Joshua 5
Lutheran reading notes
In Joshua chapter 5, the account continues the story of Israel’s conquest and settlement of the promised land. Lutheran interpretation frequently highlights how these events reveal both human sinfulness and God’s faithful promises. The chapter demonstrates the tension between human failure and God’s ongoing grace working through history.
1
And it came to pass, when all the kings of the Amorites, which {were} on the side of Jordan westward, and all the kings of the Canaanites, which {were} by the sea, heard that the LORD had dried up the waters of Jordan from before the children of Israel, until we were passed over, that their heart melted, neither was there spirit in them any more, because of the children of Israel.
Joshua 5:1 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
2
At that time the LORD said unto Joshua, Make thee sharp knives, and circumcise again the children of Israel the second time. {sharp...: or, knives of flints}
Joshua 5:2 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
3
And Joshua made him sharp knives, and circumcised the children of Israel at the hill of the foreskins. {sharp...: or, knives of flints} {the hill...: or, Gibeah-haaraloth}
Joshua 5:3 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
4
And this {is} the cause why Joshua did circumcise: All the people that came out of Egypt, {that were} males, {even} all the men of war, died in the wilderness by the way, after they came out of Egypt.
Joshua 5:4 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
5
Now 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, {them} they had not circumcised.
Joshua 5:5 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
6
For the children of Israel walked forty years in the wilderness, till all the people {that were} men of war, which came out of Egypt, were consumed, because they obeyed not the voice of the LORD: unto whom the LORD sware that he would not shew them the land, which the LORD sware unto their fathers that he would give us, a land that floweth with milk and honey.
Joshua 5:6 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
7
And their children, {whom} he raised up in their stead, them Joshua circumcised: for they were uncircumcised, because they had not circumcised them by the way.
Joshua 5:7 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
8
And it came to pass, when they had done circumcising all the people, that they abode in their places in the camp, till they were whole. {they had...: Heb. the people had made an end to be circumcised}
Joshua 5:8 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
9
And the LORD said unto Joshua, This day have I rolled away the reproach of Egypt from off you. Wherefore the name of the place is called Gilgal unto this day. {Gilgal: that is Rolling}
Joshua 5:9 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
10
And the children of Israel encamped in Gilgal, and kept the passover on the fourteenth day of the month at even in the plains of Jericho.
Joshua 5:10 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
11
And they did eat of the old corn of the land on the morrow after the passover, unleavened cakes, and parched {corn} in the selfsame day.
Joshua 5:11 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
12
And the manna ceased on the morrow after they had eaten of the old corn of the land; neither had the children of Israel manna any more; but they did eat of the fruit of the land of Canaan that year.
Joshua 5:12 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
13
And it came to pass, when Joshua was by Jericho, that he lifted up his eyes and looked, and, behold, there stood a man over against him with his sword drawn in his hand: and Joshua went unto him, and said unto him, {Art} thou for us, or for our adversaries?
Joshua 5:13 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
14
And he said, Nay; but {as} captain of the host of the LORD am I now come. And Joshua fell on his face to the earth, and did worship, and said unto him, What saith my lord unto his servant? {captain: or, prince}
Joshua 5:14 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
15
And the captain of the LORD'S host said unto Joshua, Loose thy shoe from off thy foot; for the place whereon thou standest {is} holy. And Joshua did so.
Joshua 5:15 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.