CROSSING THE JORDAN

3 Joshua started early the next morning and left the Acacia GroveI with all the Israelites. They went as far as the Jordan and stayed there before crossing. 2 After three days the officers went through the campk 3 and commanded the people, “When you see the ark of the covenant of the Lord your God carried by the Levitical priests,l you are to break camp and follow it. 4 But keep a distance of about a thousand yardsJ 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.”

5 Joshua told the people, “Consecrate yourselves,m because the Lord will do wondersn among you tomorrow.” 6 Then 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.