Joshua5

Joshua 5 details Israel's preparations for conquering Canaan. The men born in the wilderness were circumcised as a renewal of the covenant, and the Passover was observed at Gilgal. Following this, the miraculous manna ceased as they began to eat the land's produce. Finally, Joshua encountered a divine figure, the Captain of the LORD's host, who affirmed God's leadership.

Canaanite Kings Acknowledge God's Power

1
When all the kings of the Amorites, who were beyond the Jordan westward, and all the kings of the Canaanites, who were by the sea, heard how the LORD had dried up the waters of the Jordan from before the children of Israel, until we had passed over, their heart melted, neither was there spirit in them any more, because of the children of Israel. ​

Covenant Renewal: The Circumcision at Gilgal

2
At that time, the LORD said to Joshua, “Make flint knives, and circumcise again the children of Israel the second time.” ​
3
Joshua made himself flint knives, and circumcised the children of Israel at the hill of the foreskins.
4
This is the reason Joshua circumcised: all the people who came out of Egypt, who were males, even all the men of war, died in the wilderness by the way, after they came out of Egypt.
5
For all the people who came out were circumcised; but all the people who were born in the wilderness by the way as they came out of Egypt had not been circumcised. ​
6
For the children of Israel walked forty years in the wilderness, until all the nation, even the men of war who came out of Egypt, were consumed, because they didn’t listen to the voice of the LORD. The LORD swore to them that he wouldn’t let them see the land which the LORD swore to their fathers that he would give us, a land flowing with milk and honey. ​
7
Their children, whom he raised up in their place, were circumcised by Joshua; for they were uncircumcised, because they had not circumcised them on the way.
8
When they were done circumcising the whole nation, they stayed in their places in the camp until they were healed. ​
9
The LORD said to Joshua, “Today I have rolled away the reproach of Egypt from off you.” Therefore the name of that place was called Gilgal, to this day. ​

Passover Observed and Manna Ceases

10
The children of Israel encamped in Gilgal. They kept the Passover on the fourteenth day of the month at evening in the plains of Jericho. ​
11
They ate unleavened cakes and parched grain of the produce of the land on the next day after the Passover, in the same day.
12
The manna ceased on the next day, after they had eaten of the produce of the land. The children of Israel didn’t have manna any more; but they ate of the fruit of the land of Canaan that year. ​

Joshua Meets the Commander of the Lord's Army

13
When Joshua was by Jericho, he lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, a man stood in front of him with his sword drawn in his hand. Joshua went to him, and said to him, “Are you for us, or for our adversaries?” ​
14
He said, “No; but I have come now as commander of the LORD’s army.” Joshua fell on his face to the earth, and worshiped, and said to him, “What does my lord say to his servant?” ​
15
The prince of the LORD’s army said to Joshua, “Take your shoes off of your feet; for the place on which you stand is holy.” Joshua did so. ​

Study Notes for Joshua 5

Verse 1

This verse highlights the psychological impact of the Jordan miracle. The melting of the enemy's heart fulfills God's promise to dishearten Israel's foes (Ex. 23:27), setting the stage for conquest before the first battle is even fought.

Verse 2

The command to circumcise 'the second time' refers to performing the rite on the generation born during the 40 years of wandering, as the covenant sign had been neglected during the wilderness journey.

Verse 5

The failure to circumcise the male children during the wilderness journey was a significant lapse in covenant obedience, likely due to the instability of nomadic life or as a sign of God's judgment on the rebellious older generation.

Verse 6

This verse explicitly links the death of the older generation to their disobedience, specifically referencing their rebellion following the report of the spies (Num. 14), which resulted in the forty-year delay.

Verse 8

The waiting period ('till they were whole') demonstrates that obedience to the covenant rites took immediate precedence over military action, emphasizing the priority of spiritual readiness.

Verse 9

Gilgal, meaning 'to roll,' symbolizes the rolling away of the 'reproach of Egypt.' This reproach likely refers to the shame of slavery, the stigma of being uncircumcised, or the status of being a rootless, covenant-breaking people.

Verse 10

This celebration marks the first Passover observed inside the Promised Land. The timing emphasizes the immediate restoration of covenant worship upon arrival in Canaan, connecting the current generation to the Exodus event.

Verse 12

The abrupt cessation of the manna confirms the definitive end of the wilderness period. God's provision shifts from miraculous daily bread to sustenance derived from the land itself, symbolizing entrance into the covenant blessing.

Verse 13

As Joshua prepares for the battle of Jericho, he encounters a mysterious figure identified as the 'Captain of the host of the LORD,' signaling divine readiness to lead the military campaign.

Verse 14

The Captain's refusal to take sides ('Nay') indicates that he is not merely an ally of Israel, but the sovereign leader of God's army, demanding Joshua's submission. This figure is often interpreted as a Christophany (a pre-incarnate appearance of Christ).

Verse 15

This command echoes Moses' encounter at the burning bush (Ex. 3:5), confirming the sacred nature of the ground and validating Joshua's leadership commissioning as Moses' successor before the start of the conquest.

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