New International Reader s Version - NIrV - 1996
Joshua 5
1
All of the Amorite and Canaanite kings heard how the Lord had dried up the Jordan River. They heard how he had dried it up for the people of Israel until they had gone across it. The Amorite kings lived west of the Jordan. The kings of Canaan lived along the Mediterranean Sea. When all of those kings heard what the Lord had done, their hearts melted away in fear. They weren't brave enough to face the people of Israel anymore.
Reference
2
At that time the Lord spoke to Joshua. He said, "Make knives out of hard stone. Circumcise the men of Israel."
Reference
3
So Joshua made knives out of hard stone. Then he circumcised the men of Israel at Gibeath Haaraloth.
📍 Gibeath-haaraloth
4
Here is why Joshua circumcised them. All of the men who came out of Egypt had died. They died while they were going through the Sinai Desert after they had left Egypt. They were the men who were old enough to serve in the army.
Reference
5
All of the men who came out had been circumcised. But all of the men who were born in the desert during the journey from Egypt hadn't been circumcised.
6
The people of Israel had moved around in the desert for 40 years. By the end of that time all of the men who were old enough to serve in the army when they left Egypt had died. That's because they hadn't obeyed the Lord. The Lord had taken an oath. He had told them they wouldn't see the land. It's the land he had promised with an oath to their people to give us. It's a land that has plenty of milk and honey.
Reference
Parallel theme
Numbers 14:23
Hebrews 3:11
Deuteronomy 8:4
Ezekiel 20:15
References Egypt
Exodus 3:8
References Lord
Deuteronomy 2:14
Deuteronomy 2:7
Deuteronomy 1:3
Jeremiah 2:2
7
Because they hadn't obeyed him, he raised up their sons to take their place. They were the ones Joshua circumcised. They hadn't been circumcised yet. That's because no one had circumcised them during the journey.
Reference
8
So Joshua circumcised all of those men. The whole nation remained in the camp until the men were healed.
Reference
Parallel theme
Genesis 34:25
9
Then the Lord spoke to Joshua. He said, "Today I have taken away from you the shame of being laughed at by Egypt." That's why the place where the men were circumcised has been called Gilgal to this very day.
Reference
10
The people of Israel celebrated the Passover Feast. They observed it on the evening of the 14th day of the month. They did it while they were camped at Gilgal on the flatlands around Jericho.
Reference
References Israel
Exodus 12:6
11
The day after the Passover, they ate some of the food that was grown in the land. On that very day they ate grain that had been cooked. They also ate bread that was made without yeast.
Reference
Parallel theme
Leviticus 23:14
12
The manna stopped coming down the day after they ate the food that was grown in the land. The people of Israel didn't have manna anymore. Instead, that year they ate food that was grown in Canaan.
Reference
13
When Joshua was near Jericho, he looked up and saw a man standing in front of him. The man was holding a sword. He was ready for battle. Joshua went up to him. He asked, "Are you on our side? Or are you on the side of our enemies?"
Reference
14
"I am not on either side," he replied. "I have come as the commander of the Lord's army." Then Joshua fell with his face to the ground. He asked the man, "What message does my Lord have for me?"
Reference
Parallel theme
Isaiah 55:4
Genesis 17:3
Daniel 12:1
Daniel 10:13
Revelation 12:7
References Lord
Luke 20:42
Isaiah 6:8
Matthew 22:44
John 20:28
Worship
Matthew 8:2
15
The commander of the Lord's army replied, "Take off your sandals. The place you are standing on is holy ground." So Joshua took them off.
Reference
Holy
Exodus 3:5
Summary of Joshua 5
Joshua 5 sees Israel starting to settle down, having crossed the Jordan and prepared to enter Israel's conquest of Canaan. It covers the circumcision of the new generation, the Passover in the land, the cessation of the manna, and Joshua's vision of the captain of the Lord's host near Jericho. These events ready Israel for the battles ahead.
Word of Israel's crossing the Jordan spread quickly amongst the kings of the Amorites west of the Jordan and the kings of the Canaanites by the Mediterranean. They had heard the Lord stop the Jordan so that Israel might cross on dry ground, and when they heard Israel's actions they had lost heart. For the Lord had made the Israelites' enemies fear them, and they had realized that the God of Israel had given Israel the land.
But Israel was not given to attack Jericho immediately. Instead, God told Joshua to lead Israel into circumcising the men. They had not been circumcised like their fathers had been.
