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
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