A short Insight into Joshua, Chapter 4 By Rabbi Nisson Dov Miller

The gemora in Sotah (35b) tells us that there were three sets of stones described in Sefer Devarim and in our perek at the beginning of Sefer Yehoshua. One set Moshe Rabbeinu established in the land of Moav. One set Yehoshua placed in the midst of the Jordan River. The third set was placed at Gilgal. The Maharsha explains that stone represents a foundation, a fundamental. Three sets of stones were needed to emphasize the importance of three concepts fundamental to our faith: 1) Torah is from G-d . 2) Hashem's constant supervision and involvement in this world in natural and supernatural ways. 3) There are rewards and punishments for our deeds.