全新四年樂活讀經
W4 2012-01-05 (書4)
經文: 約書亞記 4:5-7 對他們說：「你們下約但河中，過到耶和華你們神的約櫃前頭，按著以色列人十二支派的數目，每人取一塊石頭扛在肩上。這些石頭在你們中間可以作為證據。日後，你們的子孫問你們說：『這些石頭是什麼意思？』你們就對他們說：『這是因為約但河的水在耶和華的約櫃前斷絕；約櫃過約但河的時候，約但河的水就斷絕了。這些石頭要作以色列人永遠的紀念。』」
默想: 耶和華吩咐約書亞，要以色列十二支派各派一個人，從抬約櫃祭司的腳所踏的約但河床，每個人要扛一塊石頭，帶到約但河西岸的吉甲，放在那裡，作為以色列人永遠的紀念。當雅各在伯特利夢見天梯，耶和華在梯頂向雅各應許要保守帶領他平安歸回應許地時，雅各將自己睡覺當作枕頭的那塊石頭立起來成為石柱，作為紀念。雅各並在此向耶和華許願，願意一生以耶和華為他個人的神。約書亞在此認為，這十二塊石頭將來對於以色列人的後代有很重要的宗教教育意義。求主幫助我，可以將我這一生所經歷的上帝恩典留下永遠的紀念，並且可以教導我的子女與後代。
題目: 23、24節，約書亞要以色列民立石記念上主的作為，並且世代敬畏上主。今日你是否也曾經歷上主強而有力的作為，且讓這個故事流傳世世代代？
4:1 國民盡都過了約旦河，耶和華就對約書亞說：
When all the nation had finished passing over the Jordan, the LORD said to Joshua,
4:2 「你從民中要揀選十二個人，每支派一人，
"Take twelve men from the people, from each tribe a man,
4:3 吩咐他們說：『你們從這裡，從約旦河中、祭司腳站定的地方，取十二塊石頭帶過去，放在你們今夜要住宿的地方。』」
and command them, `Take twelve stones from here out of the midst of the Jordan, from the very place where the priests' feet stood, and carry them over with you, and lay them down in the place where you lodge tonight.'"
4:4 於是，約書亞將他從以色列人中所預備的那十二個人，每支派一人，都召了來。
Then Joshua called the twelve men from the people of Israel, whom he had appointed, a man from each tribe;
4:5 對他們說：「你們下約旦河中，過到耶和華─你們 神的約櫃前頭，按著以色列人十二支派的數目，每人取一塊石頭扛在肩上。
and Joshua said to them, "Pass on before the ark of the LORD your God into the midst of the Jordan, and take up each of you a stone upon his shoulder, according to the number of the tribes of the people of Israel,
4:6 這些石頭在你們中間可以作為證據。日後，你們的子孫問你們說：『這些石頭是甚麼意思？』
that this may be a sign among you, when your children ask in time to come, `What do those stones mean to you?'
4:7 你們就對他們說：『這是因為約旦河的水在耶和華的約櫃前斷絕；約櫃過約旦河的時候，約旦河的水就斷絕了。這些石頭要作以色列人永遠的紀念。』」
Then you shall tell them that the waters of the Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of the LORD; when it passed over the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off. So these stones shall be to the people of Israel a memorial for ever."
4:8 以色列人就照約書亞所吩咐的，按著以色列人支派的數目，從約旦河中取了十二塊石頭，都遵耶和華所吩咐約書亞的行了。他們把石頭帶過去，到他們所住宿的地方，就放在那裡。
And the men of Israel did as Joshua commanded, and took up twelve stones out of the midst of the Jordan, according to the number of the tribes of the people of Israel, as the LORD told Joshua; and they carried them over with them to the place where they lodged, and laid them down there.
4:9 約書亞另把十二塊石頭立在約旦河中，在抬約櫃的祭司腳站立的地方；直到今日，那石頭還在那裡。
And Joshua set up twelve stones in the midst of the Jordan, in the place where the feet of the priests bearing the ark of the covenant had stood; and they are there to this day.
4:10 抬約櫃的祭司站在約旦河中，等到耶和華曉諭約書亞吩咐百姓的事辦完了，是照摩西所吩咐約書亞的一切話。於是百姓急速過去了。
For the priests who bore the ark stood in the midst of the Jordan, until everything was finished that the LORD commanded Joshua to tell the people, according to all that Moses had commanded Joshua. The people passed over in haste;
4:11 眾百姓盡都過了河，耶和華的約櫃和祭司就在百姓面前過去。
and when all the people had finished passing over, the ark of the LORD and the priests passed over before the people.
