3:12

Now: The Hebrew phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Now is more literally “and now.” Its function is to introduce a new thought. This thought is about the twelve men who have an important part in crossing the Jordan River. Their role is explained further in chapter 4. This sentence interrupts the instructions about the priests and the covenant box.

Here are some other ways to translate this word:

So
-or-
Therefore

choose twelve men: The reason why they chose these twelve men is not explained until Joshua 4:3.

from the tribes of Israel, one from each tribe: Joshua told each of the twelve tribes of Israel to choose one man from their tribe.

Here is another way to translate this part of the verse:

So, choose twelve men, one man from each tribe of Israel

The instructions about these twelve men are not finished until Joshua 4:3. It may be helpful to make this explicit. For example:

So, choose twelve men, one man from each tribe of Israel. ⌊Later I will tell you what they should do.⌋

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