What is the meaning of Joshua 5?

Introduction to Joshua 5

Joshua 5 marks a pivotal moment in Israel’s history as the nation transitions from their wilderness wanderings to the conquest of the Promised Land. This chapter serves as a spiritual preparation ground, where the new generation of Israelites renews their covenant relationship with God through circumcision and celebrates their first Passover in Canaan. The events recorded here demonstrate the profound importance of spiritual readiness before engaging in spiritual warfare, setting a pattern that resonates throughout Scripture and into our contemporary walk with God.

Context of Joshua 5

This chapter follows directly after the miraculous crossing of the Jordan River, where God demonstrated His power by parting the waters, reminiscent of the Red Sea crossing. This supernatural event established Joshua’s leadership and confirmed God’s presence with Israel, just as He had been with Moses. The timing is significant, occurring just before the conquest of Jericho, the first major military campaign in Canaan.

Within the broader biblical narrative, Joshua 5 serves as a crucial link between the wilderness period and the conquest of the Promised Land. It represents the fulfillment of God’s promises to Abraham, marking the moment when his descendants finally take possession of the land. The chapter’s emphasis on circumcision and Passover celebration connects back to the covenant made with Abraham and the exodus from Egypt, while simultaneously pointing forward to the spiritual realities that would be fulfilled in the Messiah.

Ancient Key Word Study

• מול (mul) – “circumcise”: This Hebrew word carries the deeper meaning of “cutting away” or “removing,” symbolizing the separation from the old life and dedication to God. In its root form, it connects to the concept of standing before or facing something, suggesting the confrontational nature of dealing with our flesh nature.
• פסח (pesach) – “Passover”: Beyond just the feast name, this word carries the meaning of “to pass over” or “to spare,” reminding Israel of God’s protective covering during the exodus. The root suggests a limping or skipping motion, painting a vivid picture of God’s judgment passing over those under the blood.
• מן (man) – “manna”: The word literally means “what is it?” reflecting Israel’s initial response to this miraculous provision. Its cessation in this chapter marks the end of the wilderness period and the beginning of living off the land’s produce.
• חרפה (cherpah) – “reproach”: This powerful term means “shame” or “disgrace,” specifically referring to the stigma of Egypt that God rolled away. It carries connotations of taunting and social disgrace that needed divine intervention to remove.
• ערלות (orlot) – “foreskins”: Beyond its literal meaning, this term symbolizes spiritual insensitivity and resistance to God’s will. The removal of the foreskin represented becoming sensitive and responsive to God’s leading.
• שר־צבא (sar-tsava) – “commander of the army”: This military title, used for the divine being Joshua encounters, combines “prince” or “chief” with “army” or “host,” suggesting both authority and military might.
• קדש (qadosh) – “holy”: Used in describing the ground where Joshua stands, this word means “set apart” or “sacred,” indicating a space where the divine and human realms intersect.

Compare & Contrast

• Joshua 5:2 uses the phrase “make flint knives” (חרבות צרים) rather than metal implements. This specific instruction points to ancient ritual practices and possibly connects to the stone knife used by Zipporah in Exodus 4:25. The use of flint may symbolize the primitive, unchanging nature of the covenant requirement.
• Joshua 5:9‘s use of “rolled away” (גלל) the reproach of Egypt creates a powerful image of physical removal, chosen over other Hebrew words for removal like סור (turn aside) or לקח (take away). This verb choice emphasizes the complete and irreversible nature of God’s deliverance.
• Joshua 5:10 specifically mentions they kept the Passover “on the evening” (בערב), emphasizing precise ritual timing rather than using a more general time reference. This connects directly to the original Passover instructions in Exodus 12:6.
• Joshua 5:13-15‘s description of the divine commander uses שר (prince/commander) rather than מלאך (angel), suggesting a higher authority figure, possibly a theophany of the pre-incarnate Messiah.

