Joshua 3:1-11 ▼

1 Early the next morning Joshua (YHWH saves) got up and left Shittim (Acacia Grove) with all the Israelites (God prevails). They went as far as the Jordan (flowing down), where they camped before crossing over.

2 After three days the officers went through the camp

3 and commanded the people: “When you⁺ see the ark of the covenant of the LORD your⁺ God {YHWH Eloheikem} being carried by the Levitical priests, you⁺ are to set out from your⁺ positions and follow it.

4 But keep a distance of about two thousand cubits <3,000 ft / 914.4 m> between yourselves and the ark. Do not go near it, so that you⁺ can see the way to go, since you⁺ have never traveled this way before.”

5 Then Joshua (YHWH saves) told the people, “Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the LORD {YHWH} will do wonders among you⁺.”

6 And he (YHWH saves) said to the priests, “Take the ark of the covenant and go on ahead of the people.” So they carried the ark of the covenant and went ahead of them.

7 Now the LORD {YHWH} said to Joshua (YHWH saves), “Today I will begin to exalt you in the sight of all Israel (he wrestles with God), so they may know that I am with you just as I was with Moses (drawn out).

8 Command the priests carrying the ark of the covenant: ‘When you⁺ reach the edge of the waters, (flowing down) stand in the Jordan.’”

9 So Joshua (YHWH saves) told the Israelites (God prevails), “Come here and listen to the words of the LORD your⁺ God {YHWH Eloheikem}.”

10 He (YHWH saves) continued, “This is how you⁺ will know that the living God is among you⁺ and that He will surely drive out before you⁺ the Canaanites (merchants), Hittites, Hivites (villagers), Perizzites, Girgashites (dwelling on clay), Amorites (sayers), and Jebusites (Jerusalemites).

11 Behold, the ark of the covenant of the Lord {Adonai} of all the earth will go ahead of you⁺ into the Jordan (flowing down).