Joshua 5

In our study of Joshua chapter five, we will look at consecration and the fact that it is God's plan that matters and not our own.

Chapter Overview

Joshua chapter 5 pauses the conquest narrative before a single battle is fought. With the nations of Canaan already terrified, Israel's next move isn't military — it's covenantal. The men are circumcised, the people keep Passover, and the manna that had sustained them for forty years finally stops.

The chapter closes with Joshua encountering a mysterious figure near Jericho — the commander of ADONAI's army — who reframes the whole campaign. Joshua isn't there to recruit God to his side; he's there to submit to God's plan. The chapter is ultimately about getting into right relationship with God before ever stepping into battle.

Historical Background

Circumcision was the sign of the Abrahamic covenant (Genesis 17), and the generation that had grown up in the wilderness had never received it — a sign of how far that generation had drifted from covenant obedience during the years of wandering. Renewing this practice at Gilgal marked a formal return to the covenant before Israel could take possession of the land God had promised.

Notably, Joshua used knives of flint rather than the bronze or iron tools that would have been available by this point. Flint was the older, more traditional material for this rite, tying this generation's obedience back to the patriarchal practice of Abraham himself rather than to anything modern or convenient.

Joshua 5:1

When all the kings of the Emori on the west side of the Yarden and all the kings of the Kena'ani near the sea heard how ADONAI had dried up the Yarden River ahead of the people of Isra'el until they had crossed it, their hearts failed them, and they fell into depression because of the people of Isra'el.

Everyone had heard about the Israelites crossing the Jordan while it was at flood stage and so they knew that God was with them. Even though they were pagans, they understood that the presence of God was different than their idols and they were afraid. We might ask ourselves why so many people in the world today attack and kill Christians. We see stories every day of terrorists killing Christian and Jewish people in the name of their god. The answer is simple, in that, they do not see the power of God displayed on behalf of His people. As we see in the book of Revelation, those days are going to end soon.

Joshua 5:2 & 3

It was at that time that ADONAI said to Y'hoshua, "Make yourself knives of flint, and circumcise the people of Isra'el again, a second time. So Y'hoshua made himself knives of flint and circumcised the people of Isra'el at Giv'at-Ha'Aralot.

The Lord instructs the people to get back to observing the Avrahamic Covenant. God had fulfilled His part by His presence and by giving them the land of Canaan. That contract required the men of Israel to be circumcised and so Y'hoshua did so and the place was named Gibeath Haaraloth which means "Hill of the Foreskins". The circumcision was a physical act of consecration as it identified the men as God's people. They had made the decision in their hearts while they were on the other side of the river (see chapter 3) but now they became identified with their decision. We are reminded that circumcision has to do with death of the flesh. As Christians, we are identified with our decision by the presence of the Holy Spirit living in us. If those who attack Christians and Jews were to see this presence of God, they would not have the courage to continue to attack because they would know that they were opposing the true God.

Joshua 5:4-6

The reason Y'hoshua circumcised was that all the people who had left Egypt who were males, all the fighting men, had died in the desert along the way after leaving Egypt. For although all the people who left Egypt had been circumcised, all those who had been born in the desert on the way as they went on from Egypt had not been circumcised; because the people of Isra'el walked forty years in the desert until the whole nation, that is, the fighting men who had left Egypt, had died out; because they had not heeded what ADONAI said. ADONAI had sworn that he would not allow them to see the land which ADONAI swore to their ancestors that he would give us, a land flowing with milk and honey.

During their time in the wilderness, the Israelites had turned their backs on God and had not circumcised their children. They had initially disobeyed by not going in and taking the land that God was giving them. This initial disobedience was made complete by their failure to keep the Avrahamic covenant during their time in the wilderness. We see the number forty mentioned and are reminded that the number has to do with a transition. In this case, the transition is from the parents walking by sight to their children walking in faith and for that to happen the flesh must die.

Joshua 5:7 & 8

So he raised up their children to take their place, and it was these whom Y'hoshua circumcised; till then they had been uncircumcised, because they had not been circumcised while traveling. When all the nation had been circumcised, every one of them, they stayed where they were in camp until they had healed.

