⁵ Joshua told them, “Go in front of the ark of the Lord your God to the middle of the Jordan. Each of you is to put a stone on his shoulder, according to the number of the Israelite tribes. ⁶ The stones^[a] will be a reminder to you.^[b] When your children ask someday, ‘Why are these stones important to you?’ ⁷ tell them how the water of the Jordan stopped flowing^[c] before the ark of the covenant of the Lord. When it crossed the Jordan, the water of the Jordan stopped flowing.^[d] These stones will be a lasting memorial for the Israelites.”