12. The armed warriors from the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh led the Israelites across the Jordan, just as Moses had directed.
13. These armed men—about 40,000 strong—were ready for battle, and the lord was with them as they crossed over to the plains of Jericho.
14. That day the lord made Joshua a great leader in the eyes of all the Israelites, and for the rest of his life they revered him as much as they had revered Moses.
15. The lord had said to Joshua,
16. “Command the priests carrying the Ark of the Covenant to come up out of the riverbed.”
17. So Joshua gave the command.
18. As soon as the priests carrying the Ark of the lord’s Covenant came up out of the riverbed and their feet were on high ground, the water of the Jordan returned and overflowed its banks as before.
19. The people crossed the Jordan on the tenth day of the first month. Then they camped at Gilgal, just east of Jericho.