Yosua 3:3-4

3:3 and commanded the people: “When you see the ark of the covenant of the Lord your God ¹  being carried by the Levitical priests, you must leave here ²  and walk ³  behind it. 3:4 But stay about three thousand feet behind it. ⁴  Keep your distance ⁵  so you can see ⁶  which way you should go, for you have not traveled this way before.”

[3:3]  ¹ sn The ark of the covenant refers to the wooden chest that symbolized God’s presence among his covenant people.

[3:3]  ² tn Heb “set out from your place.”

[3:3]  ³ tn Or “march.”

[3:4]  ⁴ tn Heb “But there should be a distance between you and it, about two thousand cubits in measurement.”

[3:4]  sn The precise distance is uncertain, but the measurement designated אַמָּה (’ammah, “cubit”) was probably equivalent to approximately eighteen inches (one and one-half feet, or 45 cm) in length.

[3:4]  ⁵ tn Heb “do not approach it.”

[3:4]  ⁶ tn Heb “know.”