God began the principle of the remnant at this time. Throughout the rest of the Bible, God will always have a portion of His people remaining on the earth until Yeshua returns to establish His kingdom. Those who had left Egypt and refused to take Canaan died but God preserved His people through their children. These are the people that were consecrated to God and returned to the covenant.

Joshua 5:9

ADONAI said to Y'hoshua, "Today I have rolled off from you the stigma of Egypt." This is why the place has been called Gilgal ever since.

It must have been shameful as the Israelites had wandered around in the desert for forty years. The surrounding nations would have heard of their wandering and the fact that God was judging them for their disobedience. That shame was removed by the fact that God had led them into Canaan in a big way. Only God could remove their shame and the same is true for us, as Christians. As sinners, the things that we do bring shame upon ourselves and our family but, by the power of God, that shame is removed when we accept Yeshua Messiah.

Hebraic Insight

The word translated "stigma" or "reproach" in verse 9 is cherpah — a concept bigger than personal guilt. Cherpah is a communal shame, the kind that comes from how the watching nations perceived Israel: a people who had wandered outside the land God promised them for forty years. It wasn't only about what Israel had done wrong; it was about what that failure said to everyone watching.

By "rolling off" that reproach at Gilgal, ADONAI wasn't just forgiving private sin — He was publicly restoring Israel's identity as His covenant people, in full view of the surrounding nations.

Joshua 5:10

The people of Isra'el camped at Gilgal, and they observed Pesach on the fourteenth day of the month, there on the plains of Yericho.

As we saw, the lamb was selected for the Passover on the tenth and was taken care of for four days. At the end of the four days, the lamb was killed and the people ate the Passover meal. To do so, the men had to be circumcised (see Exodus 12). They ate this meal to remember the fact that the angel of death had passed over their homes while they were in Egypt. As we know, this lamb was a picture of Yeshua going to the cross on our behalf.

Joshua 5:11 & 12

The day after Pesach they ate what the land produced, matzah and roasted ears of grain that day. The following day, after they had eaten food produced in the land, the man ended. From then on the people of Isra'el no longer had man; instead, that year, they ate the produce of the land of Kena'an.

For forty years the Israelites had eaten quail and manna but that ended with the Passover lamb. That was "deliverance food" and was basic food to get them to their destination. With the renewal of the covenant, they were back in the will of God. This deliverance food is sorta like the basics of the gospel of Yeshua Messiah because we just need a basic knowledge of sin and our need for a Savior to get to the point of salvation. The Passover celebrated their deliverance and the very next day they ate food that had grown in the Promised Land. In the days to come they would have a variety of foods to eat and it reminds us of the fact that all of the scriptures are food for our souls. After we accept Yeshua Messiah as our Lord and Savior, we can feast on His Word and learn to appreciate Him more and more. On the second day, the manna and quail stopped and it reminds us of the fact that there is a set amount of time for each of us to hear and either accept or reject the gospel. With this in mind, we should have a renewed sense of urgency in telling people about Yeshua. As we see in Revelation, soon the "deliverance food" will cease and judgment will begin.

Joshua 5:13

One day, when Y'hoshua was there by Yericho, he raised his eyes and looked; and in front of him stood a man with his drawn sword in his hand. Y'hoshua went over to him and asked him, "Are you on our side or on the side of our enemies?"

Y'hoshua went out to take a look at Jericho as he was going to be leading Israel into battle against them. The phrase "he raised his eyes" is a Hebrew idiom for prayer and we see that Y'hoshua was near Yericho and he was praying about the coming battle when he saw the man. It appeared that the man was opposing him as he had a drawn sword but, instead of acting in fear, Y'hoshua simply asked him whether he was for them or their enemies. That, my friends, is walking in faith instead of the flesh.

Joshua 5:14

"No," he replied, "but I am the commander of ADONAI's army; I have come just now." Y'hoshua fell down with his face to the ground and worshipped him, then asked, "What does my lord have to say to his servant?"

The man introduces himself as the commander of the army of the Lord. This is clearly Yeshua because, when Y'hoshua fell down, the man did not warn him about doing so. When an angel has that happen, they are quick to tell the man to get up because they are unworthy of worship.

Did You Know?