4:12 流便人、迦得人、瑪拿西半支派的人都照摩西所吩咐他們的，帶著兵器在以色列人前頭過去。
The sons of Reuben and the sons of Gad and the half-tribe of Manas'seh passed over armed before the people of Israel, as Moses had bidden them;
4:13 約有四萬人都準備打仗，在耶和華面前過去，到耶利哥的平原，等候上陣。
about forty thousand ready armed for war passed over before the LORD for battle, to the plains of Jericho.
4:14 當那日，耶和華使約書亞在以色列眾人眼前尊大。在他平生的日子，百姓敬畏他，像從前敬畏摩西一樣。
On that day the LORD exalted Joshua in the sight of all Israel; and they stood in awe of him, as they had stood in awe of Moses, all the days of his life.
4:15 耶和華曉諭約書亞說：
And the LORD said to Joshua,
4:16 「你吩咐抬法櫃的祭司從約旦河裡上來。」
"Command the priests who bear the ark of the testimony to come up out of the Jordan."
4:17 約書亞就吩咐祭司說：「你們從約旦河裡上來。」
Joshua therefore commanded the priests, "Come up out of the Jordan."
4:18 抬耶和華約櫃的祭司從約旦河裡上來，腳掌剛落旱地，約旦河的水就流到原處，仍舊漲過兩岸。
And when the priests bearing the ark of the covenant of the LORD came up from the midst of the Jordan, and the soles of the priests' feet were lifted up on dry ground, the waters of the Jordan returned to their place and overflowed all its banks, as before.
4:19 正月初十日，百姓從約旦河裡上來，就在吉甲，在耶利哥的東邊安營。
The people came up out of the Jordan on the tenth day of the first month, and they encamped in Gilgal on the east border of Jericho.
4:20 他們從約旦河中取來的那十二塊石頭，約書亞就立在吉甲，
And those twelve stones, which they took out of the Jordan, Joshua set up in Gilgal.
4:21 對以色列人說：「日後你們的子孫問他們的父親說：『這些石頭是甚麼意思？』
And he said to the people of Israel, "When your children ask their fathers in time to come, `What do these stones mean?'
4:22 你們就告訴他們說：『以色列人曾走乾地過這約旦河；
then you shall let your children know, `Israel passed over this Jordan on dry ground.'
4:23 因為耶和華─你們的 神在你們前面使約旦河的水乾了，等著你們過來，就如耶和華─你們的 神從前在我們前面使紅海乾了，等著我們過來一樣，
For the LORD your God dried up the waters of the Jordan for you until you passed over, as the LORD your God did to the Red Sea, which he dried up for us until we passed over,
4:24 要使地上萬民都知道，耶和華的手大有能力，也要使你們永遠敬畏耶和華─你們的 神。』」
so that all the peoples of the earth may know that the hand of the LORD is mighty; that you may fear the LORD your God for ever."
When all the nation had finished passing over the Jordan, the LORD said to Joshua,
4:2 「你從民中要揀選十二個人，每支派一人，
"Take twelve men from the people, from each tribe a man,
4:3 吩咐他們說：『你們從這裡，從約旦河中、祭司腳站定的地方，取十二塊石頭帶過去，放在你們今夜要住宿的地方。』」
and command them, `Take twelve stones from here out of the midst of the Jordan, from the very place where the priests' feet stood, and carry them over with you, and lay them down in the place where you lodge tonight.'"
4:4 於是，約書亞將他從以色列人中所預備的那十二個人，每支派一人，都召了來。
Then Joshua called the twelve men from the people of Israel, whom he had appointed, a man from each tribe;
4:5 對他們說：「你們下約旦河中，過到耶和華─你們 神的約櫃前頭，按著以色列人十二支派的數目，每人取一塊石頭扛在肩上。
and Joshua said to them, "Pass on before the ark of the LORD your God into the midst of the Jordan, and take up each of you a stone upon his shoulder, according to the number of the tribes of the people of Israel,
4:6 這些石頭在你們中間可以作為證據。日後，你們的子孫問你們說：『這些石頭是甚麼意思？』
that this may be a sign among you, when your children ask in time to come, `What do those stones mean to you?'
4:7 你們就對他們說：『這是因為約旦河的水在耶和華的約櫃前斷絕；約櫃過約旦河的時候，約旦河的水就斷絕了。這些石頭要作以色列人永遠的紀念。』」
Then you shall tell them that the waters of the Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of the LORD; when it passed over the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off. So these stones shall be to the people of Israel a memorial for ever."
4:8 以色列人就照約書亞所吩咐的，按著以色列人支派的數目，從約旦河中取了十二塊石頭，都遵耶和華所吩咐約書亞的行了。他們把石頭帶過去，到他們所住宿的地方，就放在那裡。
And the men of Israel did as Joshua commanded, and took up twelve stones out of the midst of the Jordan, according to the number of the tribes of the people of Israel, as the LORD told Joshua; and they carried them over with them to the place where they lodged, and laid them down there.
