Joshua 3:4

But keep a distance of about two thousand cubits between yourselves and the ark. Do not go near it, so that you can see the way to go, since you have never traveled this way before.”

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — Joshua addresses the assembled people at the moment they are prepared to follow the Levitical priests carrying the ark of the covenant. He issues this instruction immediately before commanding the crowd to consecrate themselves for the day ahead.

The words — The Hebrew phrase כְּאַלְפַּיִם אַמָּה (ke./'al.Pa.yim 'a.Mah) literally denotes a measurement of "about two thousand cubits." This quantitative term establishes the specific boundary Joshua commands the crowd to maintain from the ark.

The thread — The motif of maintaining a reverent distance from holy presence appears in Exodus 3:5, where God commands Moses to remove his sandals, and Psalms 89:7, which describes God as awesome above those who surround Him. Hebrews 12:28 extends this principle by linking reverence to acceptable worship within an unshakable kingdom.

Why it lands — The text commands the Israelites to maintain a specific physical boundary from the ark so they can follow the priests without direct contact. Readers must recognize that obedience requires keeping a measured distance to preserve both safety and the ability to see the path forward.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Hebrew words

אַ֣ךְ׀'akhnevertheless רָח֣וֹקra.Choka distance יִהְיֶ֗הyih.Yehit will be בֵּֽינֵיכֶם֙bei.nei./Khembetween/ you וּבֵינָ֔יוu./vei.no/vand/ between/ it כְּאַלְפַּ֥יִםke./'al.Pa.yimabout/ two thousand אַמָּ֖ה'a.Mahcubit[s]בַּמִּדָּ֑הba./mi.Dahby <the>/ measurement אַֽל־'al-may not תִּקְרְב֣וּtik.re.Vuyou draw near אֵלָ֗יו'e.La/vto/ it לְמַ֤עַןle.Ma.'anso that אֲשֶׁר־'a.Sher-that תֵּֽדְעוּ֙te.de.'Uyou may know אֶת־'et-<obj.>הַדֶּ֙רֶךְ֙ha./De.rekhthe/ way אֲשֶׁ֣ר'a.Sherwhich תֵּֽלְכוּ־te.le.khu-you will goבָ֔הּVa/hin <the>/ itכִּ֣יkifor לֹ֧אlo'not עֲבַרְתֶּ֛ם'a.var.Temyou have passed בַּדֶּ֖רֶךְba./De.rekhin the/ way מִתְּמ֥וֹלmi./te.Molfrom/ yesterday שִׁלְשֽׁוֹם׃ סshil.Shomthree days ago

King James Version

Yet there shall be a space between you and it, about two thousand cubits by measure: come not near unto it, that ye may know the way by which ye must go: for ye have not passed this way heretofore.

Cross-references

Psalms 89:7 In the council of the holy ones, God is greatly feared, and awesome above all who surround Him.
Exodus 3:5 “Do not come any closer,” God said. “Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground.”
Hebrews 12:28 Therefore, since we are receiving an unshakable kingdom, let us be filled with gratitude, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe.
Genesis 31:2 And Jacob saw from the countenance of Laban that his attitude toward him had changed.
Exodus 4:10 “Please, Lord,” Moses replied, “I have never been eloquent, neither in the past nor since You have spoken to Your servant, for I am slow of speech and tongue.”
Exodus 19:12 And you are to set up a boundary for the people around the mountain and tell them, ‘Be careful not to go up on the mountain or touch its base. Whoever touches the mountain shall surely be put to death.
1 Chronicles 11:2 Even in times past, while Saul was king, you were the one who led Israel out and brought them back. And the LORD your God said, ‘You will shepherd My people Israel, and you will be ruler over them.’”
Isaiah 30:33 For Topheth has long been prepared; it has been made ready for the king. Its funeral pyre is deep and wide, with plenty of fire and wood. The breath of the LORD, like a torrent of burning sulfur, sets it ablaze.