TORAH
FIVE BOOKS OF MOSES
NEVI'IM
PROPHETS
KETUVIM
WRITINGS
Chapter 3
Translation and Transliteration of
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1Early next morning, Yehoshua and all the Israelites set out from Shittim and marched to the Yarden. They did not cross immediately, but spent the night there.
vai-YASH-kem y'-ho-SHU-a ba-BO-kher va-yis-U me-ha-SHI-tim va-ya-VO-u ad ha-YAR-den, HU v'-KOL b'-NAY yis-ra-AYL, va-ya-LE-nu sham TE-rem ya-a-vo-ROU
אוַיַּשְׁכֵּם֩ יְהוֹשֻׁ֨עַ בַּבֹּ֜קֶר וַיִּסְע֣וּ מֵהַשִּׁטִּ֗ים וַיָּבֹ֙אוּ֙ עַד־הַיַּרְדֵּ֔ן ה֖וּא וְכׇל־בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל וַיָּלִ֥נוּ שָׁ֖ם טֶ֥רֶם יַעֲבֹֽרוּ׃
2Three days later, the officials went through the camp
vai-HI mik-TZEH sh'-LO-shet ya-MEEM, va-ya-a-V'-ru ha-sho-t'-REEM b'-KE-rev ha-ma-cha-NEH
בוַיְהִ֕י מִקְצֵ֖ה שְׁלֹ֣שֶׁת יָמִ֑ים וַיַּעַבְר֥וּ הַשֹּׁטְרִ֖ים בְּקֶ֥רֶב הַֽמַּחֲנֶֽה׃
3and charged the people as follows: “When you see the Aron Brit Hashem your God being borne by the levitical Kohanim, you shall move forward. Follow it
va-y'-tza-VU et ha-AM lay-MOR: kir-o-t'-KHEM AYT a-RON b'-REET a-do-NAI e-lo-HAY-khem v'-ha-ko-ha-NEEM ha-lev-ee-YEEM no-s'-EEM o-TO, v'-a-TEM tis-U mi-m'-ko-m'-KHEM va-ha-la-KHEM a-cha-RAV
גוַיְצַוּוּ֮ אֶת־הָעָ֣ם לֵאמֹר֒ כִּרְאֹתְכֶ֗ם אֵ֣ת אֲר֤וֹן בְּרִית־יְהֹוָה֙ אֱלֹ֣הֵיכֶ֔ם וְהַכֹּֽהֲנִים֙ הַלְוִיִּ֔ם נֹשְׂאִ֖ים אֹת֑וֹ וְאַתֶּ֗ם תִּסְעוּ֙ מִמְּק֣וֹמְכֶ֔ם וַהֲלַכְתֶּ֖ם אַחֲרָֽיו׃
4but keep a distance of some two thousand amot from it, never coming any closer to it—so that you may know by what route to march, since it is a road you have not traveled before.”
akh ra-KHOK yi-HE-yeh be-NEE-khem u-ve-NAV ke-al-PA-yim a-MAH ba-mi-DAH al-tik-re-VU e-LAV le-ma-an a-SHER-te-DE-u et ha-DE-rekh a-SHER te-le-KHU-BAH kee lo a-va-RA-tem ba-DE-rekh mi-TE-mol shil-SHOM. (pey)
דאַ֣ךְ ׀ רָח֣וֹק יִֽהְיֶ֗ה בֵּֽינֵיכֶם֙ וּבֵנָ֔יו כְּאַלְפַּ֥יִם אַמָּ֖ה בַּמִּדָּ֑ה אַֽל־תִּקְרְב֣וּ אֵלָ֗יו לְמַ֤עַן אֲשֶׁר־תֵּֽדְעוּ֙ אֶת־הַדֶּ֙רֶךְ֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר תֵּֽלְכוּ־בָ֔הּ כִּ֣י לֹ֧א עֲבַרְתֶּ֛ם בַּדֶּ֖רֶךְ מִתְּמ֥וֹל שִׁלְשֽׁוֹם׃
5And Yehoshua said to the people, “Purify yourselves, for tomorrow Hashem will perform wonders in your midst.”
va-YO-mer y'-ho-SHU-a el ha-AM hit-ka-DA-shu KEE ma-KHAR ya-a-SEH a-do-NAI b'-kir-b'-KHEM nif-la-OT
הוַיֹּ֧אמֶר יְהוֹשֻׁ֛עַ אֶל־הָעָ֖ם הִתְקַדָּ֑שׁוּ כִּ֣י מָחָ֗ר יַעֲשֶׂ֧ה יְהֹוָ֛ה בְּקִרְבְּכֶ֖ם נִפְלָאֽוֹת׃
Israel is abloom with beautiful red poppies from April to June.
