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.

Public Reading of the Law

⁹ So Moses wrote^(A) down this law and gave it to the Levitical priests, who carried^(B) the ark of the covenant of the Lord, and to all the elders of Israel.

⁸ Tell the priests^(A) who carry the ark of the covenant: ‘When you reach the edge of the Jordan’s waters, go and stand in the river.’”

²⁵ he gave this command to the Levites who carried^(A) the ark of the covenant of the Lord:

³³ So they set out^(A) from the mountain of the Lord and traveled for three days. The ark of the covenant of the Lord^(B) went before them during those three days to find them a place to rest.^(C)

²¹ By day the Lord went ahead^(A) of them in a pillar of cloud^(B) to guide them on their way and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, so that they could travel by day or night. ²² Neither the pillar of cloud by day nor the pillar of fire by night left^(C) its place in front of the people.

⁴ These are those who did not defile themselves with women, for they remained virgins.^(A) They follow the Lamb wherever he goes.^(B) They were purchased from among mankind^(C) and offered as firstfruits^(D) to God and the Lamb.

²⁴ Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.^(A)

¹⁹ Then a teacher of the law came to him and said, “Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go.”

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^(C) yourselves and bring up the ark of the Lord, the God of Israel, to the place I have prepared for it.