Leaving their encampment in the acacia groves of Shittim, the host descended to the border of the Jordan. All knew, however, that without divine aid they could not hope to make the passage. At this time of the year--in the spring season--the melting snows of the mountains had so raised the Jordan that the river overflowed its banks, making it impossible to cross at the usual fording places. God willed that the passage of Israel over Jordan should be miraculous. Joshua, by divine direction, commanded the people to sanctify themselves; they must put away their sins and free themselves from all outward impurity; "for tomorrow," he said, "the Lord will do wonders among you." The "ark of the covenant" was to lead the way before the host. When they should see the token of Jehovah's presence, borne by the priests, remove from its place in the center of the camp, and advance toward the river, then they were to remove 484 from their place, "and go after it.' The circumstances of the passage were minutely foretold; and said Joshua, "Hereby ye shall know that the living God is among you, and that He will without fail drive out from before you the Canaanites. . . . Behold, the ark of the covenant of the Lord of all the earth passeth over before you into Jordan."

Folket forlod nu deres lejr i akacielundene i Sjittim og gik ned til Jordans bred. De vidste alle sammen, at de ikke kunne gøre sig håb om at komme over uden Guds hjælp. På denne årstid - det var forår - fik smeltevandet i bjergene Jordan til at gå over sine bredder, så at det var umuligt at komme over på de sædvanlige vadesteder. Det var Guds vilje, at Israels overgang over Jordan skulle ske ved et mirakel. På Guds befaling bød Josua folket hellige sig. De skulle bortskaffe deres synder og rense sig fra al udvortes urenhed; "thi i morgen," sagde han, "vil Herren gøre undere iblandt Eder". "Pagtens ark" skulle bæres i spidsen for folket. Når de så præsterne fjerne arken - tegnet på Guds nærværelse - fra dens plads midt i lejren og bære den ned mod floden, skulle de bryde op og følge efter. Det var på forhånd blevet nøjagtigt beskrevet, hvorledes overgangen skulle foregå. Josua sagde: "Derpå skal I kende, at der er en levende Gud iblandt Eder, og at han vil drive kanaanæerne bort foran Eder: Se, Herrens, al Jordens Herres, ark skal gå foran Eder gennem Jordan."