3:5 Tomorrow Hashem will perform wonders
Yehoshua instructs the people to sanctify themselves, as Hashem will perform miracles for them. Typically, miracles require a partnership between God and man. Though ultimately Hashem performs the miracle, He expects us to do our part to merit His acting on our behalf. Hence, the Children of Israel need to prepare themselves spiritually and physically, in order to merit the miracles of the parting of the Yarden and the victories in the conquest of the Promised Land. In our own era as well, the partnership between man and Hashem has resulted in the rebirth and flourishing of the State of Israel. As a result of God’s blessings, together with man’s hard work, the desert literally blooms, the economy grows, the army defends and the nation continues to absorb countless immigrants from the four corners of the earth. As in the days of Yehoshua, the fulfillment of these miracles has demanded both spiritual and physical effort by human beings.
6Then Yehoshua ordered the Kohanim, “Take up the Aron HaBrit and advance to the head of the people.” And they took up the Aron HaBrit and marched at the head of the people.
vai-YO-mer y'-ho-SHU-a el ha-ko-ha-NEEM lay-MOR: se-U et a-RON ha-b'-REET v'-i-v'-RU li-f'-NAY ha-AHM, vai-YI-su et a-RON ha-b'-REET vai-YEL-khu li-f'-NAY ha-AHM.
ווַיֹּ֤אמֶר יְהוֹשֻׁ֙עַ֙ אֶל־הַכֹּהֲנִ֣ים לֵאמֹ֔ר שְׂאוּ֙ אֶת־אֲר֣וֹן הַבְּרִ֔ית וְעִבְר֖וּ לִפְנֵ֣י הָעָ֑ם וַיִּשְׂאוּ֙ אֶת־אֲר֣וֹן הַבְּרִ֔ית וַיֵּֽלְכ֖וּ לִפְנֵ֥י הָעָֽם׃
7Hashem said to Yehoshua, “This day, for the first time, I will exalt you in the sight of all Yisrael, so that they shall know that I will be with you as I was with Moshe.
vai-YO-mer a-do-NAI el y'-ho-SHU-a, ha-YOM ha-ZEH a-KHAYL ga-DAL-kha b'-ay-NAY kol yis-ra-AYL, a-SHER y'-d'-UN KEE ka-a-SHER ha-YEE-tee im mo-SHEH, e-HYE im-KHA
זוַיֹּ֤אמֶר יְהֹוָה֙ אֶל־יְהוֹשֻׁ֔עַ הַיּ֣וֹם הַזֶּ֗ה אָחֵל֙ גַּדֶּלְךָ֔ בְּעֵינֵ֖י כׇּל־יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל אֲשֶׁר֙ יֵֽדְע֔וּן כִּ֗י כַּאֲשֶׁ֥ר הָיִ֛יתִי עִם־מֹשֶׁ֖ה אֶהְיֶ֥ה עִמָּֽךְ׃
8For your part, command the Kohanim who carry the Aron HaBrit as follows: When you reach the edge of the waters of the Yarden, make a halt in the Yarden.”
v'-a-TAH t'-tza-VEH et ha-ko-HA-neem no-s'-AY a-ron ha-b'-REET lay-MOR: k'-vo-a-KHEM ad k'-TZEY may ha-ya-r'-DEN, ba-ya-r'-DEN ta-a-MO-du.
חוְאַתָּ֗ה תְּצַוֶּה֙ אֶת־הַכֹּ֣הֲנִ֔ים נֹֽשְׂאֵ֥י אֲרֽוֹן־הַבְּרִ֖ית לֵאמֹ֑ר כְּבֹאֲכֶ֗ם עַד־קְצֵה֙ מֵ֣י הַיַּרְדֵּ֔ן בַּיַּרְדֵּ֖ן תַּעֲמֹֽדוּ׃
9And Yehoshua said to the Israelites, “Come closer and listen to the words of Hashem your God.
