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.
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Canaanite Kings Acknowledge God's Power

1
And it came to pass, when all the kings of the Amorites, which were on the side of Jordan westward, and all the kings of the Canaanites, which were by the sea, heard that the LORD had dried up the waters of Jordan from before the children of Israel, until we were passed over, that 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 unto Joshua, Make thee sharp knives, and circumcise again the children of Israel the second time. ​
3
And Joshua made him sharp knives, and circumcised the children of Israel at the hill of the foreskins.
4
And this is the cause why Joshua did circumcise: All the people that came out of Egypt, that were males, even all the men of war, died in the wilderness by the way, after they came out of Egypt.
5
Now all the people that came out were circumcised: but all the people that were born in the wilderness by the way as they came forth out of Egypt, them they had not circumcised. ​
6
For the children of Israel walked forty years in the wilderness, till all the people that were men of war, which came out of Egypt, were consumed, because they obeyed not the voice of the LORD: unto whom the LORD sware that he would not shew them the land, which the LORD sware unto their fathers that he would give us, a land that floweth with milk and honey. ​
7
And their children, whom he raised up in their stead, them Joshua circumcised: for they were uncircumcised, because they had not circumcised them by the way.
8
And it came to pass, when they had done circumcising all the people, that they abode in their places in the camp, till they were whole. ​
9
And the LORD said unto Joshua, This day have I rolled away the reproach of Egypt from off you. Wherefore the name of the place is called Gilgal unto this day. ​

Passover Observed and Manna Ceases

10
And the children of Israel encamped in Gilgal, and kept the passover on the fourteenth day of the month at even in the plains of Jericho. ​
11
And they did eat of the old corn of the land on the morrow after the passover, unleavened cakes, and parched corn in the selfsame day.
12
And the manna ceased on the morrow after they had eaten of the old corn of the land; neither had the children of Israel manna any more; but they did eat of the fruit of the land of Canaan that year. ​

Joshua Meets the Commander of the Lord's Army

13
And it came to pass, when Joshua was by Jericho, that he lifted up his eyes and looked, and, behold, there stood a man over against him with his sword drawn in his hand: and Joshua went unto him, and said unto him, Art thou for us, or for our adversaries? ​
14
And he said, Nay; but as captain of the host of the LORD am I now come. And Joshua fell on his face to the earth, and did worship, and said unto him, What saith my lord unto his servant? ​
15
And the captain of the LORD'S host said unto Joshua, Loose thy shoe from off thy foot; for the place whereon thou standest is holy. And 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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