Joshua 5

King James Version

Full text for Joshua Chapter 5

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.

2At that time the LORD said unto Joshua, Make thee sharp knives, and circumcise again the children of Israel the second time.

3And Joshua made him sharp knives, and circumcised the children of Israel at the hill of the foreskins.

4And 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.

5Now 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.

6For 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.

7And 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.

8And 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.

9And 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.

11And 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.

12And 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.

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?

14And 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?

15And 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.

AI Analysis

AI Summaries

Short Summary

Joshua 5 details Israel's preparations for conquering Canaan. The men born in the wilderness were circumcised as a renewal of the covenant, and the Passover was observed at Gilgal. Following this, the miraculous manna ceased as they began to eat the land's produce. Finally, Joshua encountered a divine figure, the Captain of the LORD's host, who affirmed God's leadership.

Medium Summary

Upon hearing of the Jordan's miraculous crossing, the kings of Canaan were filled with fear. The LORD commanded Joshua to circumcise the generation born in the wilderness, as the previous generation, who were circumcised, had died due to disobedience. This act, performed at Gilgal, symbolized the rolling away of the "reproach of Egypt" and renewed the covenant. Subsequently, the Israelites observed the Passover in the plains of Jericho, their first in the Promised Land. The day after eating the land's produce, the manna, which had sustained them for forty years, ceased. The chapter concludes with Joshua's encounter near Jericho with a divine being, identified as the Captain of the LORD's host, who declared the ground holy and received Joshua's worship, signifying divine leadership for the impending conquest.

Long Summary

Joshua 5 opens with the Amorite and Canaanite kings west of the Jordan experiencing profound fear and loss of spirit upon hearing how the LORD had dried up the Jordan River for Israel's passage. In response to divine instruction, Joshua initiated a mass circumcision of all Israelite males born during the wilderness wanderings. This act was necessary because the generation that departed Egypt, though circumcised, had perished in the wilderness due to their disobedience, and their children had not been circumcised "by the way." After the circumcision, the people remained in their camp at Gilgal until they had healed. The LORD then declared that this act had "rolled away the reproach of Egypt" from them, giving the place the name Gilgal. Following this, the children of Israel encamped at Gilgal and observed the Passover on the fourteenth day of the month, their first celebration of this feast within the Promised Land. On the day after the Passover, they ate the old corn of the land, including unleavened cakes and parched corn. Significantly, the manna, which had miraculously sustained them for forty years in the wilderness, ceased on the morrow after they partook of the land's produce, marking a transition to sustenance from the fertile land of Canaan. The chapter culminates with a pivotal encounter between Joshua and a mysterious figure near Jericho. Joshua, seeing a man with a drawn sword, inquired of his allegiance. The figure identified himself not as an ally or adversary, but as the "captain of the host of the LORD." Recognizing the divine presence, Joshua prostrated himself in worship and sought instruction. The Captain commanded Joshua to remove his shoes, declaring the ground holy, an act Joshua immediately obeyed, signifying the sacredness of the impending divine leadership and presence in the land.

Core Concepts

  • Fear of Canaanite KingsThe indigenous kings' hearts melted and their spirit failed upon hearing of the LORD's miraculous drying of the Jordan, demonstrating God's power and the psychological impact on Israel's enemies.
  • Circumcision and Covenant RenewalJoshua was commanded to circumcise the generation born in the wilderness, re-establishing the covenant sign that had been neglected, signifying their renewed commitment to God before entering the land.
  • The Reproach of EgyptAt Gilgal, the LORD declared that He had "rolled away the reproach of Egypt," symbolizing the end of their wilderness wandering and the shame associated with their past bondage and unfaithfulness.
  • Passover in CanaanThe Israelites observed the Passover at Gilgal, marking their first celebration of this foundational feast within the Promised Land, signifying their identity and God's faithfulness to His promises.
  • Cessation of MannaAfter eating the produce of Canaan, the miraculous manna ceased, indicating the end of their period of divine sustenance in the wilderness and the beginning of their reliance on the land's bounty.
  • The Captain of the LORD's HostJoshua encountered a divine figure, identified as the "captain of the host of the LORD," who affirmed God's active leadership in the conquest and commanded reverence, indicating the holiness of the divine presence.
  • Holy GroundThe divine Captain commanded Joshua to remove his shoes because the place where he stood was holy, emphasizing the sacredness of the encounter and the ground consecrated by God's presence.