Joshua 5: Commander of the Lord's Army
A new generation is circumcised and keeps the Passover, the manna ceases, and Joshua meets the commander of the Lord's army on holy ground.
Joshua 5 (WEB)
1 When all the kings of the Amorites, who were beyond the Jordan westward, and all the kings of the Canaanites, who were by the sea, heard how Yahweh had dried up the waters of the Jordan from before the children of Israel, until we had passed over, their heart melted, neither was there spirit in them any more, because of the children of Israel.
2 At that time, Yahweh said to Joshua, “Make flint knives, and circumcise again the children of Israel the second time.”
3 Joshua made himself flint knives, and circumcised the children of Israel at the hill of the foreskins.
4 This is the reason Joshua circumcised: all the people who came out of Egypt, who were males, even all the men of war, died in the wilderness by the way, after they came out of Egypt.
5 For all the people who came out were circumcised; but all the people who were born in the wilderness by the way as they came out of Egypt had not been circumcised.
6 For the children of Israel walked forty years in the wilderness, until all the nation, even the men of war who came out of Egypt, were consumed, because they didn’t listen to the voice of Yahweh. Yahweh swore to them that he wouldn’t let them see the land which Yahweh swore to their fathers that he would give us, a land flowing with milk and honey.
7 Their children, whom he raised up in their place, were circumcised by Joshua; for they were uncircumcised, because they had not circumcised them on the way.
8 When they were done circumcising the whole nation, they stayed in their places in the camp until they were healed.
9 Yahweh said to Joshua, “Today I have rolled away the reproach of Egypt from off you.” Therefore the name of that place was called Gilgal, to this day.
10 The children of Israel encamped in Gilgal. They kept the Passover on the fourteenth day of the month at evening in the plains of Jericho.
11 They ate unleavened cakes and parched grain of the produce of the land on the next day after the Passover, in the same day.
12 The manna ceased on the next day, after they had eaten of the produce of the land. The children of Israel didn’t have manna any more; but they ate of the fruit of the land of Canaan that year.
13 When Joshua was by Jericho, he lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, a man stood in front of him with his sword drawn in his hand. Joshua went to him, and said to him, “Are you for us, or for our adversaries?”
14 He said, “No; but I have come now as commander of Yahweh’s army.” Joshua fell on his face to the earth, and worshiped, and said to him, “What does my lord say to his servant?”
15 The prince of Yahweh’s army said to Joshua, “Take your shoes off of your feet; for the place on which you stand is holy.” Joshua did so.
Joshua 5 (KJV)
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.
2 At that time the Lord said unto Joshua, Make thee sharp knives, and circumcise again the children of Israel the second time.
3 And Joshua made him sharp knives, and circumcised the children of Israel at the hill of the foreskins.
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 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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?
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?
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 (ASV)
1 And it came to pass, when all the kings of the Amorites, that were beyond the Jordan westward, and all the kings of the Canaanites, that were by the sea, heard how that Jehovah had dried up the waters of the 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.
2 At that time Jehovah said unto Joshua, Make thee knives of flint, and circumcise again the children of Israel the second time.
3 And Joshua made him knives of flint, and circumcised the children of Israel at the hill of the foreskins.
4 And this is the cause why Joshua did circumcise: all the people that came forth out of Egypt, that were males, even all the men of war, died in the wilderness by the way, after they came forth out of Egypt.
5 For 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, they had not circumcised.
6 For the children of Israel walked forty years in the wilderness, till all the nation, even the men of war that came forth out of Egypt, were consumed, because they hearkened not unto the voice of Jehovah: unto whom Jehovah sware that he would not let them see the land which Jehovah sware unto their fathers that he would give us, a land flowing with milk and honey.
7 And their children, whom he raised up in their stead, them did Joshua circumcise: for they were uncircumcised, because they had not circumcised them by the way.
8 And it came to pass, when they had done circumcising all the nation, that they abode in their places in the camp, till they were whole.
9 And Jehovah said unto Joshua, This day have I rolled away the reproach of Egypt from off you. Wherefore the name of that place was called Gilgal, unto this day.
10 And the children of Israel encamped in Gilgal; and they kept the passover on the fourteenth day of the month at even in the plains of Jericho.
11 And they did eat of the produce of the land on the morrow after the passover, unleavened cakes and parched grain, in the selfsame day.
12 And the manna ceased on the morrow, after they had eaten of the produce 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.
