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Joshua 5

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.

At that time the LORD said to Joshua, “Make flint knives and circumcise the sons of Israel a second time.”

So Joshua made flint knives and circumcised the sons of Israel at Gibeath-haaraloth.

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.

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.

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.

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.

When the circumcising of the whole nation was finished, they remained in their places in the camp until they were healed.

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 Gilgal to this day.

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.

And the day after the Passover, on that very day, they ate of the produce of the land, unleavened cakes and parched grain.

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.

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?”

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 worshiped and said to him, “What does my lord say to his servant?”

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.

Scripture quotations marked “ESV” are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

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Joshua 5

Circumcision and Passover mark Israel's transition from the wilderness generation to the land-inheriting generation; the 'reproach of Egypt' is rolled away as covenant males are circumcised at Gilgal. The renewal of Passover celebrates deliverance past while inaugurating deliverance present, and manna ceases when Israel eats the grain of Canaan—the promise moves from miraculous sustenance to agrarian possession. The encounter with the commander of YHWH's army (likely a theophany) finds Joshua worshiping, instructed to remove his sandals as Moses did at the burning bush, linking Joshua's authority to the Sinaitic covenant and positioning him as YHWH's appointed instrument. The chapter traces Israel's maturation from redeemed slaves to covenant people ready to inherit the land through the LORD's leading.

Joshua 5:1

As soon as all the kings of the Amorites beyond the Jordan and all the kings of the Canaanites by the sea heard that the LORD had dried up the waters of the Jordan before 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

Joshua 5:2

At that time the LORD said to Joshua, 'Make flint knives and circumcise the people of Israel a second time'

Joshua 5:3

So Joshua made flint knives and circumcised the people of Israel at the Hill of the Foreskins

Joshua 5:4

And this is the reason why Joshua circumcised them: all the males of the people who came out of Egypt, all the warriors, had died during the wandering in the wilderness after they had come out of Egypt

Joshua 5:5

For all the people who came out had been circumcised, but all the people born in the wilderness during the journey had not been circumcised

Joshua 5:6

For the people of Israel walked forty years in the wilderness, until all the nation, the warriors who came out of Egypt, perished, because they did not listen to the voice of the LORD; to them the LORD had sworn that he would not let them see the land that the LORD had sworn to their fathers to give them, a land flowing with milk and honey

Joshua 5:7

So it was their children, whom he raised up in their place, whom Joshua circumcised; for they were uncircumcised, because they had not been circumcised on the way

Joshua 5:8

When the circumcision of all the nation was finished, they remained in their places in the camp until they were healed

Joshua 5:9

And the LORD said to Joshua, 'Today I have rolled away the reproach of Egypt from you.' Therefore the place was called Gilgal

Joshua 5:10

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

Joshua 5:11

And on the day after the Passover, on that very day, they ate of the produce of the land, unleavened cakes and parched grain

Joshua 5:12

And the manna ceased on the day after they ate of the produce of the land; and the people of Israel no longer had manna, but ate of the fruit of the land of Canaan that year

Joshua 5:13

Now when Joshua was by Jericho, he looked up and saw a man standing before him with his drawn sword in his hand; and Joshua went to him and said to him, 'Are you one of us, or one of our adversaries?'

Joshua 5:14

And he said, 'No; but as commander of the army of the LORD I have now come.' And Joshua fell on his face to the earth and worshiped, and said to him, 'What does my lord wish to say to his servant?'

Joshua 5:15

'Take off your sandals from your feet, for the place where you stand is holy.' And Joshua did so