1. Joshua started early the next morning and left the Acacia Grove 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 camp
3. and commanded the people: “When you see the ark of the covenant of the Lord your God carried by the Levitical priests, you must break camp and follow it.
4. But keep a distance of about 1,000 yards 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, because the Lord will do wonders among you tomorrow.”
6. Then he said to the priests, “Take 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.
7. The Lord spoke to Joshua: “Today I will begin to exalt you in the sight of all Israel, so they will know that I will be with you just as I was with Moses.
8. Command the priests carrying the ark of the covenant: When you reach the edge of the waters, stand in the Jordan.”
9. Then Joshua told the Israelites, “Come closer and listen to the words of the Lord your God.”
10. He said: “You will know that the living God is among you and that He will certainly dispossess before you the Canaanites, Hittites, Hivites, Perizzites, Girgashites, Amorites, and Jebusites
11. when the ark of the covenant of the Lord of all the earth goes ahead of you into the Jordan.
12. Now choose 12 men from the tribes of Israel, one man for each tribe.
13. When the feet of the priests who carry the ark of the Lord, the Lord of all the earth, come to rest in the Jordan’s waters, its waters will be cut off. The water flowing downstream will stand up in a mass.”