Joshua5
New Living Translation
1When all the Amorite kings west of the Jordan and all the Canaanite kings who lived along the Mediterranean coast heard how the Lord had dried up the Jordan River so the people of Israel could cross, they lost heart and were paralyzed with fear because of them.
2At that time the Lord told Joshua, “Make flint knives and circumcise this second generation of Israelites.”
3So Joshua made flint knives and circumcised the entire male population of Israel at Gibeath-haaraloth.
4Joshua had to circumcise them because all the men who were old enough to fight in battle when they left Egypt had died in the wilderness.
5Those who left Egypt had all been circumcised, but none of those born after the Exodus, during the years in the wilderness, had been circumcised.
6The Israelites had traveled in the wilderness for forty years until all the men who were old enough to fight in battle when they left Egypt had died. For they had disobeyed the Lord, and the Lord vowed he would not let them enter the land he had sworn to give us—a land flowing with milk and honey.
7So Joshua circumcised their sons—those who had grown up to take their fathers’ places—for they had not been circumcised on the way to the Promised Land.
8After all the males had been circumcised, they rested in the camp until they were healed.
9Then the Lord said to Joshua, “Today I have rolled away the shame of your slavery in Egypt.” So that place has been called Gilgal to this day.
10While the Israelites were camped at Gilgal on the plains of Jericho, they celebrated Passover on the evening of the fourteenth day of the first month.
11The very next day they began to eat unleavened bread and roasted grain harvested from the land.
12No manna appeared on the day they first ate from the crops of the land, and it was never seen again. So from that time on the Israelites ate from the crops of Canaan.
13When Joshua was near the town of Jericho, he looked up and saw a man standing in front of him with sword in hand. Joshua went up to him and demanded, “Are you friend or foe?”
14“Neither one,” he replied. “I am the commander of the Lord’s army.” At this, Joshua fell with his face to the ground in reverence. “I am at your command,” Joshua said. “What do you want your servant to do?”
15The commander of the Lord’s army replied, “Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy.” And Joshua did as he was told.
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