1. Early the next morning, Joshua and the Israelites packed up and left Acacia. They went to the River Jordan and camped there that night.
2. Two days later their leaders went through the camp,
3-4. shouting, “When you see some of the priests carrying the sacred chest, you'll know it is time to cross to the other side. You've never been there before, and you won't know the way, unless you follow the chest. But don't get too close! Stay about a kilometre back.”
5. Joshua told the people, “Make yourselves acceptable to worship the Lord, because he is going to do some amazing things for us.”
6. Then Joshua turned to the priests and said, “Take the chest and cross the River Jordan ahead of us.” So the priests picked up the chest by its carrying poles and went on ahead.
7. The Lord told Joshua, “Beginning today I will show the people that you are their leader, and they will know that I am helping you as I helped Moses.
8. Now, tell the priests who are carrying the chest to go a little way into the river and stand there.”
9. Joshua spoke to the people:Come here and listen to what the Lord our God said he will do!