Joshua 5

This chapter belongs to the opening section of the Book of Joshua. It describes how Israel, having crossed the Jordan River, prepares at Gilgal before beginning the conquest of Canaan. It continues the narrative of Joshua 4, in which Israel crosses the Jordan and sets up memorial stones at Gilgal.

Outline

• Verse 1 The kings of the Amorites west of the Jordan and the kings of the Canaanites by the sea hear that the LORD has dried up the waters of the Jordan. Their hearts melt, and there is no more spirit in them.
• Verses 2–9 Joshua makes sharp knives of flint and performs circumcision on the people at the hill of the foreskins. This is necessary because the men of war who had come out of Egypt had all died during forty years of wandering in the wilderness, and the children born along the way in the wilderness had not been circumcised. The LORD declares that He has rolled away "the reproach of Egypt," and so the place is called Gilgal.
• Verses 10–12 On the evening of the fourteenth day of the month, the people keep the Passover in the plains of Jericho. On the next day they eat of the produce of the land, unleavened cakes and parched corn, and on the day after, the manna ceases.
• Verses 13–15 Near Jericho, "the captain of the host of the LORD" appears with a drawn sword. Joshua falls on his face to the earth and worships, and he removes his shoe as commanded.

Key Verses

• Joshua 5:9 "This day have I rolled away the reproach of Egypt from off you" — This verse explains the origin of the name Gilgal and proclaims a new beginning.
• Joshua 5:12 "The manna ceased" — This verse marks the end of Israel's life in the wilderness.
• Joshua 5:15 "Loose thy shoe from off thy foot; for the place whereon thou standest is holy" — This verse reveals that the initiative in the conquest belongs to the LORD.

People and Places

• Joshua
• The captain of the host of the LORD: a figure who appears with a drawn sword near Jericho. The text does not disclose his identity.
• Jordan River, Egypt, Jericho
• Gilgal: the first place where Israel encamped after crossing the Jordan. The name sounds similar to the Hebrew word for "to roll."
• Hill of the foreskins: the name of the place where the circumcision was performed.

Points for Reflection

• Interpretations differ regarding the identity of the captain. In Reformed and evangelical circles, a widely held view sees him as a preincarnate appearance of Christ, noting that he receives Joshua's worship. Others interpret him as an angel.
• The command "loose thy shoe" echoes the words Moses heard at the burning bush (Exodus 3:5). For this reason, some read the scene as showing that Joshua is the leader who succeeds Moses.
• As for why circumcision was not practiced in the wilderness, the text states only that it was not done "by the way." Any further reasons are inferences drawn by interpreters.
• The New Testament develops circumcision in terms of circumcision of the heart (Romans 2:29) and the circumcision of Christ (Colossians 2:11).
• Traditions that practice infant baptism, such as the Presbyterian tradition, cite this as one of the grounds for linking circumcision with baptism.
• Baptists and others, who hold that baptism is to be administered to those who have professed faith, do not accept this connection without qualification (see infant baptism debate).

In the Korean Church

The verse "Loose thy shoe from off thy foot" is frequently used as a sermon text on devotion and obedience. The scene of the manna ceasing is often cited in sermons about entering a new stage of faith.