Yosua 3:1-4

Israel Crosses the Jordan

3:1 Bright and early the next morning Joshua and the Israelites left Shittim and came to the Jordan. ¹  They camped there before crossing the river. ²  3:2 After three days the leaders went through the camp 3:3 and commanded the people: “When you see the ark of the covenant of the Lord your God ³  being carried by the Levitical priests, you must leave here ⁴  and walk ⁵  behind it. 3:4 But stay about three thousand feet behind it. ⁶  Keep your distance ⁷  so you can see ⁸  which way you should go, for you have not traveled this way before.”

[3:1]  ¹ tn Heb “And Joshua arose early in the morning and he and the Israelites left Shittim and came to the Jordan.”

[3:1]  ² tn The words “the river,” though not in the Hebrew text, have been supplied in the translation for clarity.

[3:3]  ³ sn The ark of the covenant refers to the wooden chest that symbolized God’s presence among his covenant people.

[3:3]  ⁴ tn Heb “set out from your place.”

[3:3]  ⁵ tn Or “march.”

[3:4]  ⁶ tn Heb “But there should be a distance between you and it, about two thousand cubits in measurement.”

[3:4]  sn The precise distance is uncertain, but the measurement designated אַמָּה (’ammah, “cubit”) was probably equivalent to approximately eighteen inches (one and one-half feet, or 45 cm) in length.

[3:4]  ⁷ tn Heb “do not approach it.”

[3:4]  ⁸ tn Heb “know.”