vai-YO-mer y'-ho-SHU-a el b'-NAY yis-ra-AYL, go-SHU he-Nah v'-shim-U et d'-vi-RAY a-do-NAI e-lo-HAY-khem
טוַיֹּ֥אמֶר יְהוֹשֻׁ֖עַ אֶל־בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל גֹּ֣שׁוּ הֵ֔נָּה וְשִׁמְע֕וּ אֶת־דִּבְרֵ֖י יְהֹוָ֥ה אֱלֹהֵיכֶֽם׃
10By this,” Yehoshua continued, “you shall know that a living Hashem is among you, and that He will dispossess for you the Canaanites, Hittites, Hivites, Perizzites, Girgashites, Amorites, and Jebusites:
vai-YO-mer y'-ho-SHU-a b'-ZOT tay-d'-UN, KEE el KHA-y b'-kir-B'-KHEM, v'-ho-RESH yo-RISH mi-p'-NE-khem et ha-k'-na-a-NEE v'-et ha-KHEE-tee v'-et ha-khi-VEE v'-et ha-p'-ree-ZEE v'-et ha-gir-GA-shee v'-ha-e-mo-REE v'-ha-y'-vu-SEE
יוַיֹּ֣אמֶר יְהוֹשֻׁ֔עַ בְּזֹאת֙ תֵּֽדְע֔וּן כִּ֛י אֵ֥ל חַ֖י בְּקִרְבְּכֶ֑ם וְהוֹרֵ֣שׁ יוֹרִ֣ישׁ מִ֠פְּנֵיכֶ֠ם אֶת־הַכְּנַעֲנִ֨י וְאֶת־הַחִתִּ֜י וְאֶת־הַחִוִּ֗י וְאֶת־הַפְּרִזִּי֙ וְאֶת־הַגִּרְגָּשִׁ֔י וְהָאֱמֹרִ֖י וְהַיְבוּסִֽי׃
11the Aron Brit the Sovereign of all the earth is advancing before you into the Yarden.
hi-NEH a-ROn ha-b'-REET a-doN kol ha-A-retz o-VAYR lif-NE-khem ba-yar-DAYN
יאהִנֵּה֙ אֲר֣וֹן הַבְּרִ֔ית אֲד֖וֹן כׇּל־הָאָ֑רֶץ עֹבֵ֥ר לִפְנֵיכֶ֖ם בַּיַּרְדֵּֽן׃
12Now select twelve men from the tribes of Yisrael, one man from each tribe.
v'-a-TAH ke-KHU la-KHEM sh'-NAY a-SAR eeSH mi-sh'-vi-TAY yis-ra-AYL, eeSH e-KHAD eeSH e-KHAD la-sha-VET
יבוְעַתָּ֗ה קְח֤וּ לָכֶם֙ שְׁנֵ֣י עָשָׂ֣ר אִ֔ישׁ מִשִּׁבְטֵ֖י יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל אִישׁ־אֶחָ֥ד אִישׁ־אֶחָ֖ד לַשָּֽׁבֶט׃
13When the feet of the Kohanim bearing the Aron of Hashem, the Sovereign of all the earth, come to rest in the waters of the Yarden, the waters of the Yarden—the water coming from upstream—will be cut off and will stand in a single heap.”
v'-ha-YA k'-NO-akh ka-POT rag-LAY ha-ko-ha-NEEM no-s'-AY a-RON a-do-NAI a-DON kol ha-A-retz b'-MEI ha-YAR-dayn, MEI ha-YAR-dayn yi-ka-RE-tun ha-MA-yim ha-yor-DEEM mil-ma-LAH, v'-ya-am-DOO NED e-KHAD
יגוְהָיָ֡ה כְּנ֣וֹחַ כַּפּ֣וֹת רַגְלֵ֣י הַכֹּהֲנִ֡ים נֹשְׂאֵי֩ אֲר֨וֹן יְהֹוָ֜ה אֲד֤וֹן כׇּל־הָאָ֙רֶץ֙ בְּמֵ֣י הַיַּרְדֵּ֔ן מֵ֤י הַיַּרְדֵּן֙ יִכָּ֣רֵת֔וּן הַמַּ֥יִם הַיֹּרְדִ֖ים מִלְמָ֑עְלָה וְיַעַמְד֖וּ נֵ֥ד אֶחָֽד׃
14When the people set out from their encampment to cross the Yarden, the Kohanim bearing the Aron HaBrit were at the head of the people.
