Bible Strands
Joshua 3:6
And he said to the priests, “Take the ark of the covenant and go on ahead of the people.” So they carried the ark of the covenant and went ahead of them.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Joshua commands the priests to take the ark of the covenant and lead the Israelite camp forward. This occurs immediately after his instruction to consecrate the people and just before the Lord promises to exalt Joshua in their sight.
The words — שְׂאוּ (se'u) means "lift up" or "take up," directing the priests to physically bear the object. אֲר֣וֹן ('aron) denotes the ark of the covenant, which the text records as being carried ahead of the assembly.
The thread — The ark's forward movement parallels Numbers 10:33, where it leads the people on their journey from the mountain of the LORD. Joshua 3:3 similarly establishes the pattern of Levitical priests carrying the ark before the nation advances.
Why it lands — The command requires immediate physical obedience to a visible marker of divine presence. Readers must recognize that communal movement depends on positioning the covenant ahead of the people rather than behind them.
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
King James Version
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.
Cross-references
- Numbers 10:33 So they set out on a three-day journey from the mountain of the LORD, with the ark of the covenant of the LORD traveling ahead of them for those three days to seek a resting place for them.
- Numbers 14:15 If You kill this people as one man, the nations who have heard of Your fame will say,
- Joshua 3:3 and commanded the people: “When you see the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God being carried by the Levitical priests, you are to set out from your positions and follow it.
- Micah 2:13 One who breaks open the way will go up before them; they will break through the gate, and go out by it. Their King will pass through before them, the LORD as their leader.
- John 14:2 In My Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you?
- Hebrews 6:20 where Jesus our forerunner has entered on our behalf. He has become a high priest forever in the order of Melchizedek.