Joshua 5:1-15 NIV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Joshua 5:1-9

A vast show, no doubt, the numerous camp of Israel made in the plains of Jericho, where now they had pitched their tents. Who can count the dust of Jacob? That which had long been the church in the wilderness has now come up from the wilderness, leaning upon her beloved, and looks forth as the morning, fair as the moon, clear as the sun, and terrible as an army with banners. How terrible she was in the eyes of her enemies we are here told, Josh. 5:1. How fair and clear she was made in the eyes... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Joshua 5:10-12

We may well imagine that the people of Canaan were astonished, and that when they observed the motions of the enemy they could not but think them very strange. When soldiers take the field they are apt to think themselves excused from religious exercises (they have not time nor thought to attend to them), yet Joshua opens the campaign with one act of devotion after another. What was afterwards said to another Joshua might truly be said to this, Hear now, O Joshua! thou and thy fellows that sit... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Joshua 5:13-15

We have hitherto found God often speaking to Joshua, but we read not till now of any appearance of God's glory to him; now that his difficulties increased his encouragements were increased in proportion. Observe, I. The time when he was favoured with this vision. It was immediately after he had performed the great solemnities of circumcision and the passover; then God made himself known to him. Note, We may then expect the discoveries of the divine grace when we are found in the way of our... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Joshua 5:1

And it came to pass, when all the kings of the Amorites, which were on the side of Jordan westward ,.... On the side the Israelites were now on; and this is observed, to distinguish them from the other kings of the Amorites beyond Jordan, on the eastern side, who were already conquered by the Israelites, Sihon and Og, who seem to be a colony that went over from the Amorites in Canaan, and possessed themselves of that part of the land of Moab. These seem to be put for several others of the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Joshua 5:2

At that time the Lord said unto Joshua ,.... When the people had passed over Jordan, and had pitched in Gilgal, and Joshua had set up the stones there; and particularly when the dread of them had seized the inhabitants of Canaan, and deprived them of all their courage; and so was a fit time for the execution of what is next ordered, and seems designed in the providence of God among other things particularly for that: make them sharp knives ; not that Joshua was to make them himself, but... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Joshua 5:3

And Joshua made him sharp knives, and circumcised the children of Israel ,.... Not that Joshua circumcised them himself, any more than he made the knives himself, but he ordered both to be done, and took care that they were done. And as any that had skill might make the knives, so might any circumcise; circumcision was not restrained to any order of men, not to the priests and Levites, but any might perform it; so that though the number to be circumcised was great, it might soon be finished:... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Joshua 5:4

And this is the cause why Joshua did circumcise ,.... Or the reason of the command given him to circumcise the children of Israel at this time, namely, what follows: all the people that came out of Egypt that were males, even all the men of war ; meaning such that were twenty years old, and upwards: died in the wilderness, by the way, after they came out of Egypt ; not directly, but in a course of forty years, as they journeyed through the wilderness; this is to be understood... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Joshua 5:5

Now all the people that came out were circumcised ,.... All that came out of Egypt, and males, were circumcised, whether under or above twenty years of age; for though it is possible all were circumcised before they came out of Egypt, which favours the opinion of Dr. Lightfoot, that they might be circumcised during the three nights' darkness of the Egyptians, when they could take no advantage of it, as Levi and Simeon did of the Shechemites; and which seems more probable than that it should... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Joshua 5:6

For the children of Israel walked forty years in the wilderness ,.... Wanting a few days, the round number is given: not forty two, as the Septuagint version: till all the people that were men of war, which came out of Egypt , were consumed ; all that were above twenty years of age, excepting Joshua and Caleb: because they obeyed not the voice of the Lord ; but murmured against him, and against his servants, and particularly against Aaron, being the high priest; and chiefly... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Joshua 5:7

And the children whom he raised up in their stead, them Joshua circumcised ,.... Who were born to them in the wilderness, and succeeded them, some of which might be near forty years of age; as for those that were born before, of which there might be many now living, they had been circumcised already, but others, were not: for they were circumcised, because they had not circumcised them by the way ; or while journeying the forty years in the wilderness; which, as before observed, seems... read more

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Joshua 5:1-9

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Joshua 5:10-12

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Joshua 5:13-15

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Joshua 5:1

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Joshua 5:2

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Joshua 5:3

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Joshua 5:4

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Joshua 5:5

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Joshua 5:6

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Joshua 5:7

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