| New International Version | NET Bible |
| 1Early in the morning Joshua and all the Israelites set out from Shittim and went to the Jordan, where they camped before crossing over. | 1Bright and early the next morning Joshua and the Israelites left Shittim and came to the Jordan. They camped there before crossing the river. |
| 2After three days the officers went throughout the camp, | 2After three days the leaders went through the camp |
| 3giving orders to the people: "When you see the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God, and the Levitical priests carrying it, you are to move out from your positions and follow it. | 3and commanded the people: "When you see the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God being carried by the Levitical priests, you must leave here and walk behind it. |
| 4Then you will know which way to go, since you have never been this way before. But keep a distance of about two thousand cubits between you and the ark; do not go near it." | 4But stay about three thousand feet behind it. Keep your distance so you can see which way you should go, for you have not traveled this way before." |
| 5Joshua told the people, "Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the LORD will do amazing things among you." | 5Joshua told the people, "Ritually consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the LORD will perform miraculous deeds among you." |
| 6Joshua said to the priests, "Take up the ark of the covenant and pass on ahead of the people." So they took it up and went ahead of them. | 6Joshua told the priests, "Pick up the ark of the covenant and pass on ahead of the people." So they picked up the ark of the covenant and went ahead of the people. |
| 7And the LORD said to Joshua, "Today I will begin to exalt you in the eyes of all Israel, so they may know that I am with you as I was with Moses. | 7The LORD told Joshua, "This very day I will begin to honor you before all Israel so they will know that I am with you just as I was with Moses. |
| 8Tell the priests who carry the ark of the covenant: 'When you reach the edge of the Jordan's waters, go and stand in the river.'" | 8Instruct the priests carrying the ark of the covenant, 'When you reach the bank of the Jordan River, wade into the water.'" |
| 9Joshua said to the Israelites, "Come here and listen to the words of the LORD your God. | 9Joshua told the Israelites, "Come here and listen to the words of the LORD your God!" |
| 10This is how you will know that the living God is among you and that he will certainly drive out before you the Canaanites, Hittites, Hivites, Perizzites, Girgashites, Amorites and Jebusites. | 10Joshua continued, "This is how you will know the living God is among you and that he will truly drive out before you the Canaanites, Hittites, Hivites, Perizzites, Girgashites, Amorites, and Jebusites. |
| 11See, the ark of the covenant of the Lord of all the earth will go into the Jordan ahead of you. | 11Look! The ark of the covenant of the Ruler of the whole earth is ready to enter the Jordan ahead of you. |
| 12Now then, choose twelve men from the tribes of Israel, one from each tribe. | 12Now select for yourselves twelve men from the tribes of Israel, one per tribe. |
| 13And as soon as the priests who carry the ark of the LORD--the Lord of all the earth--set foot in the Jordan, its waters flowing downstream will be cut off and stand up in a heap." | 13When the feet of the priests carrying the ark of the LORD, the Ruler of the whole earth, touch the water of the Jordan, the water coming downstream toward you will stop flowing and pile up." |
| 14So when the people broke camp to cross the Jordan, the priests carrying the ark of the covenant went ahead of them. | 14So when the people left their tents to cross the Jordan, the priests carrying the ark of the covenant went ahead of them. |
| 15Now the Jordan is at flood stage all during harvest. Yet as soon as the priests who carried the ark reached the Jordan and their feet touched the water's edge, | 15When the ones carrying the ark reached the Jordan and the feet of the priests carrying the ark touched the surface of the water--(the Jordan is at flood stage all during harvest time)-- |
| 16the water from upstream stopped flowing. It piled up in a heap a great distance away, at a town called Adam in the vicinity of Zarethan, while the water flowing down to the Sea of the Arabah (that is, the Dead Sea) was completely cut off. So the people crossed over opposite Jericho. | 16the water coming downstream toward them stopped flowing. It piled up far upstream at Adam (the city near Zarethan); there was no water at all flowing to the sea of the Arabah (the Salt Sea). The people crossed the river opposite Jericho. |
| 17The priests who carried the ark of the covenant of the LORD stopped in the middle of the Jordan and stood on dry ground, while all Israel passed by until the whole nation had completed the crossing on dry ground. | 17The priests carrying the ark of the covenant of the LORD stood firmly on dry ground in the middle of the Jordan. All Israel crossed over on dry ground until the entire nation was on the other side. |
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