memorials in the bible

Gilgal, the region of Israel possibly linked to the memorial stones in Joshua 4

I am one of two rotating Sunday School teachers at my church and this past weekend I was particularly attached to the subject of our lesson. I learned about memorial stones in the Bible! The passage we learned about came from Joshua 4 after the Israelites cross the Jordan River on completely dry land. Joshua instructed the high priests to take the Ark of the Covenant into the waters while the people crossed. This scene is reminiscent of the crossing of the Red Sea when Moses raised his staff and the newly freed slaves from Egypt made their way along the dry bed of the sea. In order to commemorate the event, Joshua has twelve stones (one for each of the tribes) plucked from the river and arranged as a memorial to God's faithfulness to them in that moment.

Memorial stones, also called standing stones or matzevot in Hebrew, were large rocks or piles of stones set up to commemorate important events, divine interventions, or covenants. These stones acted as physical reminders of God’s presence and faithfulness. They often marked places where significant encounters with God occurred or where promises were made and fulfilled. In fact, in the passage of Joshua, it is specifically mentioned why the stones were important:

"The stones will serve as a reminder to you. In days to come, your children will ask 'What do these stones mean?' Tell them that the Lord cut off the flow of water in the Jordan River. Tell them its water stopped flowing when the ark of the covenant of the Lord went across. The stones will always remind the Israelites of what happened here." (Joshua 4:6-7)

The stone helped pass down stories of God’s actions to younger generations. When children asked about the stones, parents could explain the events behind them, reinforcing faith and identity.

This was not the first, nor would it be the last, mention of memorial stones being used in the Bible. Memorial stones appear repeatedly throughout the Bible, serving as powerful symbols of faith, remembrance, and divine encounters. These stones were not merely physical markers but carried deep spiritual and cultural meanings for the people of ancient Israel. Understanding the history and purpose of memorial stones in the Bible reveals how they helped shape the identity and faith of biblical communities.

One of the earliest biblical accounts of memorial stones appears in the story of Jacob. After wrestling with an angel and having his prophetic dream of the stairway to heaven, Jacob set up a stone pillar at the place of the encounter and poured oil on it as a sign of consecration (Genesis 28:18-22). This stone marked the site where God promised to bless Jacob and his descendants. This was also the same stone Jacob had used as a pillow the night before.

Jacob and his father-in-law Laban raise a similar stone in Genesis 31 to mark an agreement between the two men. There had been some tension in the family, which tends to happen when a man professes his intent to marry one daughter and the father tricks him into marrying the other, but that's beside the point. This stone was a reminder to both men of their promise to one another, their commitment as family, and to hold each accountable in the future.

In 1 Samuel 7:12, the prophet Samuel set up a stone called Ebenezer, meaning “stone of help,” to commemorate God’s assistance in defeating the Philistines. This stone was a public testimony of God’s intervention and a call to trust Him. As one who worships best through music, I never understood the verse in the hymn, Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing, until I read the story of Samuel!

Here I raise my Ebenezer,

Here by Thy great help I've come,

and I hope by Thy good measure,

safely to arrive at home.

Jesus sought me when a stranger

wandering from the fold of God;

He to rescue me from danger,

interposed His precious blood.

Memorial stones in the Bible were more than just rocks. They were sacred signs of God’s presence, power, and promises.

For those who do not find themselves religious, these references might not mean much, but many cultures still use memorial stones to this day. The modern headstone is a version of a memorial stone. As a Christian, it encouraged me to know that memorial stones are something important and God wants us to use them. God wants us to prepare the next generation by leaving them stories of his goodness and love. This new knowledge completely validated all the work I do for cemetery preservation and gave me a small glimpse into memorial traditions in the ancient world.