12 The Reubenites, Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh crossed over armed for battle ahead of the Israelites, just as Moses had instructed them.
13 About forty thousand battle-ready troops marched past the Lord to fight on the plains of Jericho.
14 That day the Lord brought honor to Joshua before all Israel. They respected him all his life, just as they had respected Moses.
15 The Lord told Joshua,
16 “Instruct the priests carrying the ark of the covenantal laws to come up from the Jordan.”
17 So Joshua instructed the priests, “Come up from the Jordan!”
18 The priests carrying the ark of the covenant of the Lord came up from the middle of the Jordan, and as soon as they set foot on dry land, the water of the Jordan flowed again and returned to flood stage.