Tim Maas Supporter Retired Quality Assurance Specialist with the U.S. Army

Amos 4:4, Amos 5:5, and Hosea 4:15 all make negative statements in regard to Gilgal (which means literally "circle of standing stones"), so perhaps even this location, which was originally meant by Joshua to commemorate a miracle brought about by God, became associated in His eyes with the sin and idolatry into which Israel fell following the death of Solomon, and thus was subject to the same destruction that was subsequently brought upon both Israel and Judah as a judgment from God.

I would therefore question whether any trace of those stones remains, despite an original intention on the part of Joshua in the verse cited in the question that they should remain in place forever.

July 25 2017 • 3 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Dennis Shasteen Supporter

Joshua: chapter 3. Described 12 people from each tribe picked up stones and carried them on their shoulders to be placed as a monument for future generations to see and enquire. The twelve stones in the river, it reads that Joshua placed where the priests with the ark stood during the crossing. 

I trust they are still there. Maybe covered in Jordan mud, but they are there. Same as where they crossed the Red Sea. There are pictures of the chariots and things still there.

November 30 2020 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Jordan Richards Supporter

I'm not sure where the 12 stones are now. In chapter 4 of the book of Joshua, it says that Joshua, Son of Nun, piled them up at Gilgal. This passage also says that "... these stones are to be a reminder to the children of Israel forever," and "They are there to this day". We know that all scripture is God-breathed and God-inspired, and that God is not a man that He should lie. So we know that God's Word is always true, and that God, who knows the future, knew what He was saying when He said that it was forever. He meant forever. So even if we, people who were raised in the West during the 20th and 21st centuries, aren't sure where the stones are, that doesn't mean they aren't there. 

There are Native Israelis who claim to know where the 12 stones are in Gilgal and you can see videos and pictures on YouTube and Google.
(Gilgal is 2-3 miles SE of Maale Efraim in the West Bank).

November 30 2020 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Tony Allen Supporter

The 12 stones are the 12 disciples, who are here to this day. Joshua set up the 12 stones, as Jesus anointed the 12 disciples. It’s another parallel story in the Old Testament, confirming the coming of Jesus and what he did.

July 30 2025 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Leslie Coutinho Supporter

Joshua 4:20: And those twelve stones, which they took out of Jordan, did Joshua pitch in Gil’-gal. 

As the Lord spoke unto Joshua, from each tribe, men were taken who were the twelve tribes of Israel, who brought out the twelve stones out of the midst of Jordan. God said, "In the time to come,” when the children shall ask the fathers, 'What mean ye by these stones?'" it was to reveal what the Lord God did and will do during the end times, as seen in the Red Sea, which He dried up. They encamped in Gil’-gal, in the plains at the border of Jericho, when they came out, and Joshua pitched the twelve stones in Gil’-gal. Joshua also set up twelve stones in the midst of Jordan where the priest's feet stood, who bore the ark of the covenant, which are there unto this day. The waters which come down from above that stand and rise upon the heap are from the city of “Adam that is beside Zar’-etan.” (Joshua 3:16/4:4,6,8-10,20-24/5:10)

The commandments that Moses gave to the people of Israel were to pass over Jordan into the Promised Land, then on the Promised Land to set up the stones, to plaster them with plaster, and to write upon them words of the “Twelve Laws” given to them. Moses and the priests, the Levites, spoke unto the people of Israel, “Take heed and hearken, for thou art become the people of the Lord thy God.” For then the Levites, the priests, then spoke unto them with a loud voice the commandments given unto them, the curses that would come upon those who defiled the commandments. These twelve uncut stones were taken out of the river Jordan, where the priest stood, to build an altar of the Lord God to offer burnt and peace offerings unto the Lord God on Mount Ebal. (Deut 27:2-9,15-26) 

Lord God the Father, who brought them out to the other side of Jordan by the way where the sun goeth down, is in the land of the Ca’-naan-ites. They who campaign against Gil’-gal besides the plains of Mo’-reh. (Deut 11:30) The land of Mo’-reh is in Jerusalem, on the mount Mo-ri-ah, where the Lord appeared unto David, who prepared a threshing floor of Or’-nan the Jeb’-usite. (1 Chr 21:18,28/2 Chr 3:1) Abraham wandered in the wilderness of Be’-er-she’-ba and then sojourned in the Phi-lis’-tines' land many days. It came to pass that God the Father tested his faith in Him and said, "Take thy son and get into the land of Mo-ri’-ah and offer him there for a burnt offering." (Gen 21:14,34/22:2) Mount Mo-ri’-ah is where the Lord appeared unto David, and his son Solomon, who built the sanctuary of the Lord God, the house of the Lord in Jerusalem. (1Chro 21:18,22:2,19/2 Chro 3:1) 

Deuteronomy 11:30: Are they not on the other side Jordan, by the way where the sun goeth down, in the land of the Ca’-naan-ites, which dwell in the champaign over against Gil’-gal, besides the plains of Mo’-reh? For ye shall pass over Jordan to go in to possess the land which the Lord your God giveth you, and ye shall possess it, and dwell therein.

5 days ago • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report