hashem came up out of the Yarden, and the feet of the Kohanim stepped onto the dry ground, the waters of the Yarden resumed their course, flowing over its entire bed as before.
vai-YA-hee (ba-a-LOT) [ka-a-LOT] ha-ko-ha-NEEM no-s'-AY a-ROn b'-REET a-do-NAI mi-tokh ha-YAR-den, ni-t'-KU ka-POT ra-g'-LEI ha-ko-ha-NEEM el he-kha-RA-vah, va-ya-SHU-vu may ha-YAR-den lim-KO-mam, va-yel-KHU kit-MOL-shiL-SHOM al-KOL-ge-do-TAV
יחוַ֠יְהִ֠י (בעלות) [כַּעֲל֨וֹת] הַכֹּהֲנִ֜ים נֹשְׂאֵ֨י אֲר֤וֹן בְּרִית־יְהֹוָה֙ מִתּ֣וֹךְ הַיַּרְדֵּ֔ן נִתְּק֗וּ כַּפּוֹת֙ רַגְלֵ֣י הַכֹּהֲנִ֔ים אֶ֖ל הֶחָרָבָ֑ה וַיָּשֻׁ֤בוּ מֵֽי־הַיַּרְדֵּן֙ לִמְקוֹמָ֔ם וַיֵּלְכ֥וּ כִתְמוֹל־שִׁלְשׁ֖וֹם עַל־כׇּל־גְּדוֹתָֽיו׃
19The people came up from the Yarden on the tenth day of the first month, and encamped at Gilgal on the eastern border of Yericho.
v'-ha-aM a-LU min ha-YAR-den be-a-SOR la-KHO-desh ha-ri-SHON va-ya-cha-NU ba-gil-GAL bi-k'-TZEH miz-RAKH yi-ri-KHO
יטוְהָעָ֗ם עָלוּ֙ מִן־הַיַּרְדֵּ֔ן בֶּעָשׂ֖וֹר לַחֹ֣דֶשׁ הָרִאשׁ֑וֹן וַֽיַּחֲנוּ֙ בַּגִּלְגָּ֔ל בִּקְצֵ֖ה מִזְרַ֥ח יְרִיחֽוֹ׃
20And Yehoshua set up in Gilgal the twelve stones they had taken from the Yarden.
v'-AYT sh'-TAYM es-RAY ha-a-va-NEEM ha-AY-leh a-SHER la-k'-KHU min ha-yar-DAYN hay-KEEM y'-ho-SHU-a ba-gil-GAL
כוְאֵת֩ שְׁתֵּ֨ים עֶשְׂרֵ֤ה הָֽאֲבָנִים֙ הָאֵ֔לֶּה אֲשֶׁ֥ר לָקְח֖וּ מִן־הַיַּרְדֵּ֑ן הֵקִ֥ים יְהוֹשֻׁ֖עַ בַּגִּלְגָּֽל׃
4:20 And Yehoshua set up in Gilgal the twelve stones

Gilgal Argaman, proposed location of biblical Gilgal
Yehoshua establishes a monument from twelve stones taken from the Yarden, each representing one tribe. Rabbi Shlomo Aviner notes that this monument represents the “unity but not uniformity” of the Jewish people. There are twelve individual stones, which symbolize the diversity of the tribes. But the stones are not scattered. Together, they form a unified monument. This “unity but not uniformity” is one of the keys to Israel’s success. Israel is an extremely diverse country. Yet her people have unified to create a society that is truly a “light unto the nations.”
21He charged the Israelites as follows: “In time to come, when your children ask their fathers, ‘What is the meaning of those stones?'
vai-YO-mer el b'-NAY yis-ra-AYL lay-MOR: a-SHER yish-a-LUN b'-nay-KHEM ma-KHAR et a-vo-TAM lay-MOR: ma ha-a-va-NEEM ha-E-leh
כאוַיֹּ֛אמֶר אֶל־בְּנֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל לֵאמֹ֑ר אֲשֶׁר֩ יִשְׁאָל֨וּן בְּנֵיכֶ֤ם מָחָר֙ אֶת־אֲבוֹתָ֣ם לֵאמֹ֔ר מָ֖ה הָאֲבָנִ֥ים הָאֵֽלֶּה׃
22tell your children: ‘Here the Israelites crossed the Yarden on dry land.'
v'-ho-da-TEM et b'-NAY-khem lay-MOR: ba-ya-BA-sha a-VAR yis-ra-AYL et ha-yar-DAYN ha-ZEH
כבוְהוֹדַעְתֶּ֖ם אֶת־בְּנֵיכֶ֣ם לֵאמֹ֑ר בַּיַּבָּשָׁה֙ עָבַ֣ר יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל אֶת־הַיַּרְדֵּ֖ן הַזֶּֽה׃
23For Hashem your God dried up the waters of the Yarden before you until you crossed, just as Hashem your God did to the Sea of Reeds, which He dried up before us until we crossed.
a-SHER-ho-VISH a-do-NAI e-lo-HE-khem et-MAY ha-YAR-den mi-p'-NE-khem ad o-v'-RE-khem ka-a-SHER a-SA a-do-NAI e-lo-HE-khem l'-YAM-SUF a-SHER-ho-VISH mi-pa-NE-nu ad o-v'-RE-nu
כגאֲשֶׁר־הוֹבִישׁ֩ יְהֹוָ֨ה אֱלֹהֵיכֶ֜ם אֶת־מֵ֧י הַיַּרְדֵּ֛ן מִפְּנֵיכֶ֖ם עַֽד־עׇבְרְכֶ֑ם כַּאֲשֶׁ֣ר עָשָׂה֩ יְהֹוָ֨ה אֱלֹהֵיכֶ֧ם לְיַם־ס֛וּף אֲשֶׁר־הוֹבִ֥ישׁ מִפָּנֵ֖ינוּ עַד־עׇבְרֵֽנוּ׃
24Thus all the peoples of the earth shall know how mighty is the hand of Hashem, and you shall fear Hashem your God always.”
l'-ma-AN da-AT kol-a-MAY ha-A-retz et-YAD a-do-NAI, KEE cha-ZA-kah HEE, l'-ma-AN y'-ra-TEM et a-do-NAI e-lo-hay-KHEM kol ha-ya-MEEM. (pey)
כדלְ֠מַ֠עַן דַּ֜עַת כׇּל־עַמֵּ֤י הָאָ֙רֶץ֙ אֶת־יַ֣ד יְהֹוָ֔ה כִּ֥י חֲזָקָ֖ה הִ֑יא לְמַ֧עַן יְרָאתֶ֛ם אֶת־יְהֹוָ֥ה אֱלֹהֵיכֶ֖ם כׇּל־הַיָּמִֽים׃