Joshua 3:6 Made Simple

KJV ORIGINAL

And Joshua spake unto the priests, saying, Take up the ark of the covenant, and pass over before the people. And they took up the ark of the covenant, and went before the people.

Close to the original. Clear modern English.

✦ MADE SIMPLE

Joshua spoke to the priests and said, 'Pick up the ark of the covenant and cross over ahead of the people.' So they picked up the ark of the covenant and walked in front of the people.

⚡ THE BOTTOM LINE

Joshua is instructing the priests to carry God's sacred ark and lead the people across the Jordan River into the Promised Land.

📚 Historical Context

This occurs as the Israelites are about to cross the Jordan River into the Promised Land after 40 years in the wilderness. The ark of the covenant was a sacred golden chest containing the stone tablets of the Ten Commandments, representing God's presence among His people. Joshua, now the leader after Moses' death, is following God's instructions for this miraculous river crossing.

Explore Similar Verses

Joshua 3:3

The leaders gave orders to the people, saying, 'When you see the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God being carried by the Levite priests, then leave where you are and follow it.'

Joshua 3:8

You must give this command to the priests who are carrying the ark of the covenant: 'When you reach the edge of the Jordan River, step into the water and stand still there.'

Joshua 3:17

The priests carrying the sacred chest of God's covenant stood firmly on dry ground in the middle of the Jordan River, and all the Israelites crossed over on dry ground until every single person had completely crossed the Jordan.

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