The "commander of ADONAI's army" is one of a small handful of figures in the Hebrew Scriptures widely understood as a pre-incarnate appearance of the Son — alongside the man who wrestled with Jacob (Genesis 32), the fourth man in the fiery furnace (Daniel 3), and the angel of ADONAI who appeared to Moses at the burning bush (Exodus 3). In each case, the figure accepts worship or identifies Himself in a way no created angel ever does in Scripture.

Joshua 5:15

The commander of ADONAI's army answered Y'hoshua, "Take your sandals off your feet, because the place where you are standing is holy." And Y'hoshua did so.

This same type of thing happened with Moshe at the burning bush when he met the Lord (see Exodus 3). Y'hoshua had asked for a message but the only thing he got was that the place where he was standing was holy. It was holy because it was Yeshua standing there with him. So, why was Yeshua there and why did He say that He was on neither side? Yeshua was there to remind Y'hoshua that it is not about him but about God. God had elevated him in the eyes of Israel but he had to remember that he was still a subject of the King of Kings. He was going to take Jericho but not because of any plan that Y'hoshua had but because it was in God's plan for His people. Many times we, as Christians, will get wrapped up in our plans and forget that it is only God's will that matters because He knows best. We are to be conformed to His will not trying to conform His will to our plans. There is freedom and a whole lot less stress when we realize that we do not have to come up with plans. Instead, we can trust in the plans of God. If we listen to the prompting of the Holy Spirit, we will be led into His perfect will for any situation.

🎓 Continue Your Hebraic Journey

Joshua chapter 5 is one lesson in the Walk with Yeshua Joshua course. Continue your study by watching the companion teaching that explores the Hebrew language, covenant themes, and Messianic connections found in Israel's renewal at Gilgal.

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Messianic Themes

• Circumcision of the heart. The physical renewal of the covenant at Gilgal points forward to the circumcision "not made with hands" — a heart made new through Messiah (Colossians 2:11, Romans 2:28-29).
• Messiah, our Passover. The lamb Israel ate at Gilgal pictures Yeshua, described by Paul as "our Passover lamb, sacrificed for us" (1 Corinthians 5:7).
• From manna to bread of life. When the manna stopped, Israel began eating the produce of the land itself. In the same way, Yeshua calls Himself the true bread from heaven that satisfies forever (John 6:32-35).
• The Commander revealed. The figure who meets Joshua near Jericho, accepting worship and identifying the ground as holy, is widely understood as Yeshua Himself appearing before His incarnation.
• Holy ground, not human strategy. Joshua is told to remove his sandals before he's told any battle plan — a reminder that reverence for God's presence comes before any pursuit of victory.

Related Scriptures

• Genesis 17 — ADONAI establishes circumcision as the sign of His covenant with Abraham.
• Exodus 3 — Moses meets ADONAI at the burning bush and is told to remove his sandals on holy ground.
• Exodus 12 — The Passover is instituted in Egypt, the pattern Israel now keeps in the land.
• Romans 2:28-29 — Paul describes true circumcision as a matter of the heart, by the Spirit.
• 1 Corinthians 5:7 — Yeshua identified as "our Passover lamb, sacrificed for us."
• John 6:32-35 — Yeshua calls Himself the true bread from heaven.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why did the men of Israel need to be circumcised again?

The generation born in the wilderness had never been circumcised, likely reflecting the nation's broader disobedience during those years. Before entering into the promises of the covenant, this generation needed to formally return to its terms.

Who is the commander of ADONAI's army?

The text doesn't name him explicitly, but the details — accepting worship, declaring the ground holy because of His presence — point beyond a created angel. Many readers understand this as a pre-incarnate appearance of the Son, similar to other such encounters throughout the Hebrew Scriptures.

Why did the manna stop right after they ate the produce of the land?

Manna was provision for the wilderness journey. Once Israel reached the land and could eat what it produced, that particular provision had served its purpose and gave way to a new kind of sustenance.

Reflection Questions

1. What would it look like for you to "renew the covenant" in an area where you've drifted, the way Israel did at Gilgal?
2. Joshua asked "are you for us or against us?" and got a surprising answer. Where might you be assuming God is on your side of a plan rather than asking whether you're on His?
3. What is the "manna" in your life that God may be replacing with something more permanent?
4. Why do you think reverence (removing sandals, falling facedown) came before any strategic instruction for Joshua?
5. How does the concept of cherpah — communal reproach — help you understand your own testimony to others?