³ giving orders to the people: “When you see the ark of the covenant^(A) of the Lord your God, and the Levitical^(B) priests^(C) carrying it, you are to move out from your positions and follow it. ⁴ Then you will know which way to go, since you have never been this way before. But keep a distance of about two thousand cubits^[a](D) between you and the ark; do not go near it.”

⁵ Joshua told the people, “Consecrate yourselves,^(E) for tomorrow the Lord will do amazing things^(F) among you.”

⁶ Joshua said to the priests, “Take up the ark of the covenant and pass on ahead of the people.” So they took it up and went ahead of them.

⁷ And the Lord said to Joshua, “Today I will begin to exalt you^(G) in the eyes of all Israel, so they may know that I am with you as I was with Moses.^{(H) 8} Tell the priests^(I) who carry the ark of the covenant: ‘When you reach the edge of the Jordan’s waters, go and stand in the river.’”

⁶ So Joshua son of Nun called the priests and said to them, “Take up the ark of the covenant of the Lord and have seven priests carry trumpets in front of it.”^(A)

¹¹ Then David summoned Zadok^(A) and Abiathar^(B) the priests, and Uriel, Asaiah, Joel, Shemaiah, Eliel and Amminadab the Levites.

¹² He said to them, “You are the heads of the Levitical families; you and your fellow Levites are to consecrate^(A) yourselves and bring up the ark of the Lord, the God of Israel, to the place I have prepared for it.