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.
Joshua rose early in the morning - i:e., on the day following that on which the spies had returned with their encouraging report, the camp was broken up in "Shittim" (the acacia groves), and removed from the terraced heights of the valley to the eastern bank of the Jordan. The duration of their stay is indicated (Joshua 3:2), being, according to Hebrew reckoning, only one entire day, including the evening of arrival and the morning of the passage; and such a time would be absolutely necessary for so motley an assemblage of men, women, and children, with all their gear and cattle, to make ready for going into an enemy's country.
Lodged there before they passed over - literally 'they had not yet passed over' (see the note at Joshua 2:8; Lodged there before they passed over - literally, 'they had not yet passed over' (see the note at Joshua 2:8; Genesis 2:5).