¹⁴ So when the people broke camp to cross the Jordan, the priests carrying the ark of the covenant^(A) went ahead^(B) of them. ¹⁵ Now the Jordan^(C) is at flood stage^(D) all during harvest.^(E) Yet as soon as the priests who carried the ark reached the Jordan and their feet touched the water’s edge, ¹⁶ the water from upstream stopped flowing.^(F) It piled up in a heap^(G) a great distance away, at a town called Adam in the vicinity of Zarethan,^(H) while the water flowing down^(I) to the Sea of the Arabah^(J) (that is, the Dead Sea^(K)) was completely cut off.^(L) So the people crossed over opposite Jericho.^{(M) 17} The priests^(N) who carried the ark of the covenant of the Lord stopped in the middle of the Jordan and stood on dry ground,^(O) while all Israel passed by until the whole nation had completed the crossing on dry ground.^(P)

⁵ He took him outside and said, “Look up at the sky and count the stars^(A)—if indeed you can count them.” Then he said to him, “So shall your offspring^[a] be.”^(B)

¹⁷ I will surely bless you^(A) and make your descendants^(B) as numerous as the stars in the sky^(C) and as the sand on the seashore.^(D) Your descendants will take possession of the cities of their enemies,^(E)