Joshua 3 Summary

Israel breaks camp at Shittim and advances to the banks of the Jordan River, where they wait three days before crossing. Joshua commands the people to sanctify themselves and to follow the ark of the covenant — carried by the Levitical priests — at a distance of two thousand cubits, declaring that God will perform wonders. The LORD promises Joshua that this event will magnify him before all Israel as a leader comparable to Moses, and foretells that the river's waters will be cut off when the priests' feet touch them. At harvest time, when the Jordan was at flood stage, the moment the priests' feet touched the water the river stopped flowing — piling up in a heap far upstream near the city of Adam by Zaretan — while the waters flowing southward toward the Salt Sea were completely cut off, and all the Israelites crossed over on dry ground opposite Jericho.