Joshua 5

— at the bill of the foreshies.] Some understand the Hebrew words thus translated, Gibeah-haaraloth, to be the name by which the place where they were circumcised was afterwards called. Bp. Patrick.

Chap. VI. ver. 2. And the Lord said] This seems to be the same Divine Person who is called in the foregoing chapter, the captain of the Lord’s host, and is here called the Lord or Jehovah; (Bp. Patrick;) at the same place of interview; (Pyle;) while Joshua was standing barefoot. Dr. Wells.

Joshua 5:3

3. And ye shall compass &c.] Instead of a formal siege they are commanded to use only some particular circumstances and forms, which might shew the more plainly the subversion of that idolatrous place to be from the miraculous hand of God. Pyle. We must suppose that the people of Jericho had previously refused offers of peace, which God had directed to be made by the Israelites to their enemies, Deut. xx. 10. Bp. Patrick.

Joshua 5:4

4. — All the people that came out] Namely, all that were then twenty years of age; for such only were reputed men of war, and were guilty of the sedition mentioned at Numb. xiv. for which they were doomed to perish in the wilderness. Bp. Patrick.

5. — trumpets of rams’ horns.] The inside of the ram’s horn is by no means hard, and may easily be taken out, except about four or five inches at the point, which was to be sawed off, in order to proportion the aperture to the mouth; after which the rest is easily pierced. Trumpets thus made are used by the shepherds in the south of Germany. Universal History.

Joshua 5:5

5. — shall fall — flat.] Or fall under it, as it is in the Hebrew; which seems to signify, that the foundations of the wall were subverted, so that it sunk and fell into the ditch. The whole wall did not fall, as afterwards appears, ver. 22; for Rahab’s house stood, which was upon the wall; but such wide breaches were made every where round about, that the Israelites went straight forward, and found an easy entrance into the city. Bp. Patrick.

Before CHRIST 1431. &c.

Joshua 5:9

9. — have I rolled away the reproach of Egypt from off you.] I have rolled away that which you esteemed the reproach of all other nations, and more particularly of the people of Egypt, among whom you lived, namely, uncircumcision. Shuckford, Dr. Wells. I have taken away from you that your uncircumcision, which you have kept all this while, out of that irreligious carelessness, which your fathers brought with you out of Egypt. Bp. Hall. The reproach of Egypt is supposed by some to relate to the reproaches which the Egyptians cast upon the Israelites during their wanderings in the wilderness, from which God now delivered them by the assurance conveyed in the renewal of circumcision. But the most common opinion is, that by the reproach of Egypt is meant nothing else but uncircumcision, with which the Israelites always upbraided other people, and particularly the Egyptians, with whom they had lived long, and were best acquainted. Stackhouse.

Joshua 5:10

10. — and kept the passover] The Israelites, having become circumcised, were now qualified to celebrate the passover, which had been omitted from the second time of their observance of that rite at Sinai, in consequence of their rebellions; (Dr. Hales;) and also on account of the want of unleavened bread, and other things required for the proper celebration of it. Stackhouse.

Joshua 5:11

11. — they did eat of the old corn &c.] “Old corn;” that which the inhabitants left in their barns when they fled into Jericho and other strong holds. Bp. Patrick. Or the Hebrew word may signify, the ripe corn then standing on the ground. Shuckford.

Joshua 5:12

12. And the manna ceased] Now that the Israelites had arrived in a country where was a sufficient supply of natural food, God ceased to supply them with manna, which had been their constant food for forty years, wanting about a month. Pyle. We are supplied by the example here afforded with a proof that God, in His dispensations to His creatures, vouchsafes not miracles and extraordinary means, when ordinary means are sufficient. Although the manna had been daily showered from heaven during their long sojourning in a barren and dry wilderness, yet from the day they ate of the old corn of Canaan, that is, when they began to enjoy common sustenance, and were enabled, by their own care and industry, to provide themselves with it for the future, their feeding on a daily miracle ceased together with that necessity which called for it. Dean Stanhope.

Joshua 5:13

13. — a man] One whom he took to be a man. Bp. Patrick.

Joshua 5:14

14. — captain of the host of the Lord] By “host of the Lord” may be denoted the angels of heaven, and

Jericho is shut up. Joshua instructed how to besiege it. Before CHRIST 1431. d Exod. 3. 8. Acts 7. 33. and said unto him, What saith my lord unto his servant?