Joshua 3:1-11

1Joshua started early the next morning and left the Acacia Grove with all the Israelites. They went as far as the Jordan and stayed there before crossing.

2After three days the officers went through the camp

3and commanded the people, “When you see the ark of the covenant of the Lord your God carried by the Levitical priests, you are to break camp and follow it.

4But keep a distance of about a thousand yards between yourselves and the ark. Don’t go near it, so that you can see the way to go, for you haven’t traveled this way before.”

5Joshua told the people, “Consecrate yourselves, because the Lord will do wonders among you tomorrow.”

6Then he said to the priests, “Carry 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.

7The Lord spoke to Joshua: “Today I will begin to exalt you in the sight of all Israel, so they will know that I will be with you just as I was with Moses.

8Command the priests carrying the ark of the covenant: When you reach the edge of the water, stand in the Jordan.”

9Then Joshua told the Israelites, “Come closer and listen to the words of the Lord your God.”

10He said, “You will know that the living God is among you and that he will certainly dispossess before you the Canaanites, Hethites, Hivites, Perizzites, Girgashites, Amorites, and Jebusites

11when the ark of the covenant of the Lord of the whole earth goes ahead of you into the Jordan.