Israel Crosses the Jordan

1 Then Joshua rose early in the morning; and he and all the sons of Israel set out from aShittim and came to the Jordan, and they lodged there before they crossed.

2 aAt the end of three days the officers went through the midst of the camp;

3 and they commanded the people, saying, “When you see the aark of the covenant of the Lord your God with the Levitical priests carrying it, then you shall set out from your place and go after it.

4 “However, there shall be between you and it a distance of about 2,000 1cubits by measure. Do not come near it, that you may know the way by which you shall go, for you have not passed this way before.”

5 Then Joshua said to the people, “aConsecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do wonders among you.”

6 And Joshua spoke to the priests, saying, “Take up the ark of the covenant and cross over ahead of the people.” So they took up the ark of the covenant and went ahead of the people.

7 Now the Lord said to Joshua, “This day I will begin to aexalt you in the sight of all Israel, that they may know that just as I have been with Moses, I will be with you.

8 “You shall, moreover, command the priests who are carrying the ark of the covenant, saying, ‘When you come to the edge of the waters of the Jordan, you shall stand still in the Jordan.’ ”

9 Then Joshua said to the sons of Israel, “Come here, and hear the words of the Lord your God.”

10 Joshua said, “By this you shall know that athe living God is among you, and that He will assuredly bdispossess from before you the Canaanite, the Hittite, the Hivite, the Perizzite, the Girgashite, the Amorite, and the Jebusite.

11 “Behold, the ark of the covenant of athe Lord of all the earth is crossing over ahead of you into the Jordan.

12 “Now then, atake for yourselves twelve men from the tribes of Israel, one man for each tribe.

13 “It shall come about when the soles of the feet of the priests who carry the ark of the Lord, the Lord of all the earth, rest in the waters of the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan will be cut off, and the waters which are 1flowing down from above 2will astand in one heap.”

14 So when the people set out from their tents to cross the Jordan with the priests carrying athe ark of the covenant before the people,