20140201 Saturday, February 1 2014
Joshua 05: The Gilgal Passover

by Wayne Blank
See also 1 Year Holy Bible Reading Plan

"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"

With the crossing of the Jordan River accomplished (see Joshua 1: Joshua's Commission, Joshua 2: Rahab Of Jericho, Joshua 3: The Crossing Of The Jordan and Joshua 4: Beachhead In The Promised Land), the Canaanite nations (see What Does The Bible Really Say About Canaanites?) began to panic - not because of what the Israelites did, but because of what the LORD (Who was and is Jesus Christ - see Genesis 1: In The Beginning Was The Word and The Kingdom Of The LORD God) had done for them.

"5:1 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 KJV)

The Israelite arrival in the Promised Land was forty years later than had been originally planned (see Deuteronomy 1: Why A Book Of Deuteronomy In The Bible?). Another of the results of that delay was the commandment of circumcision, that had been originally given to Abraham centuries before (see Genesis 17: From Abram To Abraham), had been neglected by the liberal Exodus generation (see Exodus 13: Liberation, Not Liberal-ation and Deuteronomy 2: The Israelite Wanderland).

"5:2 At that time the LORD said unto Joshua, Make thee sharp knives, and circumcise again the children of Israel the second time. 5:3 And Joshua made him sharp knives, and circumcised the children of Israel at the hill of the foreskins.

5:4 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. 5:5 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.

5:6 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.

5:7 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. 5:8 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.

5:9 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." (Joshua 5:2-9 KJV)

The Israelites had left Egypt at the time of Passover (see Exodus 12: The First Passover; also Exodus 11: The Passover Moon At Midnight). Forty years later, the Israelites entered the Promised Land at the time of Passover. That Passover marked the end of the free manna.

"5:10 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. 5:11 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. 5:12 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 5:10-12 KJV)

Joshua knew that Israel had a war to fight. Among the Israelite army were warriors of the LORD who couldn't be wounded or killed.

"5:13 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?

5:14 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?

5:15 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 5:13-15 KJV)

Fact Finder: How many wars have the present-day people of Israel fought in the very same land taken by Joshua?
See Israel's Wars In The Twentieth Century