Joshua

When all the kings of the Amorites on the western side of the Jordan, and all the kings of the Canaanites near the Sea, heard how GOD had dried up the waters of the Jordan for the sake of the Israelites until they crossed over, they lost heart, and no spirit was left in them because of the Israelites.

At that time GOD said to Joshua, “Make flint knives and proceed with a second circumcision of the Israelites.”

So Joshua had flint knives made, and the Israelites were circumcised at Gibeath-haaraloth.aGibeath-haaraloth I.e., “the Hill of Foreskins.”

This is the reason why Joshua had the circumcision performed: All the people who had come out of Egypt, all the males of military age, had died during the desert wanderings after leaving Egypt.

Now, whereas all such people who came out of Egypt had been circumcised, none of those born after the exodus, during the desert wanderings, had been circumcised.

For the Israelites had traveled in the wilderness forty years, until the entire nation—the men of military age who had left Egypt—had perished; because they had not obeyed GOD, and GOD had sworn never to let them see the land that GOD had sworn to their fathersbfathers See note at 1.6. to assign to us, a land flowing with milk and honey.

But [God] had raised up their sons in their stead; and it was these that Joshua circumcised, for they were uncircumcised, not having been circumcised on the way.

After the circumcising of the whole nation was completed, they remained where they were, in the camp, until they recovered.

And GOD said to Joshua, “Today I have rolled away from you the disgrace of Egypt.”cdisgrace of Egypt I.e., of the Egyptian bondage. So that place was called Gilgal,dGilgal Interpreted as “rolling.” as it still is.

Encamped at Gilgal, in the steppes of Jericho, the Israelites offered the passover sacrifice on the fourteenth day of the month, toward evening.

On the day after the passover offering, on that very day, they ate of the produce of the country, unleavened bread and parched grain.

On that same day,eOn that same day Lit. “on the day after.” when they ate of the produce of the land, the manna ceased. The Israelites got no more manna; that year they ate of the yield of the land of Canaan.

Once, when Joshua was near Jericho, he looked up and saw a figure standing before him, drawn sword in hand. Joshua went up to him and asked him, “Are you one of us or of our enemies?”

He replied, “No, I am captain of GOD’s host. Now I have come!” Joshua threw himself face down to the ground and, prostrating himself, said to him, “What does my lord command his servant?”

The captain of GOD’s host answered Joshua, “Remove your sandals from your feet, for the place where you stand is holy.” And Joshua did so.