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.
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.
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.
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.

  1 And it came to passe when all the Kings of the Amorites which were on the side of Iordan Westward, and all the Kings of the Canaanites, which were by the Sea, heard that the Lord had dried vp the waters of Iordan from before the children of Israel, vntill we were passed ouer, that their heart melted; neither was there spirit in them any more, because of the children of Israel.

2 At that time the Lord said vnto Ioshua, Make thee sharpe kniues, and circumcise againe the children of Israel the second time.

3 And Ioshua made him sharpe kniues, and circumcised the children of Israel at the hill of the foreskinnes.

4 And this is the cause why Ioshua did circumcise: all the people that came out of Egypt, that were males, euen all the men of warre, died in the wildernes 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 borne in the wildernesse by the way, as they came foorth out of Egypt, them they had not circumcised.

6 For the children of Israel walked fourtie yeeres in the wildernesse, till all the people that were men of warre which came out of Egypt were consumed, because they obeyed not the voyce of the Lord, vnto whome the Lord sware that hee would not shew them the land which the Lord sware vnto their fathers, that he would giue vs, a land that floweth with milke & honie.

7 And their children, whom hee raised vp in their stead, them Ioshua circumcised, for they were vncircumcised: because they had not circumcised them by the way.

8 And it came to passe when they had done circumcising all the people, that they abode in their places in the campe, till they were whole.

9 And the Lord saide vnto Ioshua, This day haue I rolled away the reproch of Egypt from off you: Wherefore the name of the place is called Gilgal vnto this day.

10 And the children of Israel incamped in Gilgal, and kept the Passeouer, on the fourteenth day of the moneth at euen, in the plaines of Iericho.

11 And they did eate of the olde corne of the land, on the morrow after the Passeouer, vnleauened cakes, and parched corne in the selfe same day.

12 And the Manna ceased on the morrow after they had eaten of the old corne of the land, neither had the children of Israel Manna any more, but they did eate of the fruit of the land of Canaan that yeere.

13 And it came to passe when Ioshua was by Iericho, that he lift vp his eyes, and looked, and beholde, there stood a man ouer against him, with his sword dawen in his hand: and Ioshua went vnto him, and said vnto him, Art thou for vs, or for our aduersaries?

14 And he said, Nay, but as captaine of the hoste of the Lord am I now come. And Ioshua fell on his face to the earth, and did worship, and said vnto him, What saith my Lord vnto his seruant?

15 And the captaine of the Lords hoste said vnto Ioshua, Loose thy shooe from off thy foote, for the place whereon thou standest, is holy: And Ioshua did so.

I == Ex 15:14-15 ; Num 13:29 ; Josh 2:9 , 11 ; 1st Kings 10:5 ; Ps48:6 ; Ezek 21:7

 

 

 

 

II == Ex 4:25

 

 

 

IV == Num 14:29 ; 26:64-65 ; Deut 2:16

 

 

 

 

 

 

VI == Ez 3:8 ; Num 14:23 , 33 ; Deut 1:3 ; 2:7 , 14 ; Ps 95:10-11 ; Heb 3:11

 

 

 

 

VII == Num 14:31 ; Deut 1:39

 

VIII == Gen 34:25

 

IX == Gen 34:14 ; Lev 48:3 ; Josh 4:19 ; 24:14 ; 1st Sam 14:6 ; Exek ; 20:7 ; 23:3 , 8

X == Ex 12:6 ; Num 9:5

 

 

 

 

 

 

XII == Ex 16:35

 

 

XIII == Gen 18:2 ; 32:24 ; Ex 23:23 ; Num 22:23 ; Zech 1:8 ; Acts 1:10

 

 

 

XIV == Gen 17:3 ; Ex 23:20 ; Dan 10:13 , 21 ; 12:1 ; rev 12:7 ; 19:11 , 14

XV == Ex 3:5 ; Acts 7:33

 

1 When all the kings of the Amorites to the west of 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 Israelites until they crossed over, they were disheartened and lost courage at their approach.

2 On this occasion the LORD said to Joshua, "Make flint knives and circumcise the Israelite nation for the second time."

3 So Joshua made flint knives and circumcised the Israelites at Gibeath-haaraloth,

4 under these circumstances: Of all the people who came out of Egypt, every man of military age had died in the desert during the journey after they left Egypt.

5 Though all the men who came out were circumcised, none of those born in the desert during the journey after the departure from Egypt were circumcised.

6 Now the Israelites had wandered forty years in the desert, until all the warriors among the people that came forth from Egypt died off because they had not obeyed the command of the LORD. For the LORD swore that he would not let them see the land flowing with milk and honey which he had promised their fathers he would give us.

7 It was the children whom he raised up in their stead whom Joshua circumcised, for these were yet with foreskins, not having been circumcised on the journey.

8 When the rite had been performed, the whole nation remained in camp where they were, until they recovered.

9 Then the LORD said to Joshua, "Today I have removed the reproach of Egypt from you." Therefore the place is called Gilgal to the present day.

10 While the Israelites were encamped at Gilgal on the plains of Jericho, they celebrated the Passover on the evening of the fourteenth of the month.

