Joshua 5
Overview
Joshua 5 recounts significant events where the Israelites renew their covenant with God through rituals at Gilgal, emphasizing a new beginning in the Promised Land. This chapter highlights themes of obedience, renewal, and the continuity of God’s promises. Key aspects include:
Reverence of the Nations: The chapter begins with the news that the Amorite and Canaanite kings are disheartened because of the Israelites, having heard how the LORD dried up the Jordan before them.
Circumcision at Gilgal: God instructs Joshua to circumcise the Israelite males born in the wilderness, as those who had come out of Egypt had been circumcised, but those born during the journey had not. This re-establishes the covenant sign given to Abraham.
The End of Manna: After the circumcision, the Israelites celebrate Passover on the plains of Jericho. The day after Passover, they eat some of the produce of the land, and the manna ceases. From then on, the Israelites eat from the crops of Canaan.
The Commander of the LORD’s Army: Near Jericho, Joshua encounters a man with a drawn sword, who identifies himself as the commander of the LORD’s army. Joshua falls face down in reverence and asks what message the LORD has for him.
Instructions for Jericho: The commander instructs Joshua to remove his sandals, for the place where he is standing is holy. This mirrors Moses’ encounter with the burning bush, signifying a holy and significant moment in their journey.
Joshua 5 is a pivotal chapter that underscores the Israelites' renewal of their commitment to God through the re-establishment of covenant rituals. Circumcision and the celebration of Passover symbolize a new chapter in their history, now that they have entered the Promised Land. The chapter sets the stage for the upcoming conquest of Jericho, indicating that their success in the land depends on their faithfulness and obedience to God’s commands.
Reverence of the Nations: The chapter begins with the news that the Amorite and Canaanite kings are disheartened because of the Israelites, having heard how the LORD dried up the Jordan before them.
Circumcision at Gilgal: God instructs Joshua to circumcise the Israelite males born in the wilderness, as those who had come out of Egypt had been circumcised, but those born during the journey had not. This re-establishes the covenant sign given to Abraham.
The End of Manna: After the circumcision, the Israelites celebrate Passover on the plains of Jericho. The day after Passover, they eat some of the produce of the land, and the manna ceases. From then on, the Israelites eat from the crops of Canaan.
The Commander of the LORD’s Army: Near Jericho, Joshua encounters a man with a drawn sword, who identifies himself as the commander of the LORD’s army. Joshua falls face down in reverence and asks what message the LORD has for him.
Instructions for Jericho: The commander instructs Joshua to remove his sandals, for the place where he is standing is holy. This mirrors Moses’ encounter with the burning bush, signifying a holy and significant moment in their journey.
Joshua 5 is a pivotal chapter that underscores the Israelites' renewal of their commitment to God through the re-establishment of covenant rituals. Circumcision and the celebration of Passover symbolize a new chapter in their history, now that they have entered the Promised Land. The chapter sets the stage for the upcoming conquest of Jericho, indicating that their success in the land depends on their faithfulness and obedience to God’s commands.
Joshua 5
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.
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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.
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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.
End of Joshua 5
1 Year Plan: Mar 31 - Josh 3, Josh 4, Josh 5, Luk 20
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.
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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.
🔑 Devotional
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.
End of Joshua 5
1 Year Plan: Mar 31 - Josh 3, Josh 4, Josh 5, Luk 20
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