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?
14 And he said, Nay; but as prince of the host of Jehovah 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?
15 And the prince of Jehovah’s host said unto Joshua, Put off thy shoe from off thy foot; for the place whereon thou standest is holy. And Joshua did so.
Summary
When the Canaanite kings hear that the Lord dried up the Jordan, their hearts melt and they lose all spirit to fight. In this lull, the Lord tells Joshua to make flint knives and circumcise the new generation, for all the men born in the wilderness had not been circumcised. Joshua does so at the hill of the foreskins, and once the nation is healed the Lord declares, "Today I have rolled away the reproach of Egypt from off you," which is why the place is called Gilgal. The people then keep the Passover on the plains of Jericho and eat the produce of the land for the first time. The very next day the manna ceases, for they no longer need it now that they eat the fruit of Canaan. As Joshua surveys Jericho, he sees a man standing with a drawn sword and asks whether he is for Israel or its enemies. The answer is startling: "No; but I have come now as commander of Yahweh's army." Joshua falls on his face to worship and asks for his Lord's command, and he is told to remove his sandals because the ground is holy. Before the conquest begins, Israel is reminded that the battle belongs to the Lord and that he comes not merely to take their side but to lead.
Main Characters
- Joshua — Israel's leader, who circumcises the new generation, keeps the Passover, and bows before the commander of the Lord's army on holy ground.
- The new generation of Israel — Those born in the wilderness, now circumcised and keeping the Passover, their reproach rolled away as they enter the land.
- The commander of the Lord's army — The mysterious figure with a drawn sword who comes to lead, not merely to take sides, and before whom Joshua worships on holy ground.
- Yahweh (the LORD) — The God who rolls away the reproach of Egypt, provides the produce of the land in place of manna, and stands as the true commander of Israel's battles.
Key Verse
Joshua 5:14 (WEB)
He said, “No; but I have come now as commander of Yahweh’s army.” Joshua fell on his face to the earth, and worshiped, and said to him, “What does my lord say to his servant?”
Lessons Learned
- God renews his covenant with his people before he leads them into new battles.
- Spiritual preparation matters more than military readiness on the eve of conquest.
- God's provision changes as his people move into new seasons of his promise.
- The Lord does not come merely to take our side; he comes to lead, and we must worship and follow.
- God prepares his people inwardly first. Before any battle, the nation is circumcised and keeps Passover (Joshua 5:2-10, WEB). Covenant renewal precedes conquest.
- God rolls away our shame. “Today I have rolled away the reproach of Egypt from off you” (Joshua 5:9, WEB). He removes the disgrace of the past as his people step into his promise.
- God's provision suits the season. “The manna ceased… but they ate of the fruit of the land” (Joshua 5:12, WEB). As circumstances change, his care takes new forms.
- The Lord comes to lead, not to take sides. Asked, “Are you for us, or for our adversaries?” the commander answers, “No” (Joshua 5:13-14, WEB). We align with him, not he with us.
- Why does God have Israel pause to be circumcised and keep the Passover before attacking Jericho?
- What is the significance of the manna ceasing once they eat the produce of the land?
- When Joshua asks whether the commander is for Israel or its enemies, why is the answer "No"?
- What does Joshua's response of falling down to worship teach us about meeting God?
- In what areas are you tempted to assume God is simply on your side, when he is calling you instead to fall down and follow him?
- On the brink of war, God's priority is covenant faithfulness, not military strategy (5:2-10). Circumcision and Passover renew Israel's identity as God's people and remind them the land is a gift of grace. Help the group see spiritual readiness as the foundation of every endeavor.
- Manna belonged to the wilderness; the produce of Canaan belongs to the promised land (5:11-12). God's provision shifts as his people move into a new season, but his care is constant. Encourage the group to notice how God's faithfulness takes new forms.
- The commander refuses to be enlisted on Israel's team; he has come to take command (5:14). The real question is not whether God is on our side but whether we are surrendered to his. This reorients the whole conquest around God's lordship.
- Joshua falls on his face, worships, and asks for orders (5:14). Encountering God rightly produces reverence and surrender, not bargaining. Like Moses at the bush, Joshua stands on holy ground and removes his sandals. Invite the group to consider what genuine worship looks like.
- This is a personal-application question. Gently invite members to examine where they have assumed God's endorsement of their plans rather than submitting their plans to him. As leader, point to worship and surrender as the posture that meets God truly.