Joshua 5

Fear Hits the Enemy

1 When the kings of the Amorites (west of the Jordan) and the Canaanite kings on the coast heard what God did - How He dried up the Jordan River so Israel could cross - they froze up. Hearts dropped. Spirit gone. They knew God was rolling deep with Israel.

God Tells Joshua to Circumcise the New Generation

2 Then God told Joshua, “Make some knives and circumcise the new crew - again.”

3 So Joshua made some sharp tools and circumcised the Israelite men at a place called Gibeath Haaraloth.

4 Here is why - All the men who left Egypt were already circumcised, But they died in the wilderness.

5 The new generation - born in the wilderness - had not been circumcised yet.

6 The first crew wandered 40 years because they did not trust God or obey, So He said they would not step foot in the Promised Land - The one flowing with milk and honey.

7 So now their sons were the ones taking over, And Joshua had to circumcise them to get them right.

8 After they all got cut, they stayed in camp till they healed up.

God Removes the Shame of Egypt

9 Then God said to Joshua, “Today I rolled away the shame of your slavery in Egypt.” That is why the place is called Gilgal - means “to roll.”

Passover in the Promised Land

10 The Israelites camped at Gilgal and celebrated Passover that evening - on the 14th day of the month, near Jericho.

11 The very next day, they ate from the land - Bread made without yeast and roasted grain.

12 And just like that, the manna stopped. No more heavenly bread from the sky. They were finally eating from the land God promised.

The Commander of the Lord’s Army Shows Up

13 One day, Joshua was near Jericho, looking around, when he saw a man standing with a sword in his hand. Joshua walked up and asked, “Are you with us or with them?”

14 Dude said, “Neither. I am the Commander of the Lord’s army - and I just showed up.” Joshua dropped to the ground, face down, and said, “What is the word, Lord?”

15 The Commander said, “Take your kicks off - this ground is holy.” And Joshua did what he was told.