⁴ Maintain a distance of about two thousand cubits^[a] between it and yourselves; do not approach it too closely. Thus you will know the way you are to go, for you have never passed this way before.” ⁵ Joshua said to the priests, “Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will perform wondrous deeds in your midst.”^{[b] 6} Joshua also said to the priests, “Pick up the Ark of the Covenant and pass on in front of the people.” So they picked up the Ark of the Covenant and went on ahead of the people.