Joshua 5 – Study
For those who may wish to ‘study’ this chapter, the following simple resources are provided for you. Each passage has a four-Part approach to help you take in and think further about what you have read.
Passage: Josh 5:1-12
1 Now when all the Amorite kings west of the Jordan and all the Canaanite kings along the coast heard how the Lord had dried up the Jordan before the Israelites until they had crossed over, their hearts melted in fear and they no longer had the courage to face the Israelites.
2 At that time the Lord said to Joshua, ‘Make flint knives and circumcise the Israelites again.’ 3 So Joshua made flint knives and circumcised the Israelites at Gibeath Haaraloth.
4 Now this is why he did so: all those who came out of Egypt – all the men of military age – died in the wilderness on the way after leaving Egypt. 5 All the people that came out had been circumcised, but all the people born in the wilderness during the journey from Egypt had not. 6 The Israelites had moved about in the wilderness for forty years until all the men who were of military age when they left Egypt had died, since they had not obeyed the Lord. For the Lord had sworn to them that they would not see the land that he had solemnly promised their ancestors to give us, a land flowing with milk and honey. 7 So he raised up their sons in their place, and these were the ones Joshua circumcised. They were still uncircumcised because they had not been circumcised on the way. 8 And after the whole nation had been circumcised, they remained where they were in camp until they were healed.
9 Then the Lord said to Joshua, ‘Today I have rolled away the reproach of Egypt from you.’ So the place has been called Gilgal to this day.
10 On the evening of the fourteenth day of the month, while camped at Gilgal on the plains of Jericho, the Israelites celebrated the Passover. 11 The day after the Passover, that very day, they ate some of the produce of the land: unleavened bread and roasted grain. 12 The manna stopped the day after[j] they ate this food from the land; there was no longer any manna for the Israelites, but that year they ate the produce of Canaan.
A. Find out:
- What was the effect of the crossing on nearby kings? v.1
- What did the Lord tell Joshua to do? v.2
- Why was this necessary? v.5
- Who had died in the wilderness? v.4,6
- What did they celebrate at Gilgal? v.10
- How did life change there? v.11,12
B. Think:
- Circumcision was a sign of relationship between the Jewish male and God. What was the purpose of them all being circumcised at this particular point?
- Why don’t we, as Christians, need such a daily reminder of our relationship with the Lord?
C. Comment:
The first thing to note in this passage is the effect of the recent miracle upon the surrounding peoples. Miracles bless the people of God, but they can also create other feelings in those who are against the people of God. Next we observe God’s requirements at this time. Now all the previous generation have gone, this present generation ought to be circumcised as a sign of their covenant relationship with God. Moses had nearly lost his life because of his casual attitude towards this once (see Exodus 4:24 -26).
By circumcision, the Jewish male would be reminded daily that he was a special person with a special relationship. It was important that as they went into the land that relationship was clearly established by this sign. They would need reminding about that relationship again and again when they were under pressure in the war zone. They relied upon a physical sign, circumcision. We have a spiritual sign, the Holy Spirit within us, who witnesses daily to our sonship (see Romans 8:16). Our reminder is internal.
D. Application?
- God doesn’t want us to be casual about our relationship with Him.
- Are we sensitive to the Holy Spirit within, who daily wants to prompt and guide us.
Passage: Josh 5:13-15
13 Now when Joshua was near Jericho, he looked up and saw a man standing in front of him with a drawn sword in his hand. Joshua went up to him and asked, ‘Are you for us or for our enemies?’
14 ‘Neither,’ he replied, ‘but as commander of the army of the Lord I have now come.’ Then Joshua fell face down to the ground in reverence, and asked him, ‘What message does my Lord have for his servant?’
15 The commander of the Lord’s army replied, ‘Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy.’ And Joshua did so.
A. Find out:
- Where did Joshua meet the man? v.13a
- What did Joshua challenge him with? v.13b
- How did the man reply? v.14a
- How did Joshua respond to this? v.14b
- What did Joshua ask? v.14c
- How did the man reply? v.15
B. Think:
- What, in your own words, was Joshua’s initial concern when he saw the man before him?
- What was significant about the man’s reply to Joshua’s challenge?
- What was significant about this being holy ground?
C. Comment:
Joshua is in the land approaching Jericho, the first obstacle in their path. Before him, between himself and Jericho, appears a man with sword drawn. Joshua’s natural reaction is to ask the man whose side he’s on. The man’s response is quite clear: God isn’t on anybody’s side! We need to realize that God doesn’t “take sides”, He is God and demands that we align ourselves with Him, not the other way round!
Something about the man convinces Joshua that what he says is true and an awe falls on him so that he falls before the man (an angel?). Immediately Joshua realizes the man must have come with a message for him. The message the man gives may appear somewhat surprising at first sight: this ground is holy! What does that say? It says God is here, this land belongs to God, and that is the greatest encouragement that Joshua can ask for as he prepares to move in: the Lord is there already! For any of us moving into new situations, the greatest encouragement we can have is to hear the Lord say, “I’m here already, ahead of you!”
D. Application?
- Are we trying to get God on “our side” or do we realise we’ve got to come in line with Him?
- Read Psalm 139:7-10, Matthew 28:20b and Hebrews 13:5b. Do we believe it?