New American Standard Bible

New Living Translation

Israel Crosses the Jordan

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

1

The Israelites Cross the Jordan

Early the next morning Joshua and all the Israelites left Acacia Grovea and arrived at the banks of the Jordan River, where they camped before crossing.

2

At the end of three days the officers went through the midst of the camp;

2

Three days later the Israelite officers went through the camp,

3

and they commanded the people, saying, “When you see the ark 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.

3

giving these instructions to the people: “When you see the Levitical priests carrying the Ark of the Covenant of the LORD your God, move out from your positions and follow them.

4

“However, there shall be between you and it a distance of about 2,000 cubits 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.”

4

Since you have never traveled this way before, they will guide you. Stay about half a mileb behind them, keeping a clear distance between you and the Ark. Make sure you don’t come any closer.”

5

Then Joshua said to the people, “Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the LORD will do wonders among you.”

5

Then Joshua told the people, “Purify yourselves, for tomorrow the LORD will do great 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.

6

In the morning Joshua said to the priests, “Lift up the Ark of the Covenant and lead the people across the river.” And so they started out and went ahead of the people.

7

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

7

The LORD told Joshua, “Today I will begin to make you a great leader in the eyes of all the Israelites. They will know that I am with you, just as I was with Moses.

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.’”

8

Give this command to the priests who carry the Ark of the Covenant: ‘When you reach the banks of the Jordan River, take a few steps into the river and stop there.’”

9

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

9

So Joshua told the Israelites, “Come and listen to what the LORD your God says.

10

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

10

Today you will know that the living God is among you. He will surely drive out the Canaanites, Hittites, Hivites, Perizzites, Girgashites, Amorites, and Jebusites ahead of you.

11

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

11

Look, the Ark of the Covenant, which belongs to the Lord of the whole earth, will lead you across the Jordan River!

12

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

12

Now choose twelve men from the tribes of Israel, one from 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 flowing down from above will stand in one heap.”

13

The priests will carry the Ark of the LORD, the Lord of all the earth. As soon as their feet touch the water, the flow of water will be cut off upstream, and the river will stand up like a wall.”

14

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

14

So the people left their camp to cross the Jordan, and the priests who were carrying the Ark of the Covenant went ahead of them.

15

and when those who carried the ark came into the Jordan, and the feet of the priests carrying the ark were dipped in the edge of the water (for the Jordan overflows all its banks all the days of harvest),

15

It was the harvest season, and the Jordan was overflowing its banks. But as soon as the feet of the priests who were carrying the Ark touched the water at the river’s edge,

16

the waters which were flowing down from above stood and rose up in one heap, a great distance away at Adam, the city that is beside Zarethan; and those which were flowing down toward the sea of the Arabah, the Salt Sea, were completely cut off. So the people crossed opposite Jericho.

16

the water above that point began backing up a great distance away at a town called Adam, which is near Zarethan. And the water below that point flowed on to the Dead Seac until the riverbed was dry. Then all the people crossed over near the town of Jericho.

17

And the priests who carried the ark of the covenant of the LORD stood firm on dry ground in the middle of the Jordan while all Israel crossed on dry ground, until all the nation had finished crossing the Jordan.

17

Meanwhile, the priests who were carrying the Ark of the LORD’s Covenant stood on dry ground in the middle of the riverbed as the people passed by. They waited there until the whole nation of Israel had crossed the Jordan on dry ground.

Parallel

New American Standard Bible

New Living Translation

Joshua 3

Joshua 3