“Joshua spoke to the priests, saying, “Take up the ark of the covenant, and cross over before the people.” They took up the ark of the covenant, and went before the people.”
Joshua 3:6 (WEB)
Context Reading
4Yet there shall be a space between you and it of about two thousand cubitsby measure — don’t come closer to it — that you may know the way by which you must go; for you have not passed this way before.” 5Joshua said to the people, “Sanctify yourselves; for tomorrow Yahweh will do wonders among you.” 6Joshua spoke to the priests, saying, “Take up the ark of the covenant, and cross over before the people.” They took up the ark of the covenant, and went before the people. 7Yahweh said to Joshua, “Today I will begin to magnify you in the sight of all Israel, that they may know that as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. 8You shall command the priests who bear the ark of the covenant, saying, ‘When you come to the brink of the waters of the Jordan, you shall stand still in the Jordan.’”