Joshua 3

Crossing the Jordan

1Early the next morningH1242 JoshuaH3091 got upH7925 and leftH5265 ShittimH78511 with allH3605 the IsraelitesH1121H3478. They wentH935 asH5704 far as the JordanH3383H1931, where they campedH3885H8033 beforeH2962 crossing overH5674.

2

AfterH7097 threeH7969 daysH3117 the officersH7860 wentH5674 throughH7130 the campH4264 3and commandedH6680 the peopleH5971H559: “When you seeH7200 the arkH727 of the covenantH1285 of the LORDH3068 your GodH430 being carriedH5375 by the LeviticalH3881 priestsH3548, youH859 are to set outH5265 from your positionsH4725 and followH1980 itH310. 4ButH389 keep a distanceH7350H1961 of about two thousandH505 cubitsH520H40602 between yourselvesH996 and the arkH996. Do notH408 go near itH7126H413, so thatH4616 you can seeH3045 the wayH1870 to goH1980, sinceH3588 you have neverH3808 traveledH5674 this wayH1870 beforeH8543H8032.”

5Then JoshuaH3091H413 toldH559 the peopleH5971, “Consecrate yourselvesH6942, forH3588 tomorrowH4279 the LORDH3068 will doH6213 wondersH6381 among youH7130.” 6AndH3091 he saidH559 toH413 the priestsH3548H559, “TakeH5375 the arkH727 of the covenantH1285 and go onH5674 ahead ofH6440 the peopleH5971.” So they carriedH5375 the arkH727 of the covenantH1285 and wentH1980 aheadH6440 of themH5971.

7Now the LORDH3068 saidH559 toH413 JoshuaH3091, “TodayH3117H2088 I will beginH2490 to exalt youH1431 in the sightH5869 of allH3605 IsraelH3478, soH834 they may knowH3045 thatH3588 I amH1961 with youH5973 just asH834 I wasH1961 withH5973 MosesH4872. 8CommandH6680 the priestsH3548 carryingH5375 the arkH727 of the covenantH1285H559: ‘When you reachH935H5704 the edgeH7097 of the watersH4325, standH5975 in the JordanH3383.’”

9So JoshuaH3091H413 toldH559 the IsraelitesH1121H3478, “ComeH5066 hereH2008 and listenH8085 to the wordsH1697 of the LORDH3068 your GodH430.” 10HeH3091 continuedH559, “This is howH2063 you will knowH3045 thatH3588 the livingH2416 GodH410 is among youH7130 and that He will surely drive outH3423 before youH6440 the CanaanitesH3669, HittitesH2850, HivitesH2340, PerizzitesH6522, GirgashitesH1622, AmoritesH567, and JebusitesH2983. 11BeholdH2009, the arkH727 of the covenantH1285 of the LordH136 of allH3605 the earthH776 will goH5674 ahead of youH6440 into the JordanH3383.

12NowH6258 chooseH3947 twelveH8147H6240 menH376 from the tribesH7626 of IsraelH3478, oneH259H376 from each tribeH7626. 13When the feetH3709H7272 of the priestsH3548 who carryH5375 the arkH727 of the LORDH3068—the LordH136 of allH3605 the earthH776—touch downH5117 in the watersH4325 of the JordanH3383, itsH3383 flowingH3381H4605 watersH4325 will be cut offH3772 and will stand upH5975 in aH259 heapH5067.”

14SoH1961 when the peopleH5971 broke campH5265H168 to crossH5674 the JordanH3383, the priestsH3548 carriedH5375 the arkH727 of the covenantH1285 ahead ofH6440 them.

15Now the JordanH3383 overflowsH4390H5921H3605 its banksH1415 throughoutH3605 the harvestH7105 seasonH3117. But as soon as the priestsH3548H5375H727 carryingH5375 the arkH727 reachedH935H5704 the JordanH3383 and their feetH7272 touchedH2881 the water’sH4325 edgeH7097, 16the flowingH3381H4605 waterH4325 stood stillH5975. It backed upH6965H259H5067 as far upstreamH7368H3966 as AdamH121, a cityH5892 in the areaH6654 of ZarethanH6891, while the water flowingH3381 towardH5921 the SeaH3220 of the ArabahH6160 (the Salt SeaH3220H44173) was completelyH8552 cut offH3772. So the peopleH5971 crossed overH5674 oppositeH5048 JerichoH3405. 17The priestsH3548 carryingH5375 the arkH727 of the covenantH1285 of the LORDH3068 stoodH5975 firmH3559 on dry groundH2724 in the middleH8432 of the JordanH3383, while allH3605 IsraelH3478 crossed overH5674 the dry groundH2724, untilH5704 the entireH3605 nationH1471 had crossedH8552H5674 the JordanH3383.