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Joshua 5
Our plain-language guide next to the Bible text. Each row lines up one section with the verses it explains.
Between sectionsVerses 1 to 8
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1Now when all the Amorite kings west of the Jordan and all the Canaanite kings along the coast heard how the LORD had dried up the waters of the Jordan before the Israelites until they had crossed over, their hearts melted and their spirits failed for fear of the Israelites. 2At that time the LORD said to Joshua, “Make flint knives and circumcise the sons of Israel once again.” 3So Joshua made flint knives and circumcised the sons of Israel at Gibeath-haaraloth. 4Now this is why Joshua circumcised them: All those who came out of Egypt—all the men of war—had died on the journey in the wilderness after they had left Egypt. 5Though all who had come out were circumcised, none of those born in the wilderness on the journey from Egypt had been circumcised. 6For the Israelites had wandered in the wilderness forty years, until all the nation’s men of war who had come out of Egypt had died, since they did not obey the LORD. So the LORD vowed never to let them see the land He had sworn to their fathers to give us, a land flowing with milk and honey. 7And Joshua raised up their sons in their place, and these were the ones he circumcised. Until this time they were still uncircumcised, since they had not been circumcised along the way. 8And after all the nation had been circumcised, they stayed there in the camp until they were healed.
Section 1: The Reproach Is Rolled AwayVerse 9
The LORD said to Joshua, "Today I have rolled away the reproach of Egypt from you" (5:9).
The name Gilgal sounds like the Hebrew word for "to roll." God named the moment. The shame Egypt had placed on his people — slavery, degradation, powerlessness — is gone.
9Then the LORD said to Joshua, “Today I have rolled away the reproach of Egypt from you.” So that place has been called Gilgal to this day.
Section 2: The First Passover in the LandVerses 10 to 11
"On the evening of the fourteenth day of the month, while the Israelites were camped at Gilgal on the plains of Jericho, they kept the Passover" (5:10).
The first act in the new land was worship. Israel remembered the night God freed them from Egypt. They ate the Passover meal, this time on Canaan's soil.
"The day after the Passover, on that very day, they ate unleavened bread and roasted grain from the produce of the land" (5:11).
Real bread. From real ground. Their own land.
10On the evening of the fourteenth day of the month, while the Israelites were camped at Gilgal on the plains of Jericho, they kept the Passover. 11The day after the Passover, on that very day, they ate unleavened bread and roasted grain from the produce of the land.
Section 3: The Manna StopsVerse 12
"And the day after they had eaten from the produce of the land, the manna ceased. There was no more manna for the Israelites, so that year they began to eat the crops of the land of Canaan" (5:12).
God's provision in the wilderness was complete. The manna had done its work. Now the land would feed his people. The story of the exodus was over. A new chapter had begun.
12And the day after they had eaten from the produce of the land, the manna ceased. There was no more manna for the Israelites, so that year they began to eat the crops of the land of Canaan.
Between sectionsVerses 13 to 15
This part isn't covered by the guide.
13Now when Joshua was near Jericho, he looked up and saw a man standing in front of him with a drawn sword in His hand. Joshua approached Him and asked, “Are You for us or for our enemies?” 14“Neither,” He replied. “I have now come as Commander of the LORD’s army.” Then Joshua fell facedown in reverence and asked Him, “What does my Lord have to say to His servant?” 15The Commander of the LORD’s army replied, “Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy.” And Joshua did so.
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