Joshua Chapter 5
Circumcision and Passover at Gilgal
A. The second work at Gilgal: a radical obedience
1. (Joshua 5:1) The fear of Israel’s enemies at the faith and obedience of Israel
“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.” (Joshua 5:1, KJV)
a. Their heart melted; and there was no spirit in them any longer because of the children of Israel
The text declares that the hearts of the Amorite and Canaanite kings “melted,” meaning their courage dissolved and their will to resist disappeared. This was not just fear of Israel’s military strength, but fear of Israel’s God. This kind of fear resembles the reaction of Rahab in Jericho, who said, “our hearts did melt, neither did there remain any more courage in any man, because of you: for the LORD your God, he is God in heaven above, and in earth beneath” (Joshua 2:11). A melted heart can be a good thing when it leads to repentance and submission to God, but just as Pharaoh’s heart repeatedly shifted between fear and hardness, many people experience conviction for a moment, but then return to defiance. Fear without repentance only hardens further.
b. Heard that the LORD had dried up the waters of the Jordan from before the children of Israel
The Canaanite nations heard what the Lord had done, and the news broke their spirit. They did not fear Israel merely because of numbers or weapons, but because God visibly fought for His people. Just as the generation who heard of the Red Sea crossing trembled (Exodus 15:14–16), so now this generation trembles at the crossing of the Jordan. When God’s people walk in faith and obedience, trusting His Word even when it seems unreasonable, the enemies of God lose confidence in their ability to stop them.
This is a picture of spiritual warfare. Satan and his forces are not ignorant; they know that when God’s people truly trust and obey Him, their defeat is certain. We often forget, but our spiritual enemies do not forget the truth of Romans 8:31: “What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?” When believers walk in faith instead of flesh, when they obey God rather than fear circumstances, the powers of darkness recognize that resistance is futile.
2. (Joshua 5:2–8) The Circumcision of Israel at Gilgal
“At that time the LORD said unto Joshua, Make thee sharp knives, and circumcise again the children of Israel the second time. And Joshua made him sharp knives, and circumcised the children of Israel at the hill of the foreskins. And 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. Now 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. For 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. And 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. And 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.” (Joshua 5:2–8, KJV)
a. “Make thee sharp knives, and circumcise again the children of Israel the second time”
Immediately after crossing the Jordan into enemy territory, God commanded Joshua to circumcise the entire new generation. This was a radical call to obedience. For forty years in the wilderness the nation had neglected the covenant sign of circumcision. None of the sons born during the journey were circumcised. God would not allow His people to conquer the land while living in disobedience to His covenant. Before battles, before walls fall, before swords are drawn, God demands spiritual preparation and renewed consecration.
This “second time” does not mean the same men were circumcised twice, but that circumcision was being renewed among the nation as a whole — a national re-establishment of covenant identity. Joshua also explains the reason for this: the former generation died in the wilderness because they “obeyed not the voice of the LORD” and refused to enter the promised land. Their unbelief disqualified them; their sons must not repeat their rebellion.
b. A new generation replaces the generation of unbelief
The Scripture says, “their children, whom he raised up in their stead, them Joshua circumcised.” God’s work will always continue, but unbelief will not share in it. The first generation was redeemed out of Egypt, but never surrendered fully to God’s Word. This new generation, however, would enter the land — but only after submitting themselves to the covenant God made with Abraham in Genesis 17:10–11, “This is my covenant… Every man child among you shall be circumcised.”
Circumcision was not merely a physical act; it was a declaration, “We belong to the LORD. We renounce the flesh. We are set apart.” It was a symbolic cutting away of the flesh, a picture of the heart’s submission. True circumcision meant obedience, separation, and faith. Without it, Israel was no different from the pagan nations.
c. “They abode in their places in the camp, till they were whole” — total vulnerability
After circumcision, all fighting men were physically incapacitated for days, unable to defend themselves. Humanly speaking, this was suicidal. They were camped near Jericho, the strongest fortress in Canaan. If the enemy attacked, Israel could not fight back. The only protection they had was God Himself.
This is not theoretical. Genesis 34:24–25 records how Simeon and Levi slaughtered the men of Shechem while they were sore after being circumcised. The same vulnerability now rested on all Israel. Yet they obeyed God anyway. Faith replaced strategy. Trust in God replaced human calculation.
d. Radical obedience after radical deliverance
Notably, God only commanded this after He had shown His power at the Jordan River. First God demonstrated His faithfulness; then He called them to obedience. When believers remember what God has already done, they find strength to trust Him further.
Israel crossed the Jordan at the most dangerous place — right before Jericho. Then God commanded them to cripple their entire military force. This put them in a place where they could trust in nothing but God. It is a hard place, but it is the best place. God often brings His people to such moments so that victory will clearly belong to Him alone.
3. (Joshua 5:9) The effect: God rolls away their reproach
“And 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.” (Joshua 5:9, KJV)
a. “This day have I rolled away the reproach of Egypt from off you”
After Israel’s circumcision at Gilgal, God Himself declares that their reproach — their shame — has been rolled away. The “reproach of Egypt” refers to the disgrace of their former bondage, their history of slavery, doubt, disobedience, and the mockery that Egypt had toward them. For years, Egypt could say, “Yes, they were brought out by their God, but they died in the wilderness and never entered the land.” Their unbelief had left a stain on their identity. But through obedience and renewed covenant faithfulness, God removed that shame.
It is important to see that the reproach was not rolled away merely by crossing the Jordan or by military strength, but by obedience to God’s covenant command. God responded to their trust and submission. Spiritual victory always begins with inward consecration before outward conquest.
b. “Wherefore the name of the place is called Gilgal unto this day”
The word Gilgal means “rolling” or “to roll.” God gave the place its name as a memorial that shame had been removed. Israel was no longer to think of themselves as former slaves, fearful wanderers, or the children of unbelief. They were now a covenant people, marked by obedience, prepared to inherit promise.
God brought His people to a place where they had to see themselves not through the memory of Egypt, but through the promise of God. Their identity was no longer defined by bondage, but by covenant. This is how God works with His people today. When we trust Him and obey His Word, He removes the reproach and teaches us to see ourselves as who we are in Him — redeemed, cleansed, and belonging to the Lord.
c. The same work of grace in believers
What God did for Israel at Gilgal is what He does spiritually in believers through Jesus Christ. Our guilt and shame are taken away not by human effort, but by obedience to God’s call to faith and surrender. Through the cross, God “rolls away” the reproach of our sin. Romans 8:1 says, “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus.” Just as Israel bore a mark of consecration, the believer bears a circumcision of the heart — a separation unto God (Romans 2:29).
B. The third work at Gilgal: A redemption remembered
1. (Joshua 5:10–11) The Passover is celebrated: looking back to their redemption from Egypt
“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. And 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.” (Joshua 5:10–11, KJV)
a. “And kept the passover” — remembering redemption
After renewing their covenant through circumcision, Israel immediately returned to observing the Passover. This was the first Passover celebrated in the Promised Land and the first since Numbers 9 in the wilderness — nearly 40 years prior. The Passover could never be repeated in its original form (Exodus 12), but God commanded it to be remembered forever. It was a memorial of their redemption by the blood of the lamb, a reminder that they were saved not by their own strength, but by the mercy and power of God.
God arranged this perfectly. The nation crossed the Jordan on the tenth day of the first month (Joshua 4:19). This was the precise day the Passover lamb was to be selected according to Exodus 12:3, “In the tenth day of this month they shall take to them every man a lamb.” Four days later, on the fourteenth, the lamb was slain. Now, in the land of Canaan, surrounded by enemies, Israel once again gathered under the blood of the covenant.
Passover reminded them: You were slaves, but God redeemed you. You were under judgment, but God passed over you. You are not here because of swords and armies, but because God delivered you.
b. “They did eat of the old corn of the land… unleavened cakes, and parched corn” — a transition of provision
For the first time in their lives, this new generation ate food grown in the Promised Land. They ate unleavened bread and roasted grain, the simple food of the land itself. This marks the beginning of a new phase of life. God is still their Provider, but no longer through wilderness manna alone; now through the fruitfulness of the land He promised to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
They ate this meal immediately after the Passover. This is significant — first redemption, then provision. First the blood, then the blessing. The order is always the same with God.
Passover kept them anchored in their past redemption, while the food of the land showed them the blessings of their present inheritance.
c. A picture for believers today
Just as Israel remembered the Passover, we are commanded to remember our redemption. The Lord Jesus Christ instituted the Lord’s Supper saying, “This do in remembrance of me” (Luke 22:19). We live under a greater deliverance — not from Egypt, but from sin, death, and the wrath of God — purchased by the blood of Christ, “Christ our passover is sacrificed for us” (1 Corinthians 5:7).
To live in the land without remembering the Passover would be pride. To enjoy blessing without remembering blood would be spiritual forgetfulness. We must continually live in the shadow of the cross — not repeating Calvary, but remembering it.
2. (Joshua 5:12) A new source of provision: God stops the manna
“And 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.” (Joshua 5:12, KJV)
a. “And the manna ceased on the morrow after they had eaten of the old corn of the land”
For forty years, manna had been Israel’s daily bread — falling fresh every morning, faithfully sent by God even when the people disobeyed, complained, or wandered. Now, the very next day after eating the grain of Canaan, manna stopped. God did not forget them; instead, He moved them from miraculous wilderness provision to covenant promise provision. The ceasing of manna was not a withdrawal of His care, but a promotion to maturity.
God never intended manna to be permanent. It was temporary food for a pilgrim people. Now that they were in the Promised Land, they were to work the ground, plant seed, reap harvest, and still trust God just as much — not for falling bread, but for rain, seasons, strength, and protection. Faith was still required, only now expressed through responsibility.
i. They had to trust God both ways
In the wilderness, they had to trust God to send manna each morning. In the land, they had to trust God to make crops grow and enemies stay back. Either way, dependence on God was the only path. The method of God’s provision changed — the faith to receive it did not.
b. “They did eat of the fruit of the land of Canaan that year”
For the first time in centuries, Israel ate from the land God promised to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. They were no longer slaves eating Egyptian scraps, nor wanderers depending on heavenly flakes. They ate as free covenant people, in a land of abundance. God was still their Provider, but He was teaching them to receive through labor, stewardship, and faithfulness.
This teaches us to trust God Himself, not merely His methods. If we place our faith in manna instead of in the Lord, we will stumble when manna stops. God may change the channel of blessing, but He never changes His heart toward His people.
i. Gilgal — a spiritual beachhead
Gilgal became Israel’s base of operations. After every battle, they returned here. It was the place of memorial stones, covenant obedience, Passover remembrance, and now the place where manna stopped. It was the foundation of their spiritual life in the land. They would fight from Gilgal, return to Gilgal, heal at Gilgal, and remember what God had done at Gilgal.
ii. Every believer needs a “Gilgal”
Gilgal symbolizes the place in a believer’s life where:
You first experience God’s promises
You remember His deliverance
You obey Him in costly ways
You bury the reproach of your past
You return often to renew strength and perspective
Only from such a place can spiritual battles be successfully fought.
3. (Joshua 5:13–15) Joshua meets with the Commander of the army of the Lord
“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? And 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? And 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.” (Joshua 5:13–15, KJV)
a. “Behold, there stood a man over against him with his sword drawn in his hand”
As Joshua surveyed Jericho, preparing for war, he encountered a mysterious Man standing opposite him, sword already drawn. This was a posture of readiness to fight. Joshua, as the leader and shepherd of Israel, did not shrink back. He approached boldly. His duty was to protect the people; therefore, he needed to know — is this figure friend or foe?
This shows Joshua’s courage and discernment. Even in sacred moments, he did not abandon responsibility. He understood that spiritual matters and military leadership were not separate — they belonged to God together.
b. “Art thou for us, or for our adversaries?”
Joshua asked a logical military question. But the answer he received was unexpected: “Nay; but as captain of the host of the LORD am I now come.” This response was not an evasion; it was correction. The Man refused to take sides on human terms.
Joshua’s question assumed that God’s role was to support Israel’s agenda. But the Commander made it clear: the issue was not whether the Lord was on Joshua’s side — the real question was whether Joshua was on the Lord’s side. God does not exist to join our battles; we are called to join His. God’s purposes are not subject to human loyalties.
c. “Captain of the host of the LORD” — a divine appearance of Christ
This title reveals the identity of the Man. He is not a created angel. He is the Captain, the Commander-in-Chief of heaven’s armies — the armies of angelic beings. Joshua responds by falling on his face and worshipping Him. No angel of God ever receives worship. In Revelation 22:8–9, when John attempted to worship an angel, the angel forbade it. Here, the Commander accepts worship.
Further, the Commander says, “Loose thy shoe from off thy foot; for the place whereon thou standest is holy.” This directly parallels Exodus 3:4–6, when God spoke to Moses from the burning bush. Only God declares a place holy by His presence. Joshua, who knew the Scriptures, understood immediately — this is no mere angel. This is the LORD.
This is a pre-incarnate appearance of Jesus Christ — the eternal Son of God before Bethlehem. The Second Person of the Trinity has appeared before in human form: to Abraham (Genesis 18), to Jacob (Genesis 32:24–30), and to Manoah and his wife (Judges 13). His throne is in heaven, but He is not bound by Bethlehem to begin His existence. Micah 5:2 says His goings forth are “from of old, from everlasting.”
d. Joshua’s response — total surrender to the true Commander
Joshua fell on his face, worshipped, and said, “What saith my lord unto his servant?” Joshua was a general of armies, but here he drops all rank. Israel already had a Leader — and it was not Joshua. This was holy ground, not because of geography, but because of the presence of the Lord.
The Commander did not come to take orders — He came to give them. Before Joshua could conquer Jericho, he himself had to be conquered by God. Surrender precedes victory. Submission to Christ is the only path to real triumph.
i. Why did Jesus appear at this moment?
First, He came to give the divine plan for conquering Jericho — a plan no human general would design. Marching silently around walls for seven days is not strategy; it is obedience to revelation.
Second, He came to conquer His people before they conquered their enemies. God is not looking for strong men to help Him win battles. He is looking for surrendered men through whom He may display His power. Many believers lose spiritual battles, not because they lack strength, but because they lack surrender.
