Then Joshua rose early in the morning and they set out from Shittim. And they came to the Jordan, he and all the people of Israel, and lodged there before they passed over.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The text highlights that Joshua and the people "lodged there before they passed over," implying a pause at the Jordan's edge. This stillness before crossing the formidable, swollen river reveals a crucial element: divine appointment wasn't just about how they would cross, but also about trusting God through the waiting, even when the path ahead seemed impossible.
Then Joshua rose early in the morning and they set out from Shittim. And they came to the Jordan, he and all the people of Israel, and lodged there before they passed over.
English Standard Version (ESV)
After the Israelites left their last encampment at Shittim, Joshua leads them to the banks of the formidable Jordan River. They settle in for the night, poised on the brink of this major obstacle, preparing for the miraculous crossing God is about to perform to bring them into the Promised Land. This moment marks the beginning of a new phase under Joshua's leadership, a decisive step into the territory they had longed to possess.
Joshua didn't waste a moment. The very morning after the spies returned, he was up and moving.
Joshua's prompt action—rising early and immediately setting out from Shittim—highlights a crucial element of faith: obedience that doesn't delay.
Immediate Action
While the Israelites had been waiting at Shittim, God's instruction was to move. Joshua, as their leader, modeled immediate obedience. His early rising wasn't just about getting an early start; it symbolized a readiness and eagerness to follow God's command without hesitation.
Trust in the Unseen
They hadn't passed this way before. The path into the Promised Land, across the mighty Jordan, was entirely new. Yet, Joshua led them forward. This mirrors how God often calls us to step out into new phases of life, new responsibilities, or new challenges without a complete roadmap. True obedience trusts God's direction even when the path is unknown.
As they approached the daunting Jordan, the Israelites weren't just following a general; they were following a holy signal.
The text emphasizes that the people were to come to the Jordan and lodge there, but crucially, the ark of the covenant would go before them.
God's Presence Made Visible
For years, Israel had followed the pillar of cloud and fire. Now, the ark of the covenant, containing God's law and representing His presence, takes the lead. This signified a new phase, where God's direct, tangible presence would be the guiding force into their new land.
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A Space for Awe and Faith
They were instructed to keep a significant distance (2,000 cubits) from the ark. This wasn't to create separation, but to foster awe and reverence. It ensured everyone could see the ark, the symbol of God's power and presence, as it led them into the unknown waters of the Jordan. This distance cultivated faith, reminding them that it was God, not man, who would bring about the miracle, and that they were entering His presence.
Standing on the brink of the Jordan, facing an impossible obstacle, God commanded His people to 'sanctify yourselves.'
The act of lodging at the Jordan before crossing wasn't just a pause; it was a sacred preparation.
A Call to Holiness
The command to 'sanctify yourselves' meant setting themselves apart, purifying themselves from sin and defilement. This was essential because they were about to witness and experience a direct intervention of God's power. Holiness is a prerequisite for encountering the divine and participating in His work.
Anticipating Wonders
Joshua declared, 'for tomorrow the LORD will do wonders among you.' This wasn't just a statement of fact; it was an encouragement to faith. Their sanctification was an act of alignment with God's will, preparing them to recognize and receive the 'wonders' He was about to perform. It’s a reminder that God often works in response to our willing hearts, set apart for His purposes.
Understand the original words
Yĕhowshuwa` · Hebrew Proper Noun
A term used to describe the primary leader appointed by God to succeed Moses, whose name means 'The LORD is salvation.' He serves as a type of Christ who leads God's people into their inheritance.
Yarden · Hebrew Proper Noun
A prominent river in the Bible, often symbolizing a boundary, a place of transition, or an obstacle that can only be crossed through God's power. It represents the final threshold between the wilderness and the Promised Land.
c. 1406 BC— this verse
Israelites Encamp at Shittim
After 40 years in the wilderness, the Israelites camp in the acacia groves of Shittim, on the plains of Moab, east of the Jordan River.
c. 1406 BC
Spies Sent to Jericho
Joshua sends two spies to scout the land, particularly Jericho, which is the first major obstacle.
c. 1406 BC
Spies Return with Report
The spies return with a positive report, emphasizing that the land is fertile but its people fear Israel.
c. 1406 BC
Joshua Orders Preparation to Cross
Three days after the spies' return, Joshua instructs the people and priests to prepare to cross the Jordan River.
c. 1406 BC
Priests Carry the Ark to the Jordan
The priests carry the Ark of the Covenant to the edge of the Jordan River, as the people prepare to sanctify themselves.
This passage describes God parting the Red Sea for Israel's escape, mirroring the miraculous parting of the Jordan River in Joshua 3, both signifying God's powerful intervention to lead His people to freedom and into a new phase.
Numbers 10:11-13This passage details the Israelites' departure from Mount Sinai, led by the Ark of the Covenant and the cloud, establishing a pattern of divine guidance that continues with Joshua leading them to the Jordan.
Deuteronomy 7:1-2This passage, given by Moses before his death, speaks of God driving out the nations from the Promised Land, a promise that Joshua's generation is about to see fulfilled as they cross the Jordan, echoing God's faithfulness.
Psalm 114:1-8This Psalm celebrates the Exodus and the crossing of the Jordan, personifying the sea and river as reacting to God's presence and power, providing a poetic reflection on the miraculous event at the Jordan.
calvinJoshua 3:1-13: "And Joshua rose early in the morning; and they removed from Shittim, and came to Jordan, he and all the children of Israel, and lodged there before they passed over."
Yet there shall be a space between you and it, about two thousand cubits by measure: come not near unto it, that you may know the way by which you must go: for you have not passed this way heretofore.
Veruntamen interstitium erit inter vos et ipsam fere duorum milium cubitorum in mensura: ne appropinquetis e…
cambridgeJoshua 3:1: "And Joshua rose early in the morning; and they removed from Shittim, and came to Jordan, he and all the children of Israel, and lodged there before they passed over."
Ch. Joshua 3:1-13 . The Preparation for the Passage of Jordan 1 . they removed from Shittim ] They descended from the upper terraces of the valley of Jordan, from “the Grove of Acacias,” to the level of the river. to Jordan ] Speaking strictly, Jordan has a threefold bank:— ( a ) The lowest, at the edge of the river,…
The text highlights that Joshua and the people "lodged there before they passed over," implying a pause at the Jordan's edge. This stillness before crossing the formidable, swollen river reveals a crucial element: divine appointment wasn't just about how they would cross, but also about trusting God through the waiting, even when the path ahead seemed impossible.
After the Israelites left their last encampment at Shittim, Joshua leads them to the banks of the formidable Jordan River. They settle in for the night, poised on the brink of this major obstacle, preparing for the miraculous crossing God is about to perform to bring them into the Promised Land. This moment marks the beginning of a new phase under Joshua's leadership, a decisive step into the territory they had longed to possess.
After the Israelites left their last encampment at Shittim, Joshua leads them to the banks of the formidable Jordan River. They settle in for the night, poised on the brink of this major obstacle, preparing for the miraculous crossing God is about to perform to bring them into the Promised Land. This moment marks the beginning of a new phase under Joshua's leadership, a decisive step into the territory they had longed to possess.
"Then Joshua rose early in the morning and they set out from Shittim. And they came to the Jordan, he and all the people of Israel, and lodged there before they passed over." — The text highlights that Joshua and the people "lodged there before they passed over," implying a pause at the Jordan's edge. This stillness before crossing the formidable, swollen river reveals a cr…
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Last reviewed October 2026