Joshua 5 - ESV - Bible Reading / Study Notes

Joshua 5

The New Generation Circumcised

5:1 As soon as 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 that the LORD had dried up the waters of the Jordan for the people of Israel until they had crossed over, their hearts melted and there was no longer any spirit in them because of the people of Israel.

2 At that time the LORD said to Joshua, “Make flint knives and circumcise the sons of Israel a second time.” 3 So Joshua made flint knives and circumcised the sons of Israel at Gibeath-haaraloth.¹ 4 And this is the reason why Joshua circumcised them: all the males of the people who came out of Egypt, all the men of war, had died in the wilderness on the way after they had come out of Egypt. 5 Though all the people who came out had been circumcised, yet all the people who were born on the way in the wilderness after they had come out of Egypt had not been circumcised. 6 For the people of Israel walked forty years in the wilderness, until all the nation, the men of war who came out of Egypt, perished, because they did not obey the voice of the LORD; the LORD swore to them that he would not let them see the land that the LORD had sworn to their fathers to give to us, a land flowing with milk and honey. 7 So it was their children, whom he raised up in their place, that Joshua circumcised. For they were uncircumcised, because they had not been circumcised on the way.

8 When the circumcising of the whole nation was finished, they remained in their places in the camp until they were healed. 9 And the LORD said to Joshua, “Today I have rolled away the reproach of Egypt from you.” And so the name of that place is called Gilgal² to this day.

First Passover in Canaan

10 While the people of Israel were encamped at Gilgal, they kept the Passover on the fourteenth day of the month in the evening on the plains of Jericho. 11 And the day after the Passover, on that very day, they ate of the produce of the land, unleavened cakes and parched grain. 12 And the manna ceased the day after they ate of the produce of the land. And there was no longer manna for the people of Israel, but they ate of the fruit of the land of Canaan that year.

The Commander of the Lord’s Army

13 When Joshua was by Jericho, he lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, a man was standing before him with his drawn sword in his hand. And Joshua went to him and said to him, “Are you for us, or for our adversaries?” 14 And he said, “No; but I am the commander of the army of the LORD. Now I have come.” And Joshua fell on his face to the earth and worshiped³ and said to him, “What does my lord say to his servant?” 15 And the commander of the LORD’s army said to Joshua, “Take off your sandals from your feet, for the place where you are standing is holy.” And Joshua did so.

Footnotes

[1] 5:3 Gibeath-haaraloth means the hill of the foreskins
[2] 5:9 Gilgal sounds like the Hebrew for to roll
[3] 5:14 Or and paid homage

Commentary

v1: The events to date had a powerful effect on the heathen peoples, see also 2.11. In 1 Pet 3.16, the lives of Christians should have a similarly powerful effect on unbelievers; for some it leads to faith, for others it is hardening of heart.

The writer of these words was clearly amongst the people, since he uses the word, “we;” see also v6, “us.”

v2-9: The people had not been circumcised whilst in the wilderness(v5). Before they could move against Jericho, it was important that the people were set apart for God. Joshua, who had already been circumcised, having come out of Egypt, was given the task (v3); it is unlikely that he literally did this to everyone.

The people of Israel were reminded that to follow God was a costly thing (v8); just as the devoted servant had his ear pierced (Ex 21). The Lord God said that the circumcision rolled away the reproach of Egypt. There is no explanation as to why they had not been circumcised, but simply the obedience demanded by God.

v10: After the circumcision, the people kept the Passover, 40 years after the first Passover in Egypt. In Ex 12.48, we read that only those who had been circumcised could eat the Passover.

Where circumcision was personal, the Passover was corporate, as the people celebrated together. Both these aspects of worship had to be maintained. For nearly 40 years they had been neglected.

v11-12: Having entered the land, the manna ceased. The people now ate the produce of Canaan. This was still provided by God, but not in a 'miraculous' way. God’s provision comes through ‘natural’ and ‘miraculous’ routes. Our Western thinking tends to separate these, but the Bible shows that all things come from Him.

v13: It seems Joshua went aside to pray before the attack on Jericho. He met the Commander of the Army of the Lord, for Joshua was not the Commander. The Commander had a sword drawn, in readiness for battle, indicating that Joshua needed to be ready also.

The battle for Jericho was the first of a long series of battles for control of Canaan. Having entered, they must now overcome and occupy.

Joshua's question is important, "Are you for us..?" To this question there was no answer (v14), since we are not to ask 'Whose side is the Lord on?', but 'Who is on the Lord's side?' as in Ex 32.26.

v14: Joshua rightly worshipped, as he submitted to the Lord's authority. Here is the Word, the Son of God, the Commander of the Army of the Lord. Later He rides a white horse into victory over the enemies gathered against the people of God.

v15: Joshua had asked for a message (v14). The Lord's first message is to do with worship and submission, not with providing answers and solutions.

Joshua was told to remove his sandals. These were his point of contact with the earth, and represent the world, and the defilement that comes upon us (Ex 3; Jn 13). The instruction to take them off was a prelude to hearing what God had to say to Joshua. We note also that to remove sandals left Joshua vulnerable; he could not fight, therefore he had to rely upon God's strength and protection.

Joshua was zealous for the Lord, and he immediately removed his sandals.

This series of incidents prepared both Joshua and the people for the battles ahead. The people had been circumcised, the Passover had been celebrated, they had tasted the produce of the land, and Joshua had met with the Commander.

All this took time. The Lord seems never to rush or panic. The Lord Jesus spent 2-3 years preparing His apostles for their task ahead. How different from our western 'instant' society, with the Church tending to absorb this attitude. We must do God's work in God's time.