GOD CIRCUMCISED THE ISRAELITES AGAIN, Dr. Samuel Lee
PREPARATION FOR BATTLE
Passage: Joshua 5:1~12  
Key verse: 9
5 Now when all the Amorite kings west of the Jordan and all the Canaanite kings along the coast(A) heard how the Lord had dried up the Jordan before the Israelites until they[a] had crossed over, their hearts melted in fear(B) and they no longer had the courage to face the Israelites.
Circumcision and Passover at Gilgal
2 At that time the Lord said to Joshua, “Make flint knives(C) and circumcise(D) the Israelites again.” 3 So Joshua made flint knives and circumcised the Israelites at Gibeath Haaraloth.[b]
4 Now this is why he did so: All those who came out of Egypt—all the men of military age(E)—died in the wilderness on the way after leaving Egypt.(F) 5 All the people that came out had been circumcised, but all the people born in the wilderness during the journey from Egypt had not. 6 The Israelites had moved about in the wilderness(G) forty years(H) until all the men who were of military age when they left Egypt had died, since they had not obeyed the Lord. For the Lord had sworn to them that they would not see the land he had solemnly promised their ancestors to give us,(I) a land flowing with milk and honey.(J) 7 So he raised up their sons in their place, and these were the ones Joshua circumcised. They were still uncircumcised because they had not been circumcised on the way. 8 And after the whole nation had been circumcised, they remained where they were in camp until they were healed.(K)
9 Then the Lord said to Joshua, “Today I have rolled away the reproach of Egypt from you.” So the place has been called Gilgal[c](L) to this day.
10 On the evening of the fourteenth day of the month,(M) while camped at Gilgal on the plains of Jericho, the Israelites celebrated the Passover.(N) 11 The day after the Passover, that very day, they ate some of the produce of the land:(O) unleavened bread(P) and roasted grain.(Q) 12 The manna stopped the day after[d] they ate this food from the land; there was no longer any manna for the Israelites, but that year they ate the produce of Canaan.(R)
Footnotes
- Joshua 5:1 Another textual tradition we
- Joshua 5:3 Gibeath Haaraloth means the hill of foreskins.
- Joshua 5:9 Gilgal sounds like the Hebrew for roll.
- Joshua 5:12 Or the day
Cross references
- Joshua 5:1 : S Nu 13:29
- Joshua 5:1 : S Ge 42:28
- Joshua 5:2 : S Ex 4:25
- Joshua 5:2 : S Ge 17:10, 12, 14
- Joshua 5:4 : S Nu 1:3
- Joshua 5:4 : Dt 2:14
- Joshua 5:6 : Nu 32:13; Jos 14:10; Ps 107:4
- Joshua 5:6 : S Ex 16:35
- Joshua 5:6 : Nu 14:23, 29-35; Dt 2:14
- Joshua 5:6 : S Ex 3:8
- Joshua 5:8 : Ge 34:25
- Joshua 5:9 : S Dt 11:30
- Joshua 5:10 : S Ex 12:6
- Joshua 5:10 : S Ex 12:11
- Joshua 5:11 : S Nu 15:19
- Joshua 5:11 : Ex 12:15
- Joshua 5:11 : S Lev 23:14
- Joshua 5:12 : Ex 16:35
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source:  BibleGateway
1. Circumcision (1-9)
Forty years before the Israelites had failed to enter the promised land because of unbelief and disobedience. All those of fighting age who had come out of Egypt had died on the way. Now, the new generation was ready to enter the land. But those born in the desert had not been circumcised. Circumcision identified them as God's people. It was a sign of their covenant with God. It was a sign of repentance and the cutting away of the old slave life. Now, at Gilgal ('rolled-away') Joshua circumcised the Israelites. Before beginning the battle, God's people must repent. God rolled away the reproach of Egypt.
2. The Passover (10-12)
The Israelites celebrated their first Passover in the promised land. It was a reminder of God's forgiveness and God's redemption. They ate the passover, then the manna ceased. From this time, they would eat the produce of the land of Canaan. There was no turning back. They must go forward with God and conquer.
Prayer: Lord, circumcise my heart and dwell with me so that I may win the victory over life.
One Word: Be ready for the battle