Why did God command Joshua to circumcise Israel again at Gilgal?

God told Joshua to circumcise the people because the men who left Egypt had all died in the wilderness, and the sons born during those forty years had never been circumcised. Yet circumcision was the sign that they belonged to God’s covenant people. Before they could take the land God had promised to their fathers, they needed to be marked as His people again. This act showed that the new generation was stepping into the promises their parents had missed through disobedience, and that they were willing to obey God even when it left them weak for a time.

What does it mean that God rolled away the reproach of Egypt at Gilgal?

When God said He had rolled away the reproach of Egypt, He marked an end to Israel’s old shame. That shame included their time as slaves, doubts that God would truly bring them into the promised land, and their uncircumcised state that made them seem no different from the nations. By bringing them into Canaan, renewing circumcision, and restoring covenant signs, God showed that they were no longer under that old disgrace. The name Gilgal, linked to “rolling,” became a reminder that God had removed their past shame and given them a new start as His people in the land.

Why had the Israelites stopped circumcising during the forty years in the wilderness?

The passage explains that those born in the wilderness had not been circumcised. Faithful readers have seen this in more than one way. Some point to the constant moving and dangers of travel, since newly circumcised men could not easily march or fight. Others see it as a sign of God’s displeasure with that generation’s unbelief, so the covenant sign was withheld for a time. In any case, the long delay showed a serious neglect. Restarting circumcision in Canaan marked a clear break with that past disobedience and a return to full covenant life with God.

Why did the manna stop when Israel began to eat the grain of the land?

Manna was God’s special food for Israel during their years in the wilderness, when they had no fields or steady supply. Once they crossed the Jordan, kept Passover, and began to eat from the old grain stored in Canaan, God stopped the manna. This showed that the wandering stage was over. They were now living in the land He had promised, able to sow, reap, and live off its produce. It was not a sign that God left them, but that His care now came through ordinary harvests instead of daily miracles, fitting their new settled life in the land.

Why did Israel keep the Passover in the plains of Jericho?

Israel kept the Passover at Gilgal in the plains of Jericho right after the men were healed from circumcision. Passover remembered how God brought them out of Egypt, and it marked them as His rescued people. Celebrating it at the edge of the promised land tied their past rescue to this new stage of entering and settling in the land. It also showed that they were again walking in the covenant pattern God had given: first the sign of belonging to Him, then the meal that remembers His saving work, all before facing the battles that lay ahead.

Who is the man with the drawn sword who calls himself the captain of the Lord’s host?

Joshua meets a man standing with a drawn sword who calls himself the captain of the Lord’s host. Joshua falls on his face, worships, and is told to take off his shoes because the place is holy, much like Moses at the burning bush. This shows that Joshua is in the presence of God’s holy messenger, who leads the armies of heaven. Many understand this figure as a special appearance of the Lord Himself, since he receives worship and speaks with divine authority. He comes to show Joshua that the coming battles truly belong to God.

What does this passage teach about obedience before facing spiritual battles?

The passage shows that before Israel fought any battles in Canaan, God first dealt with their hearts and their identity. They submitted to circumcision even though it made them weak for days within sight of their enemies. They then kept Passover and waited. Only after this did Joshua meet the captain of the Lord’s host. This order teaches that walking in God’s commands comes before seeking victory. God wanted a people marked as His, trusting Him, and worshiping Him, not just warriors. For believers today, it points to dealing with sin and renewing faith before rushing into any struggle.

How does the fear of the Amorite and Canaanite kings fit into this story?

At the start, we read that the kings of the Amorites and Canaanites heard how God dried up the Jordan, and their hearts melted. They lost the courage to fight. This shows that God was already working for Israel by shaking the enemies’ confidence before any swords were drawn. It also explains how Israel could safely undergo mass circumcision near hostile cities. While Israel lay sore and still in camp, God kept their enemies in terror. It reminds us that God can work on the hearts of others in ways we cannot see, making a path for His people.

Josh.5.1

Joshua 5:1

KJV

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.

The Circumcision and Passover at Gilgal

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.

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.

The Commander of the LORD’s Army

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.

Cross References

No cross references available for this verse.