Thematic Bible: Memorial pillars of


Thematic Bible



And Joshua maketh a covenant with the people on that day, and layeth on it a statute and an ordinance, in Shechem.

And Samuel taketh a stone, and setteth it between Mizpeh and Shen, and calleth its name Eben-Ezer, saying, 'Hitherto hath Jehovah helped us.' Verse ConceptsCeremoniesStonesMonumentsGod Helpshelphelping

and these twelve stones, which they have taken out of the Jordan, hath Joshua raised up in Gilgal. And he speaketh unto the sons of Israel, saying, 'When your sons ask their fathers hereafter, saying, What are these stones? then ye have caused your sons to know, saying, On dry land Israel passed over this Jordan; read more.
because Jehovah your God dried up the waters of the Jordan at your presence, till your passing over, as Jehovah your God did to the Red Sea which He dried up at our presence till our passing over; so that all the people of the land do know the hand of Jehovah that it is strong, so that ye have reverenced Jehovah your God all the days.'

And Jacob riseth early in the morning, and taketh the stone which he hath made his pillows, and maketh it a standing pillar, and poureth oil upon its top, and he calleth the name of that place Bethel, house of God, and yet, Luz is the name of the city at the first. And Jacob voweth a vow, saying, 'Seeing God is with me, and hath kept me in this way which I am going, and hath given to me bread to eat, and a garment to put on -- read more.
when I have turned back in peace unto the house of my father, and Jehovah hath become my God, then this stone which I have made a standing pillar is a house of God, and all that Thou dost give to me -- tithing I tithe to Thee.'

And Jacob taketh a stone, and lifteth it up for a standing pillar; and Jacob saith to his brethren, 'Gather stones,' and they take stones, and make a heap; and they eat there on the heap; and Laban calleth it Jegar-Sahadutha; and Jacob hath called it Galeed. read more.
And Laban saith, 'This heap is witness between me and thee to-day;' therefore hath he called its name Galeed; Mizpah also, for he said, 'Jehovah doth watch between me and thee, for we are hidden one from another; if thou afflict my daughters, or take wives beside my daughters -- there is no man with us -- see, God is witness between me and thee.' And Laban saith to Jacob, 'Lo, this heap, and lo, the standing pillar which I have cast between me and thee; this heap is witness, and the standing pillar is witness, that I do not pass over this heap unto thee, and that thou dost not pass over this heap and this standing pillar unto me -- for evil;

Take for you out of the people twelve men, one man -- one man out of a tribe; and command ye them, saying, Take up for you from this place, from the midst of the Jordan, from the established standing-place of the feet of the priests, twelve stones, and ye have removed them over with you, and placed them in the lodging-place in which ye lodge to-night.' And Joshua calleth unto the twelve men whom he prepared out of the sons of Israel, one man -- one man out of a tribe; read more.
and Joshua saith to them, 'Pass over before the ark of Jehovah your God unto the midst of the Jordan and lift up for you each, one stone on his shoulder, according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Israel, so that this is a sign in your midst, when your children ask hereafter, saying, What are these stones to you? that ye have said to them, Because the waters of the Jordan were cut off, at the presence of the ark of the covenant of Jehovah; in its passing over into the Jordan were the waters of the Jordan cut off; and these stones have been for a memorial to the sons of Israel -- to the age.' And the sons of Israel do so as Joshua commanded, and take up twelve stones out of the midst of the Jordan, as Jehovah hath spoken unto Joshua, according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Israel, and remove them over with them unto the lodging-place, and place them there, even the twelve stones hath Joshua raised up out of the midst of the Jordan, the place of the standing of the feet of the priests bearing the ark of the covenant, and they are there unto this day.