Yes
20 Those twelve stones which they had taken from the Jordan, Joshua set up at Gilgal.
Joshua 4:20 NASBu
No
9 Then Joshua set up twelve stones in the middle of the Jordan at the place where the feet of the priests who carried the ark of the covenant were standing, and they are there to this day.
Joshua 4:9 NASBu
SAB Contradiction 252 (by book)
In the river? Or ashore?
The Israelites entering Canaan under Joshua crossed the river Jordan. It is a well known story. Priests with the ark of the covenant stood in the river bed while the people passed to the other side where they arrived dry-shod. Joshua gave the order to twelve men to take a stone out of the river to build a monument of remembrance.
The problem is: where was the monument built? In the river? Or ashore?
Two different translations of verse 9
Classical: Joshua set up twelve stones in the middle of the Jordan … (NASBu)
Modern: Joshua set up the twelve stones that had been in the middle of the Jordan … (NIV)
(I traced the modern translation only in: The Message, Young’s literal Translation and in all the NIV variants.)
– According to the classical translation of Joshua 4:9 we read that Joshua built a monument in the river where the priests had stood and that he also built a monument on the land (Gilgal).
– Following the modern translation of 4:9 we read that Joshua built only one monument on land and not in the river Jordan.
Best credits
The classical translation has the best credits. It is a word-by-word-translation: i.e. no added words and the word order has been followed strictly. The result is an adequate translation which is preferable. The modern translation needs additions (that had been etc.), moreover the word connections to be followed in Hebrew are tortuous. That puts the modern translation in an unfavourable light.
Why two?
The usual translation gives a detailed insight in the course of things. Joshua built two monuments of twelve stones each; one in the river Jordan and one in Gilgal. The question remains: Why two? Certainly the Lord wanted to remind the people in Gilgal of the miraculous crossing, when they were united and unanimous. For the preparations to enter the entire country they needed the same spirit. Joshua underlined the significance of the monument in Gilgal with another one in the river to make the meaning of the monument in Gilgal unambiguous.
Did Joshua remove the twelve stones from the River Jordan?
The answer must be, “No, the first monument of twelve stones was built by Joshua in the river where the priests stood during the crossing (4:9). The second monument – with different stones – was built in Gilgal (4:20).” Conclusion: