Chapter Summary
Core Passages from Joshua 5
Joshua 5:9And the Lord said to Joshua, “Today I have rolled away the reproach of Egypt from you.” And so the name of that place is called Gilgal to this day.
God declares that the shame of their slavery in Egypt is now officially removed, linking the physical act of circumcision to their new identity as free people in their own land.Joshua 5:12And the manna ceased the day after they ate of the produce of the land. And there was no longer manna for the people of Israel, but they ate of the fruit of the land of Canaan that year.
The miraculous manna stopped the day after they ate the land's food, signaling a major shift. God's provision was still present, but now it would come through the land He had given them.Joshua 5:14-15And he said, “No; but I am the commander of the army of the Lord. Now I have come.” And Joshua fell on his face to the earth and worshiped and said to him, “What does my lord say to his servant?” And the commander of the Lord's army said to Joshua, "Take off your sandals from your feet, for the place where you are standing is holy." And Joshua did so.
This mysterious figure reveals He is not on Israel's side or their enemies' side. He is in charge. This moment teaches Joshua that the battle is the Lord's, and Israel must follow His command.
Historical & Cultural Context
On the Brink of Battle
The story picks up right after one of Israel's most stunning miracles. God parted the Jordan River, allowing the entire nation to cross into Canaan on dry ground, as He did at the Red Sea for their parents' generation. This event terrified the surrounding Canaanite kings, whose 'hearts melted' in fear. With their enemies demoralized, the logical next step would be a swift military strike against the nearby fortress of Jericho.
A Pause for Purification
Instead of giving the order to attack, God commands Joshua to do something that seems strategically foolish. He instructs all the men born in the wilderness to be circumcised, a procedure that would render the entire army vulnerable and unable to fight for several days. This unexpected pause shifts the focus from military conquest to spiritual consecration, making it clear that Israel's success depends on their relationship with God, not their own strength.
Preparing for the Promise
Having entered the Promised Land, the Israelites are camped at Gilgal, within sight of the formidable city of Jericho. The atmosphere is a mix of awe at God's power and anticipation of the battles to come. But before the first trumpet sounds, God initiates a series of events designed to prepare the hearts of His people for what lies ahead.
Renewing the Covenant Sign (Joshua 5:1-9)
1 As soon as all the kings of the Amorites who were beyond the Jordan to the west, and all the kings of the Canaanites who were by the sea, heard that the Lord had dried up the waters of the Jordan for the people of Israel until they had crossed over, their hearts melted and there was no longer any spirit in them because of the people of Israel.
2 At that time the Lord said to Joshua, "Make flint knives and circumcise the sons of Israel a second time."
3 So Joshua made flint knives and circumcised the sons of Israel at Gibeath-haaraloth.
4 And this is the reason why Joshua circumcised them: all the males of the people who came out of Egypt, all the men of war, had died in the wilderness on the way after they had come out of Egypt.
5 And all the people who came out had been circumcised, but all the people who were born in the wilderness along the way as they came out of Egypt had not been circumcised.
6 For the people of Israel walked forty years in the wilderness, until all the nation, the men of war who came out of Egypt, perished, because they did not obey the voice of the Lord; the Lord swore to them that he would not let them see the land that the Lord had sworn to their fathers to give us, a land flowing with milk and honey.
7 And their children whom he raised up in their place, Joshua circumcised. For they were uncircumcised, because they had not been circumcised on the way.
8 And when the circumcising of all the nation was finished, they remained in their places in the camp until they were healed.
9 And the Lord said to Joshua, “Today I have rolled away the reproach of Egypt from you.” And so the name of that place is called Gilgal to this day.
Commentary:
God commands the new generation of Israelite men to be circumcised, renewing their covenant identity before the conquest begins.
First Passover in the Land (Joshua 5:10-12)
10 And the people of Israel encamped at Gilgal, and kept the Passover on the fourteenth day of the month in the evening on the plains of Jericho.
11 And the day after the Passover, on that very day, they ate of the produce of the land, unleavened cakes and parched grain.
12 And the manna ceased the day after they ate of the produce of the land. And there was no longer manna for the people of Israel, but they ate of the fruit of the land of Canaan that year.
Commentary:
The Israelites celebrate the Passover in Canaan, and the daily manna ceases as they begin to eat the food of the Promised Land.
Joshua Meets the Commander (Joshua 5:13-15)
13 When Joshua was by Jericho, he lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, a man was standing before him with his drawn sword in his hand. And Joshua went to him and said to him, "Are you for us, or for our adversaries?"