11 On the day after the Passover they ate of the produce of the land in the form of unleavened cakes and parched grain. On that same day

12 after the Passover on which they ate of the produce of the land, the manna ceased. No longer was there manna for the Israelites, who that year ate of the yield of the land of Canaan.

13 While Joshua was near Jericho, he raised his eyes and saw one who stood facing him, drawn sword in hand. Joshua went up to him and asked, "Are you one of us or of our enemies?"

14 He replied, "Neither. I am the captain of the host of the LORD and I have just arrived." Then Joshua fell prostrate to the ground in worship, and said to him, "What has my lord to say to his servant?"

15 The captain of the host of the LORD replied to Joshua, "Remove your sandals from your feet, for the place on which you are standing is holy." And Joshua obeyed

v 1. All the kings of the land were in total fear of Israel after the drying of Jordan.

v 2. This seemed like the ideal time to strike the enemy while they were in fear, but the Lord valued the spiritual condition of His people above conquest. That is why He had Moses circumcise his son before going to Egypt. That is why we need to be in the right relationship with god before attempting service. However, the enemy’s fear would keep them from attacking Israel during the time most of their soldiers were incapacitated. There were perhaps 20,000 of those who were under 20 when they left Egypt who could have been defenders. This was the second general circumcision. In Ex. 12:48, everyone, including strangers was to be circumcised before observing the Passover. In Num. 9:5 Israel observed the Passover at Mt Sinai. So the first time may have been before the celebrating of the Passover at Sinai. This would not necessarily conflict with Josh. 5:5 that all who came out of Egypt were circumcised. Some think it might have been during the last of the plagues upon Egypt. Others think it was the general circumcision of Abraham and his men in Gen. 17, but the language doesn’t fit the best, because the children of Israel were descendants of Abraham.

v 3-8. Joshua had all knives sharpened for the occasion, whether metal or flint. The Israelites had not neglected this in the wilderness because of their travel or lack of instruction. They were primarily out of fellowship with the Lord, and to do so would have been like going to church on Sunday and living in sin the rest of the week. The Lord wants the circumcision of hearts then, as today, Rom. 2:29.

 

v 9. Gilgal, rolling, was named for God’s play on words, the circular action of circumcision  which He compared to rolling, the rolling away of all the taunts of the Egyptians for these cattle raisers whom they detested, but were glad to have for slaves. They were also to be free from the reproach of the idols of Egypt. Some Egyptians may have taunted that the Lord had taken them to the wilderness to die.

v 10-12. Gilgal was on a hill only two miles from Jericho where there was plenty of shade and water. Three things the Lord wanted of His people as they entered.
a. Circumcision. He wanted a spiritual renewal. They crossed the river on the 10th and this was performed on the 11th, so the covenant would be renewed with them before Passover.
b. Passover. This was only their third Passover, first the night in Egypt, second at Sinai before  breaking camp to start their journey, and now here. Some could still remember that first night and the screams of the Egyptians over the loss of their firstborn before they departed. As God destroyed the Egyptians after the Red Sea crossing, now He signals that He will destroy the Canaanites after the Jordan crossing. The Passover was the 14th, only 3 days later, when all the men would be desperately sore, so it was only with the help of others and personal dedication that they were able to participate.
c. Eat grain of the land. The day after Passover began the Feast of Unleavened Bread, so they had old corn for that. Manna could not completely take the place of unleavened bread, so they were able to find enough old grain in the Canaanite barns to meet that obligation. God would still supply their needs, but it would be supplied in a different way. When we enter the life of Christians, we feed upon Christ the Bread of Life. It was the time of year that they could also find new crop barley to parch. The Passover had been on the 14th, the Feast of Unleavened Bread began on the 15th, and the Feast of First fruits was to be on the 16th, but they ate parched new grain on the 15th. Perhaps this was permissible because it was not of their own produce. It is just as likely that they first offered a wave sheaf of new grain a day early, on the 15th.
v 12. However that may be, the Lord stopped the manna on the 16th, and they were to live off the fruit of the land.

v 13. Joshua went out alone, possibly to view the fortifications of Jericho and consider the best military procedure. Jericho was the key to the rest of the land and had to be taken. It could not be by-passed and allowed to attack from the rear. No doubt he was meditating and praying about the futility of attacking it when he looked up and saw a stranger with a sword. He had been instructed to be courageous, so willing to duel on the spot, he bravely advanced and asked whose side he was on. That same question in our day depends on us. Are we on the Lord’s side. Joshua recognized this himself in v 14.

v 14. This was none other than the Lord Jesus Christ in pre-incarnate form,  and captain of the hosts of angels. The Lord had spoken to Joshua before, but never in person, but Joshua immediately recognized this and bowed in worship. He as much as said the words of little Samuel, “Speak Lord for thy servant heareth”, 1 Sam. 3:10.        For those who think the man was just an angel, be reminded that angels do not accept worship, Rev. 19:10.

v 15. Just as with Moses at the burning bush, Ex. 3:5 Joshua is told to remove his shoes because he was on holy ground in the Lord’s presence. In removing his shoes, Joshua acknowledged that the battle was the Lord’s and he was a mere servant.