4:9 約書亞另把十二塊石頭立在約旦河中，在抬約櫃的祭司腳站立的地方；直到今日，那石頭還在那裡。
And Joshua set up twelve stones in the midst of the Jordan, in the place where the feet of the priests bearing the ark of the covenant had stood; and they are there to this day.
4:10 抬約櫃的祭司站在約旦河中，等到耶和華曉諭約書亞吩咐百姓的事辦完了，是照摩西所吩咐約書亞的一切話。於是百姓急速過去了。
For the priests who bore the ark stood in the midst of the Jordan, until everything was finished that the LORD commanded Joshua to tell the people, according to all that Moses had commanded Joshua. The people passed over in haste;
4:11 眾百姓盡都過了河，耶和華的約櫃和祭司就在百姓面前過去。
and when all the people had finished passing over, the ark of the LORD and the priests passed over before the people.
4:12 流便人、迦得人、瑪拿西半支派的人都照摩西所吩咐他們的，帶著兵器在以色列人前頭過去。
The sons of Reuben and the sons of Gad and the half-tribe of Manas'seh passed over armed before the people of Israel, as Moses had bidden them;
4:13 約有四萬人都準備打仗，在耶和華面前過去，到耶利哥的平原，等候上陣。
about forty thousand ready armed for war passed over before the LORD for battle, to the plains of Jericho.
4:14 當那日，耶和華使約書亞在以色列眾人眼前尊大。在他平生的日子，百姓敬畏他，像從前敬畏摩西一樣。
On that day the LORD exalted Joshua in the sight of all Israel; and they stood in awe of him, as they had stood in awe of Moses, all the days of his life.
4:15 耶和華曉諭約書亞說：
And the LORD said to Joshua,
4:16 「你吩咐抬法櫃的祭司從約旦河裡上來。」
"Command the priests who bear the ark of the testimony to come up out of the Jordan."
4:17 約書亞就吩咐祭司說：「你們從約旦河裡上來。」
Joshua therefore commanded the priests, "Come up out of the Jordan."
4:18 抬耶和華約櫃的祭司從約旦河裡上來，腳掌剛落旱地，約旦河的水就流到原處，仍舊漲過兩岸。
And when the priests bearing the ark of the covenant of the LORD came up from the midst of the Jordan, and the soles of the priests' feet were lifted up on dry ground, the waters of the Jordan returned to their place and overflowed all its banks, as before.
4:19 正月初十日，百姓從約旦河裡上來，就在吉甲，在耶利哥的東邊安營。
The people came up out of the Jordan on the tenth day of the first month, and they encamped in Gilgal on the east border of Jericho.
4:20 他們從約旦河中取來的那十二塊石頭，約書亞就立在吉甲，
And those twelve stones, which they took out of the Jordan, Joshua set up in Gilgal.
4:21 對以色列人說：「日後你們的子孫問他們的父親說：『這些石頭是甚麼意思？』
And he said to the people of Israel, "When your children ask their fathers in time to come, `What do these stones mean?'
4:22 你們就告訴他們說：『以色列人曾走乾地過這約旦河；
then you shall let your children know, `Israel passed over this Jordan on dry ground.'
4:23 因為耶和華─你們的 神在你們前面使約旦河的水乾了，等著你們過來，就如耶和華─你們的 神從前在我們前面使紅海乾了，等著我們過來一樣，
For the LORD your God dried up the waters of the Jordan for you until you passed over, as the LORD your God did to the Red Sea, which he dried up for us until we passed over,
4:24 要使地上萬民都知道，耶和華的手大有能力，也要使你們永遠敬畏耶和華─你們的 神。』」
so that all the peoples of the earth may know that the hand of the LORD is mighty; that you may fear the LORD your God for ever."
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這個過約但河神蹟的成就和約書亞立石為紀念，「立石」是一個記號，為要教育未來的世代，使他們明白過去的傳承，更重要的是要以色列人一生認識他們的上帝，敬畏上帝，順服上帝。 約書亞指出立石為紀念的兩個目的：第一，是要讓地上（迦南地）所有的居民都知道，惟有上帝才是真神。第二，耶和華，以色列的上帝。是大有能力的。
回覆刪除這個過約但河神蹟的成就，是要以色列人一生敬畏上帝，敬畏上帝便是要全心全意效忠祂。這個神蹟和其紀念，以及約書亞的高舉，都以此為目的。
「立石」為記固然重要；今天在教會裡，可以用記事簿、照相簿、光碟（DVD）、紀念冊。。等「立石為記」，提醒會友們：上帝如何在他們中間所行的大事。但更重要的是，求主幫助我們，時常回來看這石頭，不是把它當作一個旅游景點，而是回想上帝怎樣在我們當中所行的神跡奇事。這樣我們就能重新得力，再作衝刺，活在基督裡，過一個得勝的生活，在基督裡得安息。