Joshua Chapter 3

Crossing the Jordan

¹ Joshua got up early and set out from Shittim with the people. They got to the Jordan and stayed there before they crossed. ² After three days the officers went through the camp ³ and told the people,

“When you see the priests pick up the Ark of the Covenant, follow it so you’ll know where to go. You haven’t gone this way before. ⁴ Don’t get near it. Stay back about 3,000ft.”

 ⁵ Joshua told the people, “Sanctify yourselves; tomorrow the LORD will do wonders among you.” ⁶ He told the priests to pick up the Ark and go out ahead of the people.                                                                                                            

Josh 3:1-6

⁷ The LORD told Joshua,

“Today I’ll start elevating you in Israel so they’ll know I’m with you like I was with Moses. ⁸ Tell the priests that carry the Ark, when they come to the edge of the Jordan, to stand still in it.”

⁹ Joshua said,

“Come and listen to a message from your God. ¹⁰ This is how you’ll know the living God is among you and will drive out the Canaanites, Hittites, Hivites, Perizzites, Girgashites, Amorites, and Jebusites. ¹¹ The Ark will cross the Jordan first. ¹² Select a man from each of the 12 tribes. ¹³ When the priests’ feet rest in the water, the Jordan will stop flowing. The water coming downstream will pile up.”

¹⁴ The people set out from their tents to cross the Jordan ¹⁵ When the priests waded into the water (The Jordan floods during harvest.), ¹⁶ the water coming downstream piled up all the way back to Adam, a town beside Zarethan. What was flowing toward the Sea of Arabah (the Dead Sea) held back while the people crossed near Jericho. ¹⁷ The priests stood on dry riverbed till the whole nation finished crossing.  

Josh 3:7-17