Joshua 5

[alon]

Joshua 5

Joshua 4:24-5:1 (ESV) that all the peoples of the earth may know the hand of the LORD, that it is mighty; that ye may fear the LORD your God for ever.' And it came to pass, when all the kings of the Amorites, that were beyond the Jordan westward, and all the kings of the Canaanites, that were by the sea, heard how that the LORD had dried up the waters of the Jordan from before the children of Israel, until they were passed over, that they lost heart, neither was there spirit in them any more, because of the children of Israel.

Two of the nations found in 3:19 here are representative of all the nations of haEretz. The transition here emphasizes the didactic (instructive) theme of the conquest. It wasn’t just so the Hebrews could have a land of their own; it was to show the nations of the earth who is YHVH El Elohim- The Lord God of Gods.

The Canaanites knew they were entering into direct conflict with El Gibor- The Mighty God, and as so often happens this causes us (humans) to retreat behind our walls, cowering in fear while showing defiance.

All the people of Canaan who had so terrified the previous distrustful generation now were terrified in turn. “Heard … they lost heart” hearkens back to Josh 2:9-11 when Rachav told the spies everyone had heard how the Lord favored the Hebrews and had lost heart. A trusting and victorious people will dishearten the enemy every time.

In this chapter we see three preparations: men are prepared to follow God through Yehoshua into holy battle by circumcision (vss. 2-9); the nation is prepared spiritually for the coming ordeal by reinstituting Passover (vss. 10-12); and Yehoshua is personally prepared for his leadership role by meeting with the captain of the Lord’s host. (vss 13-15).

Joshua 5:2-5 (JPS) At that time the LORD said unto Joshua: 'Make thee knives of flint, and circumcise again the children of Israel the second time.' And Joshua made him knives of flint, and circumcised the children of Israel at Gibeath-ha-araloth. And this is the cause why Joshua did circumcise: all the people that came forth out of Egypt, that were males, even all the men of war, died in the wilderness by the way, after they came forth out of Egypt. For 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, had not been circumcised.

This second circumcision at Gibeath-ha-araloth (the hill of foreskins) is to circumcise males born during the wilderness travels. The first circumcision would have been that of the unfaithful generation done in Egypt. Their disobedience had all but voided the covenant, and they had all died and the rite ceased on their children; now it had to be renewed. In order for us to serve God we must be kadosh, set apart, separated from sin.

Yisro’el had just experienced a very great miracle. YHVH Izuz Wegibbor- The Lord Strong and Mighty was at work! In our fleshly understanding this is the time to seize the day. Attack! However the Hebrew nation needed to be prepared for what they had to do. We need to learn to heed Elohim’s instructions and not lean on our own understanding.

Proverbs 3:5 (KJV) Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.

They, like we, had to deal with the past. A new generation had yet to receive the mark of the covenant; the ritual affirmation of their relationship with their Elohim. Circumcision is symbolic of putting off sinful flesh and devoting our hearts entirely to God.

Colossians 2:11 (ESV) In him also you were circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ,

Now the old nation, or self was left in the desert, and a new nation/man was now consecrated to El Malechi- God My King:

Joshua 5:6-7 (JPS) For the children of Israel walked forty years in the wilderness, till all the nation, even the men of war that came forth out of Egypt, were consumed, because they hearkened not unto the voice of the LORD; unto whom the LORD swore that He would not let them see the land which the LORD swore unto their fathers that He would give us, a land flowing with milk and honey. And He raised up their children in their stead; them did Joshua circumcise; for they were uncircumcised, because they had not been circumcised by the way.

Numbers 14:33 (ESV) And your children shall be shepherds in the wilderness forty years and shall suffer for your faithlessness, until the last of your dead bodies lies in the wilderness.

It is a fact that our children will suffer for our sins. But they may yet see God’s salvation.

Joshua 5:8 (ESV) When the circumcising of the whole nation was finished, they remained in their places in the camp until they were healed.

The term “goy”, or nation here and in verse six is rarely used of the nation of Yisro’el. It implies a people with a land, and so its use here is very poignant.

Joshua 5:9 (ESV) 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.

"reproach"  H2781 חרפּה   cherpâh   BDB Definition:
1. reproach, scorn
a. taunt, scorn (upon enemy)
b. reproach (resting upon condition of , disgrace)
c. a reproach (an object)

The lack of circumcision is apparently viewed as a reproach to Elohim as well as the Hebrews. It was used for an uncircumcised son of Hamor in Genesis 34:

Genesis 34:14 (KJV) And they said unto them, We cannot do this thing, to give our sister to one that is uncircumcised; for that were a reproach unto us:

There is possibly a double meaning here as the reproach of their fathers unfaithfulness is about to be removed also.

The name Gilgal enhances instructive format of the story of the crossing of the Jordan:

"Gilgal"  H1537 גּלגּל gilgâl BDB Definition: 1. “a wheel, rolling”
2. the first site of an Israelite camp west of the Jordan, east of Jericho, here Samuel was judge, and Saul was made king; later used for illicit worship
3. dwelling place of prophets in northern Israel about four miles
4. a region conquered by Joshua, site unsure

Joshua 5:10 (ESV) While the people of Israel were encamped at Gilgal, they kept the Passover on the fourteenth day of the month in the evening on the plains of Jericho.

