Joshua5
New American Standard
1Now it came about when all the kings of the Amorites who were beyond the Jordan to the west, and all the kings of the Canaanites who were by the sea, heard how the Lord had dried up the waters of the Jordan before the sons of Israel until they had crossed, that their hearts melted, and there was no spirit in them any longer because of the sons of Israel.
2At that time the Lord said to Joshua, “Make for yourself flint knives and circumcise again the sons of Israel the second time.”
3So Joshua made himself flint knives and circumcised the sons of Israel at Gibeath-haaraloth.
4This is the reason why Joshua circumcised them: all the people who came out of Egypt who were males, all the men of war, died in the wilderness along the way after they came out of Egypt.
5For all the people who came out were circumcised, but all the people who were born in the wilderness along the way as they came out of Egypt had not been circumcised.
6For the sons of Israel walked forty years in the wilderness, until all the nation, that is, the men of war who came out of Egypt, perished because they did not listen to the voice of the Lord, to whom the Lord had sworn that He would not let them see the land which the Lord had sworn to their fathers to give us, a land flowing with milk and honey.
7So their children whom He raised up in their place, Joshua circumcised; for they were uncircumcised, because they had not circumcised them along the way.
8Now when they had finished circumcising all the nation, they remained in their places in the camp until they recovered.
9Then the Lord said to Joshua, “Today I have rolled away the shame of Egypt from you.” So the name of that place is called Gilgal to this day.
10While the sons of Israel camped at Gilgal they celebrated the Passover on the evening of the fourteenth day of the month on the desert plains of Jericho.
11Then on the day after the Passover, on that very day, they ate some of the produce of the land, unleavened cakes and roasted grain.
12And the manna ceased on the day after they had eaten some of the produce of the land, so that the sons of Israel no longer had manna, but they ate some of the yield of the land of Canaan during that year.
13Now it came about when Joshua was by Jericho, he raised his eyes and looked, and behold, a man was standing opposite him with his sword drawn in his hand, and Joshua went to him and said to him, “Are you for us or for our enemies?”
14He said, “No; rather I have come now as captain of the army of the Lord.” And Joshua fell on his face to the ground, and bowed down, and said to him, “What has my lord to say to his servant?”
15And the captain of the Lord’s army said to Joshua, “Remove your sandals from your feet, for the place where you are standing is holy.” And Joshua did so.
Study Guide
Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Joshua 5.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: The Canaanites are afraid, Circumcision renewed. (1–9). The passover at Gilgal, The manna ceases. (10–12). The Captain of the Lord's host appears to Joshua. (13–15).
vv1-9
How dreadful is their case, who see the wrath of God advancing towards them, without being able to turn it aside, or escape it! Such will be the horrible situation of the wicked; nor can words express the anguish of their feelings, or the greatness of their terror. Oh that they would now take warning, and before it be too late, flee for refuge to lay hold upon that hope set before them in the gospel! God impressed these fears on the Canaanites, and dispirited them. This gave a short rest to the Israelites, and circumcision rolled away the reproach of Egypt. They were hereby owned to be the free-born children of God, having the seal of the covenant. When God glorifies himself in perfecting the salvation of his people, he not only silences all enemies, but rolls back their reproaches upon themselves.
vv10-12
A solemn passover was kept, at the time appointed by the law, in the plains of Jericho, in defiance of the Canaanites round about them. It was a performance of the promise, that when they went up to keep the feasts, their land should be under the special protection of the Divine providence, Ex 34:24. Notice is taken of the ceasing of the manna as soon as they had eaten the old corn of the land. For as it came just when they needed, so it continued as long as they needed it. This teaches us not to expect supplies by miracles, when they may be had in a common way. The word and ordinances of God are spiritual manna, with which God nourishes his people in this wilderness. Though often forfeited, yet they are continued while we are here; but when we come to the heavenly Canaan, this manna will cease, for we shall no longer need it.
vv13-15
We read not of any appearance of God's glory to Joshua till now. There appeared to him one as a man to be noticed. This Man was the Son of God, the eternal Word. Joshua gave him Divine honours: he received them, which a created angel would not have done, and he is called Jehovah, chap. 6:2. To Abraham he appeared as a traveller; to Joshua as a man of war. Christ will be to his people what their faith needs. Christ had his sword drawn, which encouraged Joshua to carry on the war with vigour. Christ's sword drawn in his hand, denotes how ready he is for the defence and salvation of his people. His sword turns every way. Joshua will know whether he is a friend or a foe. The cause between the Israelites and Canaanites, between Christ and Beelzebub, will not admit of any man's refusing to take one part or the other, as he may do in worldly contests. Joshua's inquiry shows an earnest desire to know the will of Christ, and a cheerful readiness and resolution to do it. All true Christians must fight under Christ's banner, and they will conquer by his presence and assistance.
Key Words
כֹּל: properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
מֶלֶךְ: a king
אֱמֹרִי: an Emorite, one of the Canaanitish tribes
עֵבֶר: properly, a region across; but used only adverbially (with or without a preposition) on the opposite side (especially of the Jordan; ususally meaning the east)
יַרְדֵּן: Jarden, the principal river of Palestine
יָם: a sea (as breaking in noisy surf) or large body of water; specifically (with the article), the Mediterranean Sea; sometimes a large river, or an artifical basin; locally, the west, or (rarely) the south
כְּנַעַנִי: a Kenaanite or inhabitant of Kenaan; by implication, a pedlar (the Canaanites standing for their neighbors the Ishmaelites, who conducted mercantile caravans)
שָׁמַע: to hear intelligently (often with implication of attention, obedience, etc.; causatively, to tell, etc.)
יָבֵשׁ: to be ashamed, confused or disappointed; also (as failing) to dry up (as water) or wither (as herbage)
מַיִם: water; figuratively, juice; by euphemism, urine, semen
Cross References
Joshua 5Direct verbal parallel: 'Loose thy shoe from off thy foot; for the place... is holy.'
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole, John Calvin, JFB
The original institution of circumcision, the covenant sign renewed here at Gilgal.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole, John Calvin, JFB
The fulfillment of the wilderness mandate that manna would last until they reached Canaan.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole, John Calvin, JFB
Fulfills Rahab's report that the Canaanites' hearts melted because of the Lord.
Supported by Matthew Henry, John Calvin, JFB
Use of sharp stone knives/flints for circumcision, echoing Zipporah's action.
Supported by Matthew Poole, John Calvin, JFB
Fulfillment of the forty-year judgment sentence on the unbelieving wilderness generation.
Supported by Matthew Poole, John Calvin, JFB
Law requiring circumcision before keeping Passover, explaining why circumcision had to precede it.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
God promised to bring in the children of the rebels; they are circumcised here.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Contrast: Israel is vulnerable while recovering, yet protected from the melting Canaanite hearts.
Supported by Matthew Poole
The law forbidding eating harvest produce until the wave offering, kept here at Gilgal.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
The promised Angel sent to lead Israel; identified here as Captain of the Lord's host.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole
The divine Word appearing as a man, reminiscent of Jacob wrestling at Peniel.
Supported by Matthew Henry, John Calvin
Fulfills the prophetic Song of Moses that Jordan's crossing would melt the inhabitants.
Supported by John Calvin
The 'reproach' of uncircumcision, which David references against the Philistine.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Christ as Captain of our salvation (Heb 2:10) shadowed in this Captain of the Host.
Supported by Matthew Henry