Joshua 5 Unique Insights

The timing of the mass circumcision reveals profound theological truth. The nation was at its most vulnerable militarily immediately after crossing into enemy territory, yet God commands them to make every fighting man temporarily unable to battle. This demonstrates that God’s priority is spiritual preparation over military readiness, teaching us that our spiritual state matters more than our natural capabilities.

The cessation of manna precisely when they eat from the produce of the land shows God’s perfect timing and provision. Rabbi David Kimchi (Radak) notes that this timing demonstrates how God’s supernatural provision doesn’t continue when natural means become available, teaching us to trust God’s wisdom in both miraculous and ordinary provision.

The appearance of the divine commander at the end of the chapter has significant messianic implications. The figure’s acceptance of worship and declaration of the ground as holy parallels the burning bush encounter of Moses, suggesting this was a theophany – a pre-incarnate appearance of the Messiah Yeshua. This reveals the warrior aspect of Messiah’s character, preparing us to see Him not only as the Lamb of God but also as the Lion of Judah.

Joshua 5 Connections to Yeshua

The mass circumcision event points forward to the “circumcision of the heart” that Yeshua would make possible through His death and resurrection. Just as physical circumcision marked Israel’s covenant relationship with God, the Messiah establishes a new covenant where our hearts are spiritually circumcised (Colossians 2:11-12).

The celebration of Passover in the Promised Land foreshadows how Yeshua, our Passover Lamb, would bring us into our spiritual inheritance. The transition from manna to the land’s produce parallels our journey from law to grace, where we move from temporary provision to the fullness of life in the Messiah.

Joshua 5 Scriptural Echoes

This chapter resonates with multiple biblical themes and events. The use of flint knives echoes Zipporah’s emergency circumcision of Moses’ son (Exodus 4:25). The rolling away of reproach foreshadows the stone being rolled away from Yeshua’s tomb, marking the removal of our shame through His resurrection.

The divine commander’s appearance connects back to Moses’ burning bush encounter (Exodus 3:5) and forward to John’s vision of the glorified Messiah in Revelation 1:12-16. The holy ground declaration establishes a pattern of divine encounters that transform ordinary spaces into sacred ones through God’s presence.

Joshua 5 Devotional

This chapter challenges us to examine our own spiritual preparation before major undertakings. Just as Israel needed circumcision before conquest, we too must ensure our hearts are right with God before engaging in spiritual battles. Are we willing to make ourselves vulnerable before God, trusting His timing and methods even when they seem counterintuitive to worldly wisdom?

The transition from manna to the land’s produce reminds us that God’s provision may change in form but never in faithfulness. Sometimes we must let go of familiar patterns to embrace new ways God wants to work in our lives. Are we willing to trust Him when He transitions us from supernatural to natural provision, or vice versa?

Did You Know

• The mass circumcision at Gibeath-haaraloth would have involved approximately 600,000 men, based on census numbers from the end of the wilderness period.
• The Passover celebrated in this chapter is only the third recorded Passover in Scripture – the first being in Egypt, the second at Sinai, and this one in Canaan.
• The flint knives mentioned were actually sharper than bronze knives available at the time and were traditionally used for ritualistic purposes throughout the ancient Near East.
• The location name Gilgal comes from the Hebrew word meaning “to roll,” commemorating God’s rolling away of Egypt’s reproach.
• Archaeological evidence has found flint knives at various Israelite sites, confirming the biblical account’s historical accuracy.
• The divine commander’s appearance marks one of the clearest theophanic appearances in the book of Joshua, with parallels to other divine encounters in Scripture.
• The timing of the manna’s cessation precisely coincided with the day after Passover, demonstrating God’s detailed providence in Israel’s provision.
• The Israelites would have needed several days to recover from circumcision, making them particularly vulnerable to enemy attack during this period.
• The phrase “commander of the LORD’s army” appears nowhere else in Scripture in exactly this form, making this a unique divine title.