Joshua 3:4
2 After three days the officers went through the camp
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.
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.”
5 Then Joshua told the people, “Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the LORD will do wonders among you.”
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.
Here the Bible tells a story about someone else. Ask yourself what it can say to us today. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.
Compare
- BSB
- 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.”
- KJV
- 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.
- WEB
- Yet there shall be a space between you and it of about two thousand cubits by measure—don’t come closer to it—that you may know the way by which you must go; for you have not passed this way before.”
- ASV
- 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.
- DARBY
- yet there shall be a distance between you and it, about two thousand cubits by measure. Ye shall not come near it, that ye may know the way by which ye must go; for ye have not passed this way heretofore.
- BLB
- Yet there shall be a space between you⁺ and between it, about two thousand cubits by measure. Do not come near to it, so that you⁺ may know the way that you⁺ must go, for you⁺ have not passed by this way from yesterday and the day before yesterday.”
- ÅB
- - dog skal det være en avstand mellom dere og den, omkring to tusen alen; dere må ikke komme den for nær - så dere kan vite hva vei dere skal gå; for dere har ikke draget den vei før.
- OTB
- Men det skal være en avstand på omkring to tusen alen mellom dere og den. Gå ikke nær den, så dere kan vite hvilken vei dere skal gå, for dere har ikke gått denne veien før.”
- B1930
- - dog skal det være en avstand mellem eder og den, omkring to tusen alen; I må ikke komme den for nær - så I kan vite hvad vei I skal gå; for I har ikke draget den vei før.
Study notes (Tyndale)
Original text and word study
Cross references
Psalms 89:7
In the council of the holy ones, God is greatly feared, and awesome above all who surround Him.
Read in contextExodus 3:5
“Do not come any closer,” God said. “Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground.”
Read in contextHebrews 12:28–29
Therefore, since we are receiving an unshakable kingdom, let us be filled with gratitude, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe.
Read in contextExodus 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.
Read in context1 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.’”
Read in contextExodus 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.”
Read in contextGenesis 31:2
And Jacob saw from the countenance of Laban that his attitude toward him had changed.
Read in context