Albert Barnes Commentary Joshua 4:2

"Take you twelve men out of the people, out of every tribe a man," — Joshua 4:2 (ASV)

Take you twelve men - The order is given in the plural, because no doubt the tribes themselves were to choose their own representatives, the choice being approved by Joshua (Joshua 4:4). These twelve would be left with Joshua on this side of the river, waiting to receive his orders after the rest of the people had made their way across (Joshua 3:17; Joshua 4:1).