After the Israelites crossed the Jordan River on dry ground, Joshua charged twelve men from the Israelite tribes to pick up twelve stones from the midst of the river to set up as a memorial. He also placed twelve stones amid the river, where the Levitical priests stood motionless while the people crossed quickly. Once everyone reached the west bank, the LORD asked the priests to leave the dry Jordan riverbed and caused the waters to return to their place and overflow all its banks as before. On that day, the Israelites erected the national memorial at Gilgal, a town near Jericho, to instruct future generations on how the LORD led them across the Jordan River on dry ground. More importantly, however, the monument would testify to the LORD’s greatness to all nations and cause God’s people to revere Him throughout their lives. The chapter’s outline is as follows:

1. Joshua designates twelve men to pick up twelve stones from the dry riverbed of Jordan to commemorate how the LORD dried it, allowing His covenant people to cross it and enter the Promised Land (vv. 1–7).
   
   
2. Joshua places twelve stones amid the Jordan River, where the Levitical priests stood motionless while the people crossed quickly. The eastern tribes also crossed to help their fellow brothers conquer Canaan (vv. 8−14).
   
   
3. After the Israelites cross the Jordan River on dry ground, Joshua asks the Levitical priests bearing the Ark of the Covenant to come up from the Jordan. As soon as the priests reach the other side of the river, the LORD miraculously causes the waters to flow again as before (vv. 15−18).
   
   
4. Joshua sets up a memorial at Gilgal to testify to God’s love and assistance in crossing the Jordan River. Through the monument, all the nations will know the power of God, and Israel will fear Him throughout their lives (vv. 19−24).