Definition: And they commanded the people, saying, When ye see the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God, and the priests the Levites bearing it, then ye shall remove from your place, and go after it.

Explanation: Okay, let’s break down this verse from Joshua 3:3. It's a really important and dramatic passage in the Bible! Here’s what it means in simpler terms: Basically, it's telling us to leave our normal place and go after something incredibly sacred – the Ark of the Covenant. Let’s unpack that a bit: “Joshua 3:3” : This is the verse itself. It’s from the Book of Joshua in the Old Testament. “And they commanded the people…” : The leaders of Israel were giving instructions to everyone. “…saying, When ye see the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God, and the priests the Levites bearing it…” : This is where it gets interesting. They’re telling everyone to watch for something specific – the Ark of the Covenant. The Ark is a very special box containing God’s presence, and it's incredibly important to Israel. The “priests the Levites” are specifically tasked with guarding this thing. “…then ye shall remove from your place…” : This means they need to leave where they are, and move to a specific location. "...and go after it.” : This is the key part! They’re being told to follow the Ark of the Covenant. What's the big deal? The Old Testament describes this event as a time when God was angry with Israel and wanted to make a huge display of his power. He decided that Israel needed to show their devotion and acknowledge him through a very visible act – bringing the Ark into a place of great importance, and then leaving it behind. It's a symbolic act of repentance and submission. In short, it’s a command to demonstrate unwavering faith and obedience to God by leaving behind what is most sacred. Important Note: This verse is often interpreted as a dramatic and somewhat frightening event in biblical history. It shows the intensity of God's judgment and the importance of maintaining his presence within Israel. --- Do you want me to explain any part of this in more detail, or would you like me to connect it to a specific story or theme in the Bible? For example, we could talk about: The significance of the Ark of the Covenant itself The role of the priests and Levites The overall message of repentance and obedience in the Old Testament