Focused Passage

Joshua 3:1-6

Crossing the Jordan by the Presence of the LORD

Israel consecrates itself, follows the ark of the covenant, and crosses the Jordan on dry ground as the LORD exalts Joshua and confirms His presence among His people.

Berean Standard Bible, Public Domain - Translation notes - Reference sources

1Early 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.

2After three days the officers went through the camp

3and 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.

4But 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.”

5Then Joshua told the people, “Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the LORD will do wonders among you.”

6And 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.

Study Helps

References and Original Words

Verse 1

Cross-references

Joshua 2:1Classic cross-references Joshua 6:12Classic cross-references Mark 1:35Classic cross-references Numbers 25:1Classic cross-references Proverbs 31:15Classic cross-references

Original words

Early the next morningבַּבֹּ֜קֶרH1242Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singularJoshuaיְהוֹשֻׁ֨עַH3091Noun - proper - masculine singulargot upוַיַּשְׁכֵּם֩H7925Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularand leftוַיִּסְע֣וּH5265Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine pluralShittimמֵֽהַשִּׁטִּ֗יםH7851Preposition-m, Article | Noun - proper - feminine singularwith allוְכָל־H3605Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular constructthe Israelitesבְּנֵ֣יH1121Noun - masculine plural construct. . .יִשְׂרָאֵ֑לH3478Noun - proper - masculine singularThey wentוַיָּבֹ֙אוּ֙H935Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine pluralasעַד־H5704Prepositionfar as the Jordanהַיַּרְדֵּ֔ןH3383Article | Noun - proper - feminine singular. . .ה֖וּאH1931Pronoun - third person masculine singularwhere they campedוַיָּלִ֥נוּH3885Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural. . .שָׁ֖םH8033Adverbbeforeטֶ֥רֶםH2962Adverbcrossing overיַעֲבֹֽרוּ׃H5674Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural

BSB notes

Or Acacia Grove

Verse 2

Cross-references

Joshua 1:11Classic cross-references Joshua 1:10Classic cross-references

Original words

-וַיְהִ֕יH1961Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularAfterמִקְצֵ֖הH7097Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular constructthreeשְׁלֹ֣שֶׁתH7969Number - masculine singular constructdaysיָמִ֑יםH3117Noun - masculine pluralthe officersהַשֹּׁטְרִ֖יםH7860Article | Noun - masculine pluralwentוַיַּעַבְר֥וּH5674Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine pluralthroughבְּקֶ֥רֶבH7130Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular constructthe campהַֽמַּחֲנֶֽה׃H4264Article | Noun - common singular

Verse 3

Cross-references

Deuteronomy 31:9Classic cross-references 1 Chronicles 15:2Classic cross-references 2 Samuel 6:13Classic cross-references Joshua 3:8Classic cross-references 1 Kings 8:3Classic cross-references

Original words

and commandedוַיְצַוּוּ֮H6680Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural-אֶת־H853Direct object markerthe peopleהָעָ֣םH5971Article | Noun - masculine singular. . .לֵאמֹר֒H559Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive constructWhen you seeכִּרְאֽוֹתְכֶ֗םH7200Preposition-k | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct | second person masculine plural-אֵ֣תH853Direct object markerthe arkאֲר֤וֹןH727Noun - common singular constructof the covenantבְּרִית־H1285Noun - feminine singular constructof the LORDיְהוָה֙H3068Noun - proper - masculine singularyour Godאֱלֹ֣הֵיכֶ֔םH430Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine pluralbeing carriedנֹשְׂאִ֖יםH5375Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural-אֹת֑וֹH853Direct object marker | third person masculine singularby the Leviticalהַלְוִיִּ֔םH3881Article | Noun - proper - masculine pluralpriestsוְהַכֹּֽהֲנִים֙H3548Conjunctive waw, Article | Noun - masculine pluralyouוְאַתֶּ֗םH859Conjunctive waw | Pronoun - second person masculine pluralare to set outתִּסְעוּ֙H5265Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine pluralfrom your positionsמִמְּק֣וֹמְכֶ֔םH4725Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine pluraland followוַהֲלַכְתֶּ֖םH1980Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine pluralitאַחֲרָֽיו׃H310Preposition | third person masculine singular

