World English Bible
- When all the kings of the Amorites, who were beyond the Jordan westward, and all the kings of the Canaanites, who were by the sea, heard how the LORD had dried up the waters of the Jordan from before the children of Israel until we had crossed over, their heart melted, and there was no more spirit in them, because of the children of Israel.
- At that time, the LORD said to Joshua, “Make flint knives, and circumcise again the sons of Israel the second time.”
- Joshua made himself flint knives, and circumcised the sons of Israel at the hill of the foreskins.
- This is the reason Joshua circumcised them: all the people who came out of Egypt, who were males, even all the men of war, died in the wilderness along the way, after they came out of Egypt.
- For all the people who came out were circumcised; but all the people who were born in the wilderness along the way as they came out of Egypt had not been circumcised.
- For the children of Israel walked forty years in the wilderness until all the nation, even the men of war who came out of Egypt, were consumed, because they didn’t listen to the LORD’s voice. The LORD swore to them that he wouldn’t let them see the land which the LORD swore to their fathers that he would give us, a land flowing with milk and honey.
- Their children, whom he raised up in their place, were circumcised by Joshua, for they were uncircumcised, because they had not circumcised them on the way.
- When they were done circumcising the whole nation, they stayed in their places in the camp until they were healed.
- The LORD said to Joshua, “Today I have rolled away the reproach of Egypt from you.” Therefore the name of that place was called Gilgal to this day.
- The children of Israel encamped in Gilgal. They kept the Passover on the fourteenth day of the month at evening in the plains of Jericho.
- They ate unleavened cakes and parched grain of the produce of the land on the next day after the Passover, in the same day.
- The manna ceased on the next day, after they had eaten of the produce of the land. The children of Israel didn’t have manna any more, but they ate of the fruit of the land of Canaan that year.
- When Joshua was by Jericho, he lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, a man stood in front of him with his sword drawn in his hand. Joshua went to him and said to him, “Are you for us, or for our enemies?”
- He said, “No; but I have come now as commander of the LORD’s army.” Joshua fell on his face to the earth, and worshiped, and asked him, “What does my lord say to his servant?”
- The prince of the LORD’s army said to Joshua, “Take off your sandals, for the place on which you stand is holy.” Joshua did so.
“Then the Lord said to Joshua, ‘Today I have rolled away the
reproach of Egypt from you.’ So the place has been called Gilgal to this
day.”
(Joshua 5:9, New International Version)
Before a military conquest, we might expect soldiers sharpening swords, checking armor, and inspecting battle plans. Joshua chapter five, however, presents the Israelites doing something deeply significant and strikingly unusual: circumcision. To us in the modern West, this event may seem random or uncomfortable, but for Israel, it held profound spiritual significance. They were preparing themselves spiritually rather than militarily. Circumcision symbolized their covenant relationship with God, setting them apart physically and spiritually from neighboring pagan nations.
This generation—born in the wilderness—had not yet ritualistically entered into the covenant of their forefathers. They carried the promise given to Abraham in flesh and blood (Genesis 17:10-14), reconnecting to their identity as God’s chosen people.
The name “Gilgal,” derived from the Hebrew verb “galal” (meaning “to roll away”), is meaningful here. At Gilgal, God declared He had “rolled away the reproach of Egypt.” What exactly does this mean? The reproach likely refers to Israel’s history of slavery and humiliation. Spiritually, they were entering into a fresh chapter of freedom, identity, and destiny.
Cross-reference suggestions:
- Genesis 17:9-14 (Institution of Circumcision)
- Colossians 2:11-12 (Circumcision of the Heart)
“… they celebrated the Passover. The day after the Passover, that
very day, they ate some of the produce of the land: unleavened bread and
roasted grain. The manna stopped the day after…”
(Joshua 5:10-12, New International Version)
It is significant that Israel celebrated Passover immediately after entering the promised land, deepening the connection to their deliverance from Egypt. Passover commemorated redemption from slavery—a redemption that now found fulfillment in their freedom within the land God promised.
Consider carefully the transition depicted here: the miraculous provision of manna ceased once Israel could eat food from the promised land. God often changes the form of His provision as we mature spiritually. He is faithful in the wilderness of our lives, but once we enter into a new stage of spiritual maturity and responsibility, His provision may change its form. God calls us to deeper trust and increased responsibility.
Historically, great Christian thinkers, such as Augustine and Calvin, saw in this an image of the Christian’s journey from spiritual infancy (reliance on manna-like miraculous provisions) to mature faith, trusting God amid ordinary daily responsibilities.
Cross-reference suggestions:
- Exodus 12:24-27 (The ordinance of Passover)
- John 6:48-51 (Jesus as the Bread from Heaven)
“Then Joshua fell facedown… and asked him, ‘What message does my
Lord have for his servant?’ … ‘Take off your sandals, for the place
where you are standing is holy.’ And Joshua did so.”
(Joshua 5:14-15, New International Version)
Consider the vivid drama of this event: Joshua encounters an enigmatic divine figure who identifies himself as “commander of the army of the LORD.” Joshua asks a natural human question: “Are you with us or our enemies?” The response, “Neither,” jars us. God is not here to take sides; He calls people to His side. As modern readers, this truth confronts our instincts: Do we try to co-opt God into our agendas or humbly yield to His divine purpose?
Who exactly was this mysterious figure? Early Christian theologians, many Reformers, and modern Evangelicals have often identified this figure as a theophany—an Old Testament appearance of Christ Himself before His incarnation—a moment echoing God’s encounter with Moses (Exodus 3:5): holy ground, removing sandals, and reverent awe.
Symbolically, this sets the spiritual tone for the upcoming battles: God Himself, not Joshua, would ultimately lead the people to victory. Likewise, our battles today belong to God.
Cross-reference suggestions:
- Exodus 3:4-5 (Moses at the burning bush)
- Romans 8:31 (If God is for us, who can be against us?)
Modern archaeological research shows Gilgal to be significant historically and culturally—it became Israel’s spiritual and military base during Joshua’s conquest. To enter the promised land with spiritual acts like circumcision and Passover rather than military readiness underscores the Bible’s emphasis on obedience, humility, and covenant fidelity to God, above human strategy and strength.
This passage emphasizes profound biblical themes:
Gilgal (גִּלְגָּל) – from the Hebrew root “galal,” meaning “to roll” or remove. It underscores complete renewal of identity in God’s redemptive action.
“Be Thou My Vision” (traditional Irish hymn; author unknown)
This hymn beautifully articulates a heart longing for full dependence on
divine guidance, fitting the theme of surrender and covenant commitment
found here in Joshua 5.
Heavenly Father,
Renew today our hearts and minds. Help us continually commit ourselves
afresh to Your covenant love. May we come before You in humility,
leaving behind the burdens of past failure and shame, so that we might
enter fully into the freedom and provision You have prepared. Teach us
to trust Your ways, and may we clearly discern Your presence as we
navigate through life’s battles. Lead, guide, and transform us fully
into the image of Your Son, Jesus Christ. Amen.