This is yet another parallel between the exodus story and their entrance to haEretz.

Exodus 12:6 (ESV) and you shall keep it until the fourteenth day of this month, when the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill their lambs at twilight. [Hebrew between the two evenings]

The fourteenth day until the Passover was observed gave the Hebrew men three days to recover. This doesn’t seem like that much to me, considering, but …

Joshua 5:11 (ESV) And the day after the Passover, on that very day, they ate of the produce of the land, unleavened cakes and parched grain.

Exodus 12:17 (ESV) And you shall observe the Feast of Unleavened Bread, for on this very day I brought your hosts out of the land of Egypt. Therefore you shall observe this day, throughout your generations, as a statute forever.

Parched grain, designated one of the firstfruits is added in anticipation of their partaking of “the produce of the land.”

Leviticus 23:14 (ESV) And you shall eat neither bread nor grain parched or fresh until this same day, until you have brought the offering of your God: it is a statute forever throughout your generations in all your dwellings.

Joshua 5:12 (ESV) 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.

There is a time for the miraculous, but the time for manna was over. The point of miracles is not that we get stuck in a rut, comfortable in our walk to the point we make no other effort. HaShem would show the Hebrew people greater miracles, but it now requires they step out in greater faith while gathering their own sustenance. Manna, the food of wandering has ceased. As they partake of the rite of circumcision and the feast of Pesach the people are now joined spiritually to Elohim Kedoshim- Holy God; themselves made kedoshim, set apart to the service of God. As the unleavened bread was baked and consumed they once again remembered how HaShem had miraculously delivered their fathers from Mitzrayim.

Joshua 5:13 (ESV) 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?”

I can imagine Yehoshua, full of anxiety as he contemplates the massive responsibilities of command just before battle. Jericho, their first objective in haEretz was also the mightiest city in the land. Its’ defenses were formidable; high, thick walls and fierce defenders. Possibly he walked out where he could see the city, trying to figure how he would take that ominous fortress. And suddenly he is confronted by a man with sword drawn. His question “Are you for us, or for our adversaries” indicates he may have thought he faced a spy or an assassin.

In the postexilic period “angels” (messengers) are usually nameless. According to Jewish tradition this was the archangel Michael. However Christians and Meshiachim believe this to be a theophany, the “man” being Yeshua Himself.

Joshua 5:14 (ESV) And he said, “No; but I am the commander of the army of the Lord [captain of the Lord’s host]. 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?”

“Captain of the Lord’s host” portrays the Lord as a military figure; a divine warrior and commander of the host of heaven. His reply cannot mean that Elohim is not taking sides in the coming battle against Jericho; HaShem has already promised on numerous occasions that He will give Yisro’el victory over her enemies. The "No" must mean Yehoshua is misinterpreting who he is and why he is here. The reason Yehoshua is being given this vision is not for Israel, nor is it for Jericho; this is entirely for Joshua's sake, to encourage him in these trying hours before his first great battle in the Land.

 
Zechariah 9:14 (KJV) And the Lord shall be seen over them, and his arrow shall go forth as the lightning: and the Lord God shall blow the trumpet, and shall go with whirlwinds of the south.
By prostrating himself, an act of submission and worship, Yehoshua acknowledges this man is Elohim.

Joshua 5:15 (ESV) 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.

Exodus 3:5 (ESV) Then he said, “Do not come near; take your sandals off your feet, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground.”

And here another connection between Yehoshua and Moshe. The place is made holy by the divine presence, Yeshua Himself.

Exodus 3:2,5-6 (ESV) And the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush. He looked, and behold, the bush was burning, yet it was not consumed. … Then he said, “Do not come near; take your sandals off your feet, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground.” 6 And he said, “I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” And Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look at God.

Judges 6:12,16 (ESV) And the angel of the Lord appeared to him and said to him, “The Lord is with you, O mighty man of valor.” … And the Lord said to him, “But I will be with you, and you shall strike the Midianites as one man.”

From this time forward, whenever Yehoshua took off his shoes it would have reminded him that he was second in command of the army of Yisro’el. This is the secret to victory and conquest of the Land.

2 Chronicles 20:15 (ESV) And he said, “Listen, all Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem and King Jehoshaphat: Thus says the Lord to you, ‘Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed at this great horde, for the battle is not yours but God's.

The narrative here appears to end rather suddenly, leaving much unsaid. It isn’t clear, but it seems to hint that we should continue to draw from the similarities to fill in the blanks, at least relatively speaking, with Exodus chapter three. As with Moshe before him, it is possible Elohim Machase Lanu- the God of Our Refuge would have reassured him he was not alone, and that Ehheh’yeh- I AM WHO I AM, the Self- Existant One was in control of events; he was on the winning side already.

Dan C

Resources: JPS Study TNK, W Wiersbe, NASB study notes, F Meyer, Unger, Edersheim, Pastor B Best, my father, Rav S and others