Joshua 5

All the Kings of the Amorites , and of the Canaanites are sorely affrighted , hearing of the drying up of Jordan , and of the Israelites passage thorow it , v.1, & c. The males of the Israelites born in the wildernesse , are circumcised by the command of God, 2 . where they likewise celebrate the passeover , 10.The Manna ceaseth , after they had eaten of the corn of the land , 12. CHRIST , the Prince of the people appeareth unto Josua in the form or shape of a man of war , 13.

1. And it came to passe , when all the Kings of the Amorites , which (were) on this side of Jordan west-ward , [i.e. inhabiting the West part , in the land of Canaan] and all the Kings of the Canaanites , which (were) by the Sea, heard that the LORD had dried up the waters of Jordan before the face of the children of Israel , untill we were passed it : Their heart melted , [i.e. they fainted ; see chapter 2.9, 24.] there was no more courage in them , before the face of the children of Israel .

2. At that time the LORD spake unto Josua , Make thee stone knives , [Oth. sharp knives . Heb. swords , or knives of rocks, as Exod.4.25.] and circumcise again [Heb. return circumcise ; i.e. circumcise again , an Hebrew manner of speaking , see Numb. 11. on v.4. Psal.85.7. Ezech.8.6. The circumcision was first enjoyned unto Abraham and his seed , and was afterward continued till in Egypt , where those who were come out of Egypt were also circumcised : but for as much as circumcision was not administered unto those that were born in the wildernesse , therefore the same is here again by Gods command re-assumed] the children of Israel the second time .

3. Then Josua made him stone-knives , and circumcised the children of Israel , [viz. those, who as yet were not circumcised , which were those that were born in the wildernesse] upon the hill of the foreskins . [some keep the Hebrew word Areloth used in the text , which signifieth foreskins , because the foreskins of the children of Israel weren there circumcised.]

4. Now this was the cause wherefore Josua circumcised them : all the people that went out of Egypt , the males , all the men of war , died in the wildernesse by the way , after they came out of Egypt .

5. For all the people that came out thence were circumcised ; but all the people that were born in the wildernesse by the way , after they came forth out of Egypt , ( them) they [To wit, the Parents] had not circumcised . [this was omitted, either through negligence and heedlessenesse , or because they knew not the precise time when they were to march ; and it would be very troublesom , yea doubtless prove exceeding dangerous to those that were but newly circumcised , immediately to march upon it .]

6. For the children of Israel marched fourty years in the wildernesse , till all the people of the men of war , that were gone out of Egypt , who had not obeyed the voice of the LORD , were consumed : to whom the LORD had sworn, that he would not let them see the land , which the LORD had sworn unto their fathers to give us, a land flowing with milk and honey .

7. But he [viz. the Lord God] hath put their sons in their stead , those did Joshua circumcise , because they had the foreskin , for they had not circumcised them by the way.

8. And it came to passe , when they had made an end of circumcising all the people , that they abode in their place in the camp, untill they were healed . [Heb. untill they lived , as Numb.21,8.]

9. Moreover the LORD spake unto Josua , This day have I called away the reproach of Egypt [So he calleth the foreskin , which the Israelites had left on their children , herein rather following the example of uncircumcised Egyptians , then the command of God . See Jerem.9.25,26 . Some understand by the reproach of Egypt , the reproach, or aspersion , which the Egyptians would have cast upon God and his people , if they should have been excluded out of the land of Canaan : See Deut.9.26.] from you : [Heb. from upon you ; i.e. which lay upon you] therefore the name of the place was called Gilgal, [i.e. rolling , rolling away , because by circumcision the shame or reproach of the Israelites was as it were rolled away] unto this day . [viz. keepeth the name , or that place beareth his name]

10. While the children of Israel lay encamped at Gilgal , they kept the passeover [Heb. they made, & c, The celebrating of the passeover was likewise in the wilderness , save in the second year after their going out of Egypt , intermitted ; see Numb.9.1.] on the fourteenth day of the same moneth . [viz. on the fourteenth day of the first moneth of the year , as appearrth, Joshua 4:19.] in the evening , on the plain fields of Jericho.

11. And they did eat of the ladt yeare s corn of the land , the second day of the Passeover , unleavened bread , and parched eares , even the same day.

12. And the Manna ceased the next day , after they had eaten of the last yeare s corn of the land , and the children of Israel had no more Manna , but they did eat of the revenue of the land of Canaan , the self-same year .

13. Moreover, it came to passe when Josua was by Jericho , that he lift up his eyes , and looked , there stood a man over against him , [This was the Lord Christ in the shape of a man , as may be gathered from chap.6.2.] which had a drawn sword in his hand : [viz. thereby to encourage Josua , giving him to understand , that he would be with him , and fight on his side against the Canaanites, and cause him to have the victory] And Josua went unto him , and said , art thou ours , or our enemies?

14. And he said , NO, [i.e. I belong not to your enemies] but I am the Prince of the host of the LORD , [viz. Christ, taking care of the camp of the Israelites, which are the Lords people] I am now come : then Josua fell on his face to the earth , and worshipped , [for he knew him to be the true God . If this had been but a created Angel , he would not have suffered himself to be honored thus , as may be seen , Revel. 19.20. and 22.6.] and said unto him , what speaketh my Lord unto his servant ?

15. Then said the Prince of the host of the LORD unto Josua , Pluck off thy shoes from thy feet , [ This God likewise commanded Moseh , Exod.3.5. see also Acts 7:33. for the place whereon thou standest , is holy : [Heb. holinesse . Wherefore was this place holy ? because the Lord had hallowed it by his special presence . See Exod.3.5. And the annotat. there] and Josua did so.