Joshua made knives and circumcised Israel's men at Gibeath-haaraloth. The men did not leave the camp until they had recovered. The Lord told Joshua that the reproach of Egypt had been taken away from Israel, and the place was called Gilgal. It would be Israel's base as the campaign began.
Israel had crossed the Jordan, and the Canaanites were afraid. The military sense of the moment seems to have been with Joshua rather than God. Israel had crossed the Jordan, and the Canaanites were afraid. Israel had crossed the Jordan, and the Canaanites were afraid. Joshua 5 picks up the reason for that fear. The Israelites who had left Egypt had been circumcised, but the whole generation had died apart from Joshua. The new generation, which God would bring into Canaan, had not been circumcised. The Israelites had walked the wilderness until the rebellious generation had died, and Joshua circumcised the new generation. They were now ready to inherit what the Lord had promised their fathers.
Israel's men recovered, and Israel kept the Passover on the fourteenth day of the first month while at camp at Gilgal. This was the first Passover the Israelites had celebrated in the land, and the food connected their new life with the great deliverance of Egypt.
It was not enough to keep a holiday once a year. The Passover was a reminder of their deliverance, and it was not only a reminder, but a renewal of Israel's status as God's people. By celebrating it in Canaan, Israel renewed its promise to God, and showed that God was fulfilling His promises to Israel.
The following day, Israel ate food from the land, unleavened cakes and parched corn. Something Israel had relied on until now was disappearing.
The manna stopped the day after Israel had eaten the food from the land. Until then, the Lord had given Israel a food to eat every day, but now Israel had entered Canaan and the manna had ceased. Israel's dependence on the daily provision of the Lord was over, and they would now eat the food God had given the land.
Israel had crossed the Jordan, fought the Amorites, and conquered Jericho in order to receive the land which the Lord had promised. But now Joshua 5 draws near to Jericho again, and there is a different battle to be fought. The men of Israel must be circumcised, so that they inherit what the Lord has promised. Israel keeps a Passover in the land, and eats the food of the land, no longer dependent on the manna. All of these are preparations for the battle to come.
The last verses of Joshua 5 see Joshua looking up, and seeing a man with a drawn sword. Joshua approached the man and asked if he was for Israel or for their enemies.
The stranger replied 'Nay; but as captain of the host of the Lord am I now come.' Joshua fell on his face before him and worshipped, and asked the man what his lord's message was to him.
The man told Joshua to take off his shoes, for the place was holy ground. Joshua obeyed.
This vision of the captain of the host of the Lord comes as Israel stands to fight Jericho, and it has importance. Joshua had been chosen to lead Israel, but the captain of the Lord's host was reminding Joshua that the battles were not Joshua's, but the Lord's. Israel was not merely being told that the Lord existed for their benefit. They were being told to follow the Lord's instructions, not to use Him as a tool for their victories.
The captain of the Lord's host did not deny that he fought for Israel. But Joshua had asked if he was for Israel or their enemies, and the captain did not say yes he was for Israel. He said that he had not come to fight for Israel, but as the captain of the Lord's host. The message was one of Israel's dependence on the Lord.
Joshua also echoes Moses, who had been told to take off his shoes when he saw the burning bush. The Lord was calling Joshua to be His servant, and Joshua was being shown that the Lord was in this place.
Joshua 5 therefore sees Israel preparing to fight the battles to come. The old wilderness generation has died, and the new generation have been circumcised and made ready to inherit the land. Israel keeps a Passover while in camp at Gilgal, and the manna stops as Israel eats the food of the land. Meanwhile, Joshua is reminded that the Lord is Israel's real leader.
Joshua 5 is the chapter of preparations, Israel settling down to do battle. They have crossed the Jordan and entered Canaan, but the people must take possession of the land. Before the battle of Jericho begins, God shows Joshua that the battles are not Joshua's, but the Lord's. The Lord has brought Israel through the wilderness, and the provision has stopped as Israel enters Canaan, but the Lord is still with Joshua.
Joshua 5 is not the battle of Jericho, but the preparation for the battle. Israel has entered Canaan, and the nation must first remember who they are and who their leader is.
The next chapter will begin the famous story of the battle of Jericho.
Word of Israel's crossing the Jordan spread quickly amongst the kings of the Amorites west of the Jordan and the kings of the Canaanites by the Mediterranean. They had heard the Lord stop the Jordan so that Israel might cross on dry ground, and when they heard Israel's actions they had lost heart. For the Lord had made the Israelites' enemies fear them, and they had realized that the God of Israel had given Israel the land.
