1Joshua got up early in the morning. They moved from Shittim and came to the Jordan River, he and all the people of Israel. They camped there before crossing over.
2After three days, the officers went through the camp,
3and they commanded the people, saying, “When you see the Ark of the Covenant of Yahweh your God, with the Levite priests carrying it, then you must leave your place and follow it.
4However, keep a distance of about 2,000 cubits (about 1,000 yards) between yourselves and the ark. Don’t go any closer, so that you will know the way you should go, because you have never traveled this way before.”
5Joshua told the people, “Purify yourselves, because tomorrow Yahweh will do amazing things among you.”
6Joshua told the priests, “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.
7Yahweh said to Joshua, “Today I will begin to make you famous in the sight of all Israel, so they will know that I will be with you just as I was with Moses.
8You are to command the priests who carry the Ark of the Covenant, saying, ‘When you reach the edge of the Jordan River’s water, you must stand still in the Jordan.’”
9Joshua said to the people of Israel, “Come here and listen to the words of Yahweh your God.”
10Joshua said, “By this you will know that the living God is among you, and that he will certainly drive out the Canaanites, Hittites, Hivites, Perizzites, Girgashites, Amorites, and Jebusites from before you.
11See, the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord of all the earth is crossing over ahead of you into the Jordan.
12Now choose twelve men from the tribes of Israel, one man from each tribe.
13As soon as the feet of the priests who carry the Ark of Yahweh, the Lord of all the earth, touch the waters of the Jordan, the water will stop flowing. The water coming down from upstream will pile up in one place.”
14When the people left their tents to cross the Jordan, with the priests who carried the Ark of the Covenant leading them,
15and as soon as those carrying the ark reached the Jordan, and the priests’ feet touched the water's edge (for the Jordan overflows its banks during harvest time),
16the water flowing from upstream piled up far away at Adam, a town next to Zarethan. The water flowing downstream toward the Sea of the Arabah (the Salt Sea) completely stopped. Then the people crossed over near Jericho.
17The priests carrying the ark of Yahweh's covenant stood firmly on dry ground in the middle of the Jordan. All the people of Israel crossed over on dry ground until the entire nation had completely made it across the Jordan River.