vai-HI, bin-SO-a ha-AM me-o-LE-hem la-a-VOR et ha-YAR-den, v'-ha-ko-ha-NEEM no-s'-AY ha-a-ROAN ha-b'-REET lif-NEI ha-AM
ידוַיְהִ֗י בִּנְסֹ֤עַ הָעָם֙ מֵאׇ֣הֳלֵיהֶ֔ם לַֽעֲבֹ֖ר אֶת־הַיַּרְדֵּ֑ן וְהַכֹּהֲנִ֗ים נֹ֥שְׂאֵ֛י הָאָר֥וֹן הַבְּרִ֖ית לִפְנֵ֥י הָעָֽם׃
15Now the Yarden keeps flowing over its entire bed throughout the harvest season. But as soon as the bearers of the Aron reached the Yarden, and the feet of the Kohanim bearing the Aron dipped into the water at its edge,
u-ko-VO no-s'-AY ha-a-ROn ad ha-YAR-den v'-rag-LAY ha-ko-ha-NEEM no-s'-AY ha-a-ROn nit-B'-LU bi-k'-tze ha-MA-yim v'-ha-YAR-den ma-LAY al kol g'-do-TAV kol ye-MAY ka-TZIR
טווּכְב֞וֹא נֹשְׂאֵ֤י הָֽאָרוֹן֙ עַד־הַיַּרְדֵּ֔ן וְרַגְלֵ֤י הַכֹּֽהֲנִים֙ נֹשְׂאֵ֣י הָאָר֔וֹן נִטְבְּל֖וּ בִּקְצֵ֣ה הַמָּ֑יִם וְהַיַּרְדֵּ֗ן מָלֵא֙ עַל־כׇּל־גְּדוֹתָ֔יו כֹּ֖ל יְמֵ֥י קָצִֽיר׃
16the waters coming down from upstream piled up in a single heap a great way off, at Adam, the town next to Zarethan; and those flowing away downstream to the Sea of the Arabah (the Dead Sea) ran out completely. So the people crossed near Yericho.
vai-YA-am-DU ha-MA-yim ha-yor-DIM mil-ma-LAH ka-MU NED-e-KHAD har-KHEK m'-OD (ba-ADAM) [me-a-DAM] ha-IYR a-SHER mi-TZAD tza-RO-tan v'-ha-yor-DIM al yam ha-a-RA-VA yam-ha-ME-lakh TAM-u nikh-RA-tu v'-ha-A-am a-VO-ru NE-ged yi-RI-kho
טזוַיַּֽעַמְד֡וּ הַמַּ֩יִם֩ הַיֹּרְדִ֨ים מִלְמַ֜עְלָה קָ֣מוּ נֵד־אֶחָ֗ד הַרְחֵ֨ק מְאֹ֜ד (באדם) [מֵֽאָדָ֤ם] הָעִיר֙ אֲשֶׁר֙ מִצַּ֣ד צָֽרְתָ֔ן וְהַיֹּרְדִ֗ים עַ֣ל יָ֧ם הָעֲרָבָ֛ה יָם־הַמֶּ֖לַח תַּ֣מּוּ נִכְרָ֑תוּ וְהָעָ֥ם עָבְר֖וּ נֶ֥גֶד יְרִיחֽוֹ׃
17The Kohanim who bore the Aron Brit Hashem stood on dry land exactly in the middle of the Yarden, while all Yisrael crossed over on dry land, until the entire nation had finished crossing the Yarden.
vai-YA-am-DU ha-ko-ha-NEEM no-s'-AY ha-a-ROAN b'-REET a-do-NAI b'-kha-RA-VAH b'-TO-kh ha-YAR-den ha-KHEN, v'-kol yis-ra-AYL o-VE-reem b'-kha-RA-VAH ad a-SHER-ta-MU kol ha-GOY la-a-VOR et ha-YAR-den
יזוַיַּעַמְד֣וּ הַכֹּהֲנִ֡ים נֹ֠שְׂאֵ֠י הָאָר֨וֹן בְּרִית־יְהֹוָ֜ה בֶּחָרָבָ֛ה בְּת֥וֹךְ הַיַּרְדֵּ֖ן הָכֵ֑ן וְכׇל־יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל עֹֽבְרִים֙ בֶּחָ֣רָבָ֔ה עַ֤ד אֲשֶׁר־תַּ֙מּוּ֙ כׇּל־הַגּ֔וֹי לַעֲבֹ֖ר אֶת־הַיַּרְדֵּֽן׃
