Joshua 3

All 17 verses in the Clear Bible Translation. Tap a verse to compare the KJV and read what it means.

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1. 1Joshua got up early in the morning, and he and all the Israelites left Shittim and went to the Jordan. They camped there before crossing over.
2. 2After three days, the officers went through the camp;
3. 3They instructed the people, saying, 'When you see the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God being carried by the Levitical priests, leave your place and follow it.'
4. 4But keep a distance of about 2,000 cubits between you and it. Do not come closer, so you can see the way to go, since you have not traveled this way before.
5. 5Joshua said to the people, "Sanctify yourselves, for tomorrow the LORD will do wonders among you."
6. 6Joshua said to the priests, "Take up the ark of the covenant and go ahead of the people." So they picked up the ark and went in front of the people.
7. 7The LORD said to Joshua, "Today I will begin to exalt you in the eyes of all Israel, so they will know that as I was with Moses, so I will be with you."
8. 8Command the priests carrying the ark of the covenant: 'When you reach the edge of the Jordan River, stand still in the river.'
9. 9Joshua said to the Israelites, 'Come here and listen to the words of the LORD your God.'
10. 10Joshua said, "This is how you will know that the living God is among you: He will certainly drive out the Canaanites, Hittites, Hivites, Perizzites, Girgashites, Amorites, and Jebusites from before you."
11. 11Look, the ark of the covenant of the LORD of all the earth is going to cross the Jordan ahead of you.
12. 12Now, therefore, select twelve men from the tribes of Israel, one man from each tribe.
13. 13As soon as the feet of the priests carrying 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. The water flowing from upstream will stop and pile up in a heap.
14. 14When the people left their tents to cross the Jordan, the priests carrying the ark of the covenant went ahead of them.
15. 15And when those who carried the ark came to the Jordan, and the feet of the priests who carried the ark dipped in the edge of the water (for the Jordan overflows all its banks throughout the harvest season),
16. 16The waters flowing from upstream stopped and piled up in a large heap far away near the city of Adam, which is beside Zaretan. The waters flowing downstream toward the Sea of the Arabah, also known as the Salt Sea, were completely cut off. The people crossed over directly opposite Jericho.
17. 17The priests carrying the ark of the covenant of the LORD stood firmly on dry ground in the middle of the Jordan, and all the Israelites crossed over on dry ground until everyone had completely crossed the river.