The Book of Joshua
Joshua 5
Chapter V · Vol. I, pp. 544–546
1 The Canaanites are afraid. 2 Joshua reneweth circumcision. 10 The passover is kept at Gilgal. 12 Manna ceaseth. 13 An angel appeareth to Joshua.
1 And it came to pass, when aall 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, bheard 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.
a ch.12.9-24. Ge.15.18-21; 10.15-19. Nu.13.29. Ex.3.8; 23.23,28; 34.11. De.7.1; 9.1-3.
b Ex.15.14,15; 34.24; 23.27. ch.2.9,11. Ps 48.4-6,8. Re.18.10.
2 At that time the LORD said unto Joshua, Make thee csharp knives, and dcircumcise again the children of Israel the second time.1
c Knives of flint, Ex.4.25.
d Ge.17 7-14. Ro.4.11; 2.29. De.10.16; 30.6. Col.2.11.
1 The meaning is not 'Circumcise these people a second time;' but 'Circumcise the people again as the people used to be circumcised in former times.' The rite had been long neglected, and this is the order for its renewal.—P.
3 And Joshua made him sharp knives, and circumcised the children of Israel at the hill of the foreskins.2
2 Or, Gibeah-haaraloth.
4 And this is the cause why Joshua did circumcise: All the people that came out of Egypt, that were males, even call the men of war, died in the wilderness by the way, after they came out of Egypt.
A.M. 2553. B.C. 1451.
c Nu.14.23,29,38; 26.64,65. De.2.14,15. 1 Co.10.5. He.3.17-19. Ps.90.3,5,6; 95.8-11.
5 Now all the people that came out were circumcised; but fall the people that were born in the wilderness by the way as they came forth out of Egypt, them they ghad not circumcised.
6 For the children of Israel walked hforty 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 ihe would not show them the land which the LORD ksware unto their fathers that he would give us, a land that floweth with milk and honey.
7 And their children, whom lhe 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,3 that they abode in their places in the camp till they were whole.
3 Heb. When the people had made an end to be circumcised.
9 And the LORD said unto Joshua, This day have I rolled away the mreproach of Egypt from off you: wherefore the name of the place is called nGilgal unto this day.4
m Ge.34.14. 1 Sa.17.26. Ep.2.11,12. ch.24.14. Eze.20.7; 23.3,8. Je.9.25.
n That is, rolling, ch.4.19; 9.6; 10.6. 1 Sa.7.16; 10.8; 11.14. Ho.4.15; 9.15; 12.11. Am.4.4.
4 It would appear that Gilgal was the name of the place before the exodus, for Moses describes the Canaanites as dwelling over against Gilgal, De. 11. 30. The meaning in this passage does not appear to be that a new name was given to the place, but rather that a new meaning and significancy were attached to the old name. The word Gilgal means 'a circle,' and also 'a rolling away.' A similar play upon the meaning of a word occurs in the case of Gilead; and Bethel is an example of an old name having attached to it a new significancy. This explanation—simple, natural, and in full accordance with the genius of oriental languages—removes at once the objections which have been brought against the passage.—P.
10 And the children of Israel encamped in Gilgal, and okept 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, punleavened cakes and parched corn in the selfsame day.
p Le.23.6-14. Ex.12.18-20; 13.6,7.
12 And the manna qceased on the morrow after they had eaten of the old corn of the land; neither had the children of Israel manna any more; rbut they did eat of the fruit of the land of Canaan that year.5
q Ex.16.35. Ne.9.20,21. Re.21.22,23; 7.16,17.
r Pr.13.22. Jn.4.38. De.6.10,11. Ne.9.25.
5 The plain of Jericho is fertile and of vast extent. In it the people, numerous as they were, would find large supplies of grain; but, in addition to these, they doubtless procured some from the granaries of Gilead and Bashan, which they had conquered.—P.
13 And it came to pass, when Joshua was by Jericho, that he slifted up his eyes and looked, and, behold, there stood ta 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 ucaptain of the host of the LORD am I now come. And Joshua xfell on his face to the earth, and did worship, and said unto him, yWhat saith my LORD unto his servant?