Verse 4

Cross-references

Psalms 89:7Classic cross-references Exodus 19:12Classic cross-references Isaiah 42:16Classic cross-references Numbers 2:2Classic cross-references

Original words

Butאַ֣ךְ׀H389Adverbkeep a distanceרָח֣וֹקH7350Adjective - masculine singular. . .יִהְיֶ֗הH1961Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singularof about two thousandכְּאַלְפַּ֥יִםH505Preposition-k | Number - mdcubitsאַמָּ֖הH520Noun - feminine singular. . .בַּמִּדָּ֑הH4060Preposition-b, Article | Noun - feminine singularbetween yourselvesבֵּֽינֵיכֶם֙H996Preposition | second person masculine pluraland the arkוּבֵינוֹH996Conjunctive waw | Preposition | third person masculine singularDo notאַֽל־H408Adverbgo near itתִּקְרְב֣וּH7126Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine plural. . .אֵלָ֗יוH413Preposition | third person masculine singularso thatלְמַ֤עַןH4616Conjunction-אֲשֶׁר־H834Pronoun - relativeyou can seeתֵּֽדְעוּ֙H3045Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine plural-אֶת־H853Direct object markerthe wayהַדֶּ֙רֶךְ֙H1870Article | Noun - common singular-אֲשֶׁ֣רH834Pronoun - relativeto goתֵּֽלְכוּ־H1980Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine pluralsinceכִּ֣יH3588Conjunctionyou have neverלֹ֧אH3808Adverb - Negative particletraveledעֲבַרְתֶּ֛םH5674Verb - Qal - Perfect - second person masculine pluralthis wayבַּדֶּ֖רֶךְH1870Preposition-b, Article | Noun - common singularbeforeמִתְּמ֥וֹלH8543Preposition-m | Adverb. . .שִׁלְשֽׁוֹם׃סH8032Adverb

BSB notes

2,000 cubits is approximately 3,000 feet or 914.4 meters.

Verse 5

Cross-references

2 Kings 7:1Classic cross-references Joshua 7:13Classic cross-references Leviticus 20:7Classic cross-references 1 Samuel 16:5Classic cross-references Joel 2:16Classic cross-references

Original words

Then Joshuaיְהוֹשֻׁ֛עַH3091Noun - proper - masculine singular. . .אֶל־H413Prepositiontoldוַיֹּ֧אמֶרH559Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularthe peopleהָעָ֖םH5971Article | Noun - masculine singularConsecrate yourselvesהִתְקַדָּ֑שׁוּH6942Verb - Hitpael - Imperative - masculine pluralforכִּ֣יH3588Conjunctiontomorrowמָחָ֗רH4279Adverbthe LORDיְהוָ֛הH3068Noun - proper - masculine singularwill doיַעֲשֶׂ֧הH6213Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singularwondersנִפְלָאֽוֹת׃H6381Verb - Nifal - Participle - feminine pluralamong youבְּקִרְבְּכֶ֖םH7130Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine plural

Verse 6

Cross-references

1 Kings 8:3Classic cross-references 2 Chronicles 5:4Classic cross-references

Original words

And [he]יְהוֹשֻׁ֙עַ֙H3091Noun - proper - masculine singularsaidוַיֹּ֤אמֶרH559Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singulartoאֶל־H413Prepositionthe priestsהַכֹּהֲנִ֣יםH3548Article | Noun - masculine plural. . .לֵאמֹ֔רH559Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive constructTakeשְׂאוּ֙H5375Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine plural-אֶת־H853Direct object markerthe arkאֲר֣וֹןH727Noun - common singular constructof the covenantהַבְּרִ֔יתH1285Article | Noun - feminine singularand go onוְעִבְר֖וּH5674Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine pluralahead ofלִפְנֵ֣יH6440Preposition-l | Noun - common plural constructthe peopleהָעָ֑םH5971Article | Noun - masculine singularSo they carriedוַיִּשְׂאוּ֙H5375Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural-אֶת־H853Direct object markerthe arkאֲר֣וֹןH727Noun - common singular constructof the covenantהַבְּרִ֔יתH1285Article | Noun - feminine singularand wentוַיֵּלְכ֖וּH1980Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine pluralaheadלִפְנֵ֥יH6440Preposition-l | Noun - common plural constructof themהָעָֽם׃סH5971Article | Noun - masculine singular

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