King James Bible

ERE, adverb Before; sooner than.

ERE sails were spread new oceans to explore.

The nobleman saith to him, Sir, come down ere my child die. John 4:49.

In these passages, ere is really a preposition, followed by a sentence, instead of a single word, as below.

ERE, preposition Before.

Our fruitful Nile

Flow'd ere the wonted season.