The fourth perek of Sefer Yehoshua was a bit difficult for me to understand. I have learned and reviewed it a number of times, so I'll explain it as I've come to understand it, although not necessarily in the order of the pesukim.
After the entire nation had completed crossing the Yarden, the men of the tribes of Reuven, Gad, and Menashe crossed over -- armed, alongside the rest of Bnei Yisrael. Approximately forty thousand warriors went across to the plains of Yericho for battle, as Hashem commanded.
What comes next?
Hashem instructs Yehoshua to select twelve individuals, one from each shevet. These were prominent members of each shevet. They were the same men Yehoshua had previously selected, as described in the previous perek. Rashi and Radak1 note they were designated to remain in the Yarden with Yehoshua and not accompany the rest of the people. Conversely, Abarbanel understands that these twelve men crossed over and then returned to the middle of the Yarden.
What does Hashem instruc…
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