Joshua 5:2-4 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

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

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Joshua 5:2

Make thee sharp knives - צרים חרבות charboth tsurim , knives of rock, stone, or flint. Before the use of iron was common, all the nations of the earth had their edge-tools made of stones, flints, etc. In the lately discovered islands this is found to be a common case. Our ancestors in these countries made their arrow and spear-heads of flint: these I have often seen turned up by the plough. But we cannot suppose that at the time here referred to the Israelites were destitute of... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Joshua 5:4

This is the cause why Joshua did circumcise - The text here explains itself. Before the Israelites left Egypt all the males were circumcised; and some learned men think that all those who were born during their encampment at Sinai were circumcised also, because there they celebrated the passover; but after that time, during the whole of their stay in the wilderness, there were none circumcised till they entered into the promised land. Owing to their unsettled state, God appears... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Joshua 5:2

Verse 2 2.At that time the Lord said, etc It seems very strange and almost monstrous, that circumcision had so long been laid aside, especially as it became those who were receiving daily admonitions to be more than usually careful to cultivate the exercises of piety. It was the symbol of the adoption to which they owed their freedom. And it is certain that when they were reduced to extremity and groaning under tyranny, they always circumcised their children. We know also how sternly God... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Joshua 5:1-9

The great renewal of the covenant. Matthew Henry very felicitously quotes here and combines the two passages (So Matthew 8:5 and Matthew 6:10 ), "Who is this that cometh up from the wilderness, leaning upon her beloved, who looks forth as the morning, fair as the moon, clear as the sun, and terrible as an army with banners?" Terrible as an army in the eyes of her enemies (verse 1); fair as the moon, clear as the sun, when the reproach of Egypt is rolled away (verse 9). I. ISRAEL ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Joshua 5:2

At that time. Ver. I is introduced in order to explain why Joshua ventured upon the circumcision of the children of Israel at so critical a period. Nothing could more clearly evince the spirit of confidence in Jehovah which animated not only Joshua, but all the children of Israel. We read of no murmurings, although it was well known that the performance of the rite of circumcision would unfit the Israelites for active service for some days. We may imagine, and even the silence of the sacred... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Joshua 5:3

The hill of the foreskins. The name given to the hill where the circumcision took place. read more

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

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

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Joshua 5:2

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Joshua 5:4

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Joshua 5:2

The Pulpit Commentary - Joshua 5:1-9

The Pulpit Commentary - Joshua 5:2

The Pulpit Commentary - Joshua 5:3

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