14 And he said, “No; but I am the commander of the army of the Lord. Now I have come.” And Joshua fell on his face to the earth and worshiped and said to him, “What does my lord say to his servant?”
15 And the commander of the Lord's army said to Joshua, "Take off your sandals from your feet, for the place where you are standing is holy." And Joshua did so.
Commentary:
Joshua encounters a divine warrior who reveals himself as the commander of God's army, teaching Joshua to submit to God's authority.
Key Themes in Joshua 5
Covenant Renewal
Circumcision was the sign of God's covenant with His people. By renewing this practice, the new generation formally entered into the same promise God made to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, marking themselves as belonging to Him before claiming His promised land.
Holiness Before Victory
God prioritizes the spiritual state of His people over military readiness. By commanding circumcision at a time when the army was exposed to attack, He demonstrated that their victory would come from their consecrated relationship with Him, not from their own strength or strategy.
The End of One Season, the Start of Another
The cessation of manna is a powerful symbol of transition. God's faithfulness in providing for His people doesn't change, but the method does. They were moving from a season of supernatural daily provision in the desert to a season of enjoying the fruit of the land He had given them.
God's Supreme Authority
Joshua's encounter with the commander of the Lord's army makes it clear who is truly in charge. The central question is not 'Is God on our side?' but 'Are we on God's side?' True leadership and victory come from submitting to God's command.
Applying God's Word to Your Life
This chapter reveals that God is holy and demands that His people be set apart for Him (Joshua 5:15). He is a promise-keeper, faithfully bringing Israel into the land He swore to their ancestors. He is also the supreme commander who is not a passive supporter but the active leader in the battles of His people.
Joshua 5 encourages you to prioritize your spiritual health before tackling major challenges. As Israel had to pause and renew their covenant, you are reminded to consecrate yourself to God through prayer and obedience before stepping into a new job, relationship, or ministry. Your effectiveness comes from your connection to Him, not only your preparation.
It means shifting your perspective from asking God to bless your plans to asking how you can join His. Like Joshua, you are called to recognize that God is more than a resource for your battles. He is the one in charge. Submission means laying down your own strategies and asking, 'What does my lord say to his servant?' (Joshua 5:14).
Preparation Precedes the Promise
Joshua 5 reveals that God's path to victory often defies human logic. Before the walls of Jericho could fall, the hearts of the people had to be consecrated to God. This chapter teaches that spiritual readiness is the true foundation for success in God's kingdom. The message is both a command and a comfort: set yourself apart for God, remember His past faithfulness, and submit to His leadership, for the battle is truly His.
What This Means for Us Today
Joshua 5 is an invitation to pause before our own personal 'Jerichos.' It calls us to consecrate our hearts to God, trusting that His preparation is more important than our plans. We are invited to ask not if God will join our cause, but how we can align ourselves with His.
- In what area of your life is God asking you to pause and focus on spiritual preparation before moving forward?
- How can you shift your prayer from 'God, be on my side' to 'God, show me how to be on Your side'?
- What 'manna' from a past season might you need to let go of to embrace the provision God has for you today?
Further Reading
Immediate Context
This chapter details the miraculous crossing of the Jordan River and the setting up of memorial stones, the event that terrified the Canaanite kings.
Following the spiritual preparations in chapter 5, this chapter describes the divinely commanded, unconventional battle plan and the subsequent fall of Jericho.
Connections Across Scripture
This passage contains God's original command to Abraham to practice circumcision as the everlasting sign of the covenant between God and his descendants.
Here, God institutes the Passover feast to commemorate Israel's deliverance from slavery in Egypt, the very festival they celebrate for the first time in the new land.
Moses' encounter with God at the burning bush provides a direct parallel to Joshua's, as both are commanded to remove their sandals because they are on holy ground.
Discussion Questions
- Why do you think God commanded the Israelites to be circumcised right after entering enemy territory, a time when they would be most vulnerable? What does this timing teach us about faith and trust?
- The manna stopped the day after the Israelites ate the food of Canaan. How have you seen God's provision change in different seasons of your own life?
- The commander of the Lord's army answered Joshua's question 'Are you for us, or for our adversaries?' with 'No.' What is the significance of this answer, and how does it challenge the way we often approach God in our own struggles?
Glossary
places
Gilgal
The first campsite of the Israelites in the Promised Land, its name means 'to roll' because God 'rolled away the reproach of Egypt' there.
Jericho
A heavily fortified Canaanite city near the Jordan River, and the first military target for the Israelites in their conquest of the land.
Jordan River
The river that formed the eastern border of the Promised Land, which God miraculously parted for the Israelites to cross.