A.M. 2553. B.C. 1451.
u Or, prince, Ex.23.20,22. Da.10.13,21; 12.1. Is.55.4. Re.12.7; 19.11,14.
x Ge.17.3,17. Le.9.24. Nu.16.22. 1 Ch.21.10.
15 And the captain of the LORD's host said unto Joshua, zLoose thy shoe from off thy 6foot; for the place whereon thou standest is holy. And Joshua did so.
z Ex.3.5. Ac.7.33. 1 Co.2.14. 1 Pe.2.1. 2 Pe.1.18. Ps.89.7,8; 93.5; 26.6.
6 The command to 'put off the shoes,' when compared with Ex.3.5. Jos.6.2, clearly proves that this was JEHOVAH in human form; and the drawn sword was the emblem of the sharp and prepared judgment he was ready to execute. Joshua did not know him, till he revealed his office: but the instant he discovered it, he 'fell down and worshipped.' As he is here called 'Captain of the Lord's host,' so Jesus is called the Captain of our salvation, He. 2. 10, by which we are reminded that we are still in a state of warfare, and that only under his leading are we certain of victory.—C.
Notes
[Ver. 2. Sharp knives. Knives of flint, as in the marginal translation. The use of flint for knives, arrows, spear-heads, chisels, and hatchets has been common in many nations. Specimens of some, or all of them, are occasionally found in almost every country of Europe, as well as of Asia. The Egyptians, according to Herodotus (b. ii.), used them in opening bodies for embalming, and some of the judaizing Abyssinian Christians use them still in the rite of circumcision (Ludolph, Hist. of Ethiopia, b. iii. c. 1).—Circumcise again. Not in allusion to any general act of circumcision at, or soon after, the exodus; but as the first time, at eight days old, Ge. 17. 12, had been neglected, God now allows and commands a second opportunity of sealing and ratifying the national covenant; just as the people were allowed to celebrate the passover in the days of Hezekiah, contrary to the letter of the law, in the second instead of the first month, 2 Ch. 30. 2; 3. 15. C.]
Ver. 9. [Reproach of Egypt. The reproach of Egypt seems to mean the reproach of having been slaves and without a country. Now, by the sign of the covenant they become God's freedmen, and have taken possession of the land which he sware to give their fathers.—Note, There is no real reproach but the slavery of sin; but 'if the Son make us free,' by circumcising our hearts, and admitting us into his covenant of promise, Jn. 5. 36; Ep. 2. 12, 19, then is our reproach rolled away, and then 'are we free indeed.' C.]
Ver. 11. [Parched corn. That is, the ears of the growing crop, a common and favourite food in eastern countries till this day. The old and the new are mentioned together to indicate the abundance of the former and present harvest.—Note, 'Every scribe instructed unto the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is a householder, who bringeth forth out of his treasure things new and old,' Mat. 13. 52. And so the Lord equally satisfies his people with the old doctrines, and new discoveries of truth, with old faith and new experience. C.]
Reflections.—Sad is the case of those against whom the Lord is come up as an enemy. How can their hearts be courageous or their hands be strong? Even his secret terrors can bring them into the agonies of death. The sins of parents often, in a fearful manner, bereave their children of the seals of God's covenant, or their happy virtue: but his mercy can remove the reproach and plague in his time. And by circumcision of their hearts, by feasting them on the flesh and blood of his Son, by giving them foretastes of the heavenly joys, and manifestations of himself as their leader and protector, he must prepare his people for their spiritual warfare. Such then as would courageously fight his battles should first solemnly devote themselves to him, and act faith upon him, in the use of his sacraments. But let us use the gospel manna while we have it; the time is at hand when it shall be no more offered: and let us never expect extraordinary supplies when ordinary can be had. But if Jesus appear for our direction or encouragement in doubtful or perilous circumstances, let us entertain his visits with the utmost reverence, purity, and the readiest obedience.