Joshua 3:2,3 - Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

After three days The three days mentioned Joshua 1:11, either at the end of them, or upon the last of them. The officers went through the host To give them more particular directions, as they had given a general notice before. They commanded the people In Joshua's name, and by his authority. When ye see the ark of the covenant of the Lord your God The sign and symbol of his presence, and of his being in covenant with you, and engaged to protect and conduct you, as your God. What greater encouragement could they have than this, that Jehovah was in covenant with them, as their God, and that here was the ark, the token of it, going before them? Usually, and in their common marches, the ark was carried in the middle of the camps, according to the direction given Numbers 2:17; but now it was to be carried in the front, or at the head of the whole army, as it had been on their first march, when they left mount Sinai. And the priests and Levites bearing it The Levites of the family of Kohath had the office of carrying the ark assigned them, Numbers 4:15; but the priests, all of whom were also Levites, might perform that office, and were appointed to do so on extraordinary occasions. Then ye shall go after it Toward Jordan, in such a manner as is here described.