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This Chapter Verse Commentaries:
In the midst of Jordan; properly so called; as Jos_3:17.
Quest. How could these stones be a monument of this work, when they were not seen, but generally covered with the waters of Jordan?
Answ. These stones are not the same with those which a man could carry upon his shoulders, Jos_4:5, and therefore might be very much larger; and being set up in two rows one above another, they might possibly be seen, at least sometimes when the water was low, and especially where the water was commonly more shallow, as it might be ordinarily in this place, though not at this time, when Jordan overflowed all its banks. Add to this, that the waters of Jordan are said to be very pure and clear; and therefore these stones, though they did not appear above it, might be seen in it, either by those who stood upon the shore, because that river was not broad; or at least by those that passed in boats upon the river, who could easily discern them by the peculiar noise and motion of the water occasioned by that heap of stones. And this was sufficient, especially considering that there was another more distinct and visible monument of this miracle set up in Gilgal.
They are there unto this day: this might be written, either,
1. By Joshua, who wrote this book near twenty years after this was done; or,
2. By some other holy man, divinely inspired and approved of by the whole Jewish church, who inserted this and some such passages, both in this book, and in the writings of Moses.