Crossing the Jordan 1 UST Joshua{ and all the other Israelites} got up early the next morning. They left their camp at Shittim and went down to the Jordan River. They camped there before they crossed over the river. BSB BSB: Early the next morning Joshua got up and left Shittim with all the Israelites. They went as far as the Jordan, where they camped before crossing over.
2 UST They rested for one day, and the morning after that, the leaders of the people went throughout the camp. BSB BSB: After three days the officers went through the camp
3 UST They instructed the people,“When you see some of the priests, who are the descendants of Levi, carrying the sacred chest of Yahweh your God, then{ you will know} it is time to leave this place and follow the sacred chest. BSB BSB: and commanded the people: “When you see the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God being carried by the Levitical priests, you are to set out from your positions and follow it.
4 UST Since you have not gone this way before, you do not know where you should go. So you{ must follow the priests so that you} will know the direction that you should travel, but stay at least 1, 000 yards away from the sacred chest. Do not come closer than that.” BSB BSB: But keep a distance of about two thousand cubits between yourselves and the ark. Do not go near it, so that you can see the way to go, since you have never traveled this way before.”
5 UST Then Joshua told the Israelites,“Perform the ceremonies that will make yourselves acceptable to Yahweh, because tomorrow he is going to do things for you that will amaze you!” BSB BSB: Then Joshua told the people, “Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the LORD will do wonders among you.”
6 UST Then Joshua said to the priests,“Carry the sacred chest and go in front of the people.” So they lifted up the sacred chest and went in front of the people. BSB BSB: And 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 UST Then Yahweh said to Joshua,“This is the day when I will begin to cause all the people of Israel to honor you greatly as their leader. They will understand that I am helping you just as I helped Moses. BSB BSB: Now the LORD said to Joshua, “Today I will begin to exalt you in the sight of all Israel, so they may know that I am with you just as I was with Moses.
8 UST Tell the priests who are carrying the sacred chest,‘When you come to the edge of the Jordan River, stand still in the water.’” BSB BSB: Command the priests carrying the ark of the covenant: ‘When you reach the edge of the waters, stand in the Jordan.’”
9 UST Then Joshua said to the people of Israel,“Come close to me and listen to what Yahweh, your God, will tell you.” BSB BSB: So Joshua told the Israelites, “Come here and listen to the words of the LORD your God.”
10 UST { When they came near}, Joshua said,“This is how you will know that God, who lives and can do anything, acts on your behalf. You will certainly see him expel from the land the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Hivites, the Perizzites, the Girgashites, the Amorites, and the Jebusites. BSB BSB: He continued, “This is how you will know that the living God is among you and that He will surely drive out before you the Canaanites, Hittites, Hivites, Perizzites, Girgashites, Amorites, and Jebusites.
11 UST Know with certainty that Yahweh is the one who rules over all the earth. The sacred chest belongs to him, and the priests will carry it into the Jordan River ahead of you. BSB BSB: Behold, the ark of the covenant of the Lord of all the earth will go ahead of you into the Jordan.
12 UST So choose 12 men, one from each of the tribes of Israel. BSB BSB: Now choose twelve men from the tribes of Israel, one from each tribe.
13 UST When the priests who are carrying the chest of Yahweh, who rules over all the earth, put their feet in the waters of the Jordan River, the water will stop flowing. The water coming from upstream will pile up{ because Yahweh will cause them to be blocked}.” BSB BSB: When the feet of the priests who carry the ark of the LORD—the Lord of all the earth—touch down in the waters of the Jordan, its flowing waters will be cut off and will stand up in a heap.”
14 UST So the Israelites packed up their tents so that they could go across the Jordan River. The priests who were carrying the sacred chest went in front of the people. BSB BSB: So when the people broke camp to cross the Jordan, the priests carried the ark of the covenant ahead of them.
15 UST { It was springtime,} when people harvest their crops, and at that time the Jordan River floods over all its banks. But the moment the priests who carried the sacred chest reached the edge of the river and stepped into the water, BSB BSB: Now the Jordan overflows its banks throughout the harvest season. But as soon as the priests carrying the ark reached the Jordan and their feet touched the water’s edge,
16 UST the water stopped flowing. The water piled up far upstream, at a town named Adam, near the city named Zarethan. The water stopped flowing down to the Sea of Arabah, which people also call the Sea of Salt.{ The water} completely stopped flowing, and the people were able to cross the river near Jericho. BSB BSB: the flowing water stood still. It backed up as far upstream as Adam, a city in the area of Zarethan, while the water flowing toward the Sea of the Arabah (the Salt Sea) was completely cut off. So the people crossed over opposite Jericho.
17 UST The priests who were carrying the sacred chest of Yahweh stood on dry ground in the middle of the Jordan{ riverbed}. They continued to stand there until all the people of Israel had crossed the river on dry ground. BSB BSB: The priests carrying the ark of the covenant of the LORD stood firm on dry ground in the middle of the Jordan, while all Israel crossed over the dry ground, until the entire nation had crossed the Jordan.
Select verses for actions: Enter goes to them and Escape comes back.