But Israel was not given to attack Jericho immediately. Instead, God told Joshua to lead Israel into circumcising the men. They had not been circumcised like their fathers had been.
Joshua made knives and circumcised Israel's men at Gibeath-haaraloth. The men did not leave the camp until they had recovered. The Lord told Joshua that the reproach of Egypt had been taken away from Israel, and the place was called Gilgal. It would be Israel's base as the campaign began.
Israel had crossed the Jordan, and the Canaanites were afraid. The military sense of the moment seems to have been with Joshua rather than God. Israel had crossed the Jordan, and the Canaanites were afraid. Israel had crossed the Jordan, and the Canaanites were afraid. Joshua 5 picks up the reason for that fear. The Israelites who had left Egypt had been circumcised, but the whole generation had died apart from Joshua. The new generation, which God would bring into Canaan, had not been circumcised. The Israelites had walked the wilderness until the rebellious generation had died, and Joshua circumcised the new generation. They were now ready to inherit what the Lord had promised their fathers.
Israel's men recovered, and Israel kept the Passover on the fourteenth day of the first month while at camp at Gilgal. This was the first Passover the Israelites had celebrated in the land, and the food connected their new life with the great deliverance of Egypt.
It was not enough to keep a holiday once a year. The Passover was a reminder of their deliverance, and it was not only a reminder, but a renewal of Israel's status as God's people. By celebrating it in Canaan, Israel renewed its promise to God, and showed that God was fulfilling His promises to Israel.
The following day, Israel ate food from the land, unleavened cakes and parched corn. Something Israel had relied on until now was disappearing.
The manna stopped the day after Israel had eaten the food from the land. Until then, the Lord had given Israel a food to eat every day, but now Israel had entered Canaan and the manna had ceased. Israel's dependence on the daily provision of the Lord was over, and they would now eat the food God had given the land.
Israel had crossed the Jordan, fought the Amorites, and conquered Jericho in order to receive the land which the Lord had promised. But now Joshua 5 draws near to Jericho again, and there is a different battle to be fought. The men of Israel must be circumcised, so that they inherit what the Lord has promised. Israel keeps a Passover in the land, and eats the food of the land, no longer dependent on the manna. All of these are preparations for the battle to come.
The last verses of Joshua 5 see Joshua looking up, and seeing a man with a drawn sword. Joshua approached the man and asked if he was for Israel or for their enemies.
The stranger replied 'Nay; but as captain of the host of the Lord am I now come.' Joshua fell on his face before him and worshipped, and asked the man what his lord's message was to him.
The man told Joshua to take off his shoes, for the place was holy ground. Joshua obeyed.
This vision of the captain of the host of the Lord comes as Israel stands to fight Jericho, and it has importance. Joshua had been chosen to lead Israel, but the captain of the Lord's host was reminding Joshua that the battles were not Joshua's, but the Lord's. Israel was not merely being told that the Lord existed for their benefit. They were being told to follow the Lord's instructions, not to use Him as a tool for their victories.
The captain of the Lord's host did not deny that he fought for Israel. But Joshua had asked if he was for Israel or their enemies, and the captain did not say yes he was for Israel. He said that he had not come to fight for Israel, but as the captain of the Lord's host. The message was one of Israel's dependence on the Lord.
Joshua also echoes Moses, who had been told to take off his shoes when he saw the burning bush. The Lord was calling Joshua to be His servant, and Joshua was being shown that the Lord was in this place.
Joshua 5 therefore sees Israel preparing to fight the battles to come. The old wilderness generation has died, and the new generation have been circumcised and made ready to inherit the land. Israel keeps a Passover while in camp at Gilgal, and the manna stops as Israel eats the food of the land. Meanwhile, Joshua is reminded that the Lord is Israel's real leader.
Joshua 5 is the chapter of preparations, Israel settling down to do battle. They have crossed the Jordan and entered Canaan, but the people must take possession of the land. Before the battle of Jericho begins, God shows Joshua that the battles are not Joshua's, but the Lord's. The Lord has brought Israel through the wilderness, and the provision has stopped as Israel enters Canaan, but the Lord is still with Joshua.
Joshua 5 is not the battle of Jericho, but the preparation for the battle. Israel has entered Canaan, and the nation must first remember who they are and who their leader is.
The next chapter will begin the famous story of the battle of Jericho.