Thursday 05 September 2013

Background

Whilst the chapter is clearly about the setting up of a monumentconsisting of twelve memorial stones, one representing each of thetribes of Israel, it looks as if several accounts have been woventogether. Verses 1-8 and 19-24 describe the same set of stones andwith the same expectation of future generations of children askingabout them, whilst verse 9 apparently refers to a second set ofstones placed in the middle of the river to honour the priests whostood there.

The development from verses 1-8 to verses 19-24 is the secondaccount expands the act of remembering to reach back to thecrossing of the Red Sea (Exodus14:21-31), and anticipates not just Israel but the wider worldtaking note of what the memorial symbolises. The concluding verse(5:1) suggests that the event of crossing the Jordan was indeedalready making such an impact.

 During the crossing of the Jordan itself the priestsstanding upstream in its middle holding the ark of the covenantprovided a strong sign of God's presence. The memorial stones nowset up provide a permanent reminder of what God did, and with theintention that the people should deduce the continuing presence ofGod among them.

The reference to "the Reubenites, the Gadites and the half-tribeof Manasseh" (v.12) refers to the fact that these tribes had askedpermission of Moses (in Numbers 32) to settle on the east side ofthe Jordan, the side from which the people approached the promisedland. They had been granted permission on the basis that they wouldhelp the rest of tribes take possession of the rest of Canaanbefore settling in their own territory. Joshua had reminded them ofthis agreement in Joshua 1:12-18, and the confirmation here thatthey fulfilled it is part of an intention that runs through thesechapters demonstrating the sense of unity between the tribes; notethe reference to "all Israel" in verse 14 (cf Joshua3:1, 7, 17).

To Ponder

• How important do you consider formal liturgy and ritual to bein preserving the story of salvation?

• What are the similarities and differences between this memorialat Gilgal and the symbols of bread and wine used in Christianworship?

• The people of God are here presented as united in theirmission. How is the unity of the Church appropriately expressed andcelebrated today despite being comprised of many 'tribes'?