History · Chapter 5 of 24

Joshua 5

With the Canaanite kings' hearts melting, the LORD has Joshua circumcise the new generation born in the wilderness, rolling away the reproach of Egypt at Gilgal. Israel keeps the Passover in the plains of Jericho and eats the land's produce, and the manna ceases. Near Jericho Joshua meets a man with a drawn sword, the captain of the LORD's host, and is told to remove his shoes, for the ground is holy.

What happens in Joshua 5

When the Amorite and Canaanite kings hear that the LORD dried the Jordan, their courage fails entirely. The LORD then commands Joshua to circumcise the men of Israel, because the generation born in the wilderness had never been circumcised, while the exodus generation had died there for disobedience. Joshua makes flint knives and circumcises them. The LORD says He has rolled away the reproach of Egypt, so the place is named Gilgal.

Israel keeps the Passover in the plains of Jericho and eats the land's old grain. The manna then ceases, and they eat the fruit of Canaan that year. Near Jericho Joshua sees a man with a drawn sword and asks whose side he is on. The man answers that he is captain of the host of the LORD. Joshua falls on his face to worship and is told to remove his sandals, for the place is holy.

Joshua 5 in context

Joshua 5 prepares Israel spiritually before any battle is fought. Circumcision renews the covenant sign neglected in the wilderness; Passover reconnects the new generation to the exodus; the ceasing of manna marks the end of wilderness dependence and the start of life in the land.

The closing encounter echoes Moses at the burning bush, framing the conquest as the LORD's war, not merely Israel's.

Main themes of Joshua 5

Joshua 5 (KJV)

1And 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. 2At that time the LORD said unto Joshua, Make thee sharp knives, and circumcise again the children of Israel the second time. 3And Joshua made him sharp knives, and circumcised the children of Israel at the hill of the foreskins. 4And 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. 5Now 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. 6For 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. 7And 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. 8And 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. 9And 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. 10And 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. 11And 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. 12And 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. 13And 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? 14And 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? 15And 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.

Verses to carry from Joshua 5

“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.”Joshua 5:9

“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.”Joshua 5:12

“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?”Joshua 5:14

Reflection

Before a single wall fell, God stopped the army for surgery, a feast, and worship. Israel's readiness for battle was measured first by its nearness to God. When facing a hard road, do you rush to strategy, or first let God make you His before He makes you strong?

A prayer from Joshua 5