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.

⁴⁴ “Our ancestors had the tabernacle of the covenant law^(A) with them in the wilderness. It had been made as God directed Moses, according to the pattern he had seen.^{(B) 45} After receiving the tabernacle, our ancestors under Joshua brought it with them when they took the land from the nations God drove out before them.^(C) It remained in the land until the time of David,^(D)

⁴ which had the golden altar of incense^(A) and the gold-covered ark of the covenant.^(B) This ark contained the gold jar of manna,^(C) Aaron’s staff that had budded,^(D) and the stone tablets of the covenant.^(E)

²⁴ but to those whom God has called,^(A) both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God^(B) and the wisdom of God.^{(C) 25} For the foolishness^(D) of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness^(E) of God is stronger than human strength.

¹⁶ In those days, when your numbers have increased greatly in the land,” declares the Lord, “people will no longer say, ‘The ark^(A) of the covenant of the Lord.’ It will never enter their minds or be remembered;^(B) it will not be missed, nor will another one be made.

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)

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.

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.