Joshua 3:1-6

Israel Crosses the Jordan

3:1 Bright and early the next morning Joshua and the Israelites left Shittim and came to the Jordan. ¹  They camped there before crossing the river. ²  3:2 After three days the leaders went through the camp 3:3 and commanded the people: “When you see the ark of the covenant of the Lord your God ³  being carried by the Levitical priests, you must leave here ⁴  and walk ⁵  behind it. 3:4 But stay about three thousand feet behind it. ⁶  Keep your distance ⁷  so you can see ⁸  which way you should go, for you have not traveled this way before.”

3:5 Joshua told the people, “Ritually consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will perform miraculous deeds among you.” 3:6 Joshua told the priests, “Pick up the ark of the covenant and pass on ahead of the people.” So they picked up the ark of the covenant and went ahead of the people.

[3:1]  ¹ tn Heb “And Joshua arose early in the morning and he and the Israelites left Shittim and came to the Jordan.”

[3:1]  ² tn The words “the river,” though not in the Hebrew text, have been supplied in the translation for clarity.

[3:3]  ³ sn The ark of the covenant refers to the wooden chest that symbolized God’s presence among his covenant people.

[3:3]  ⁴ tn Heb “set out from your place.”

[3:3]  ⁵ tn Or “march.”

[3:4]  ⁶ tn Heb “But there should be a distance between you and it, about two thousand cubits in measurement.”

[3:4]  ⁷ tn Heb “do not approach it.”

[3:4]  ⁸ tn Heb “know.”