Joshua 5

This chapter marks a significant transition for the Israelites as they prepare to enter the Promised Land. It covers the renewal of circumcision, the observance of the Passover, and a unique encounter Joshua has with a divine figure. These events emphasize God's covenant and His leadership as the Israelites prepare for conquest.

Joshua 5:1 (NKJV):
1 So it was, when all the kings of the Amorites who were on the west side of the Jordan, and all the kings of the Canaanites who were by the sea, heard that the Lord had dried up the waters of the Jordan from before the children of Israel until we had crossed over, that their heart melted; and there was no spirit in them any longer because of the children of Israel.

The miraculous crossing of the Jordan struck fear into the hearts of the local kings and peoples. God’s intervention caused the Amorites and Canaanites to lose their confidence, knowing they were up against a powerful God. This set the stage for Israel’s conquest of the land, as fear weakened the morale of Israel’s enemies.

Joshua 5:2-3 (NKJV):
2 At that time the Lord said to Joshua, “Make flint knives for yourself, and circumcise the sons of Israel again the second time.”
3 So Joshua made flint knives for himself, and circumcised the sons of Israel at the hill of the foreskins.

Joshua is commanded to circumcise the new generation of Israelites. This act of circumcision was a renewal of the covenant God made with Abraham. The previous generation that had left Egypt had died in the wilderness, and their descendants, born during the journey, had not been circumcised. This was essential before they could enter the Promised Land as part of the covenant relationship with God.

Joshua 5:4-5 (NKJV):
4 And this is the reason why Joshua circumcised them: All the people who came out of Egypt who were males, all the men of war, had died in the wilderness on the way, after they had come out of Egypt.
5 For all the people who came out had been circumcised, but all the people born in the wilderness on the way as they came out of Egypt had not been circumcised.

The explanation here clarifies the need for circumcision. The men who had been circumcised in Egypt had died during the wilderness journey because of their disobedience. The new generation, raised in the wilderness, had not yet undergone circumcision, which was vital for their identity as God’s chosen people.

Joshua 5:6-7 (NKJV):
6 For the children of Israel walked forty years in the wilderness, till all the people who were men of war, who came out of Egypt, were consumed, because they did not obey the voice of the Lord—to whom the Lord swore that He would not show them the land which the Lord had sworn to their fathers that He would give us, “a land flowing with milk and honey.”
7 Then Joshua circumcised their sons whom He raised up in their place; for they were uncircumcised, because they had not been circumcised on the way.

This verse reflects the consequences of disobedience. The previous generation’s refusal to trust God resulted in their exclusion from the Promised Land. Their children, raised in the wilderness, were the ones to receive the covenant promises. Circumcision signified their commitment to God as they prepared to enter the land He had promised.

Joshua 5:8 (NKJV):
8 So it was, when they had finished circumcising all the people, that they stayed in their places in the camp till they were healed.

After the circumcision, the people needed time to heal before moving forward. This was a physical and spiritual renewal, allowing the Israelites to recover and prepare themselves for the battles ahead. The healing period also served as a reminder of God’s grace and provision.

Joshua 5:9 (NKJV):
9 Then the Lord said to Joshua, ‘This day I have rolled away the reproach of Egypt from you.’ Therefore the name of the place is called Gilgal to this day.

God declares that the shame of their past, including the bondage in Egypt and the wilderness wandering, has been removed. The place is named Gilgal, meaning "rolling," signifying the end of their disgrace and the start of a new chapter in their covenant relationship with God.

Joshua 5:10-12 (NKJV)
10 Now the children of Israel camped in Gilgal, and kept the Passover on the fourteenth day of the month at twilight on the plains of Jericho.
11 And they ate of the produce of the land on the day after the Passover, unleavened bread and parched grain, on the very same day.
12 Then the manna ceased on the day after they had eaten the produce of the land; and the children of Israel no longer had manna, but they ate the food of the land of Canaan that year.

After crossing into the Promised Land, the Israelites celebrate the Passover, marking their redemption from Egypt. For the first time, they eat from the land God promised, and the miraculous provision of manna, which sustained them in the wilderness, ends. This signifies a new stage in their journey, where they will live off the abundance of the land.

Joshua 5:13 (NKJV)
13 And it came to pass, when Joshua was by Jericho, that he lifted his eyes and looked, and behold, a Man stood 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 adversaries?”

As Joshua approaches Jericho, he encounters a mysterious figure with a drawn sword. Joshua's question reflects his uncertainty—he wants to know whether this figure is an ally or enemy. This encounter marks a pivotal moment as Joshua prepares for battle and leadership in this new phase.

Joshua 5:14-15 (NKJV):
14 So 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 say to His servant?’
15 Then the Commander of the Lord’s army said to Joshua, ‘Take your sandal off your foot, for the place where you stand is holy.’ And Joshua did so.

The figure reveals Himself as the Commander of the Lord’s army, which is clearly a theophany of Christ, as Joshua worshiped Him and the divine figure accepted the worship, unlike the angel in Revelation 19:10. The command to remove his sandals echoes Moses’ encounter with God at the burning bush, signifying that Joshua is in the presence of God and that this battle belongs to the Lord.