Definition: And Joshua said unto them, Pass over before the ark of the LORD your God into the midst of Jordan, and take ye up every man of you a stone upon his shoulder, according unto the number of the tribes of the children of Israel:

Explanation: Okay, let’s break down this verse from Joshua 4:5. It’s a really important passage about how to defeat an enemy! Here's what it means in simpler terms: The Basic Idea: This verse is telling the Israelites to prepare to attack the city of Jericho before they even go into battle. Let's unpack it piece by piece: “And Joshua said unto them…” – Joshua is giving instructions to the people. He’s explaining what needs to happen. “…Pass over before the ark of the LORD your God…” – This means they need to move past the city of Jericho, completely avoiding it. Think of it like a detour or a stealthy approach. It's a crucial step because they don’t want to be seen approaching the city. “…into the midst of Jordan…” – They have to go through the Jordan River, which is a massive obstacle. “and take ye up every man of you a stone upon his shoulder, according unto the number of the tribes of the children of Israel.” – This is where it gets more complex. Joshua is assigning each tribe (a group of people) a specific task: “take ye up every man of you…” - Each person has to carry a “stone” on their shoulder. “…upon his shoulder…” - They’re placing the stones on their shoulders, like carrying them. “…according unto the number of the tribes of the children of Israel.” – This is the key! The number of stones each tribe gets is based on how many people are in their tribe according to Jewish law (the Torah). It’s a symbolic way of showing that they must be completely united and equal. In short, Joshua is telling the Israelites to prepare a strategic maneuver: they need to move past Jericho without letting them know they're coming, and each tribe needs to contribute equally to the attack. Why was this verse important? It’s a powerful reminder of God’s plan for Israel. It shows that God is using a strategy that includes both military action and a demonstration of unity and order. It was a significant step in the story of the Israelites' conquest of Canaan (the land to the east). --- Do you want me to: Explain another part of this verse? Discuss its significance within the larger context of the Old Testament? Give you some historical background about the situation when Joshua was giving this command?