5:1The Amorites and Canaanites were the two major groups living in Canaan at the time of Israel's invasion. The Canaanites worshiped a variety of gods, but Baal was their favorite. Canaanite culture was materialistic, and their religion, sensual. The Israelites continually turned to Baal after entering Canaan. The Amorite gods also infected Israel’s worship and turned people away from worshiping the true God. Worshiping these false gods eventually brought about Israel's downfall.
Life Application Study BibleJoshuaChapter 5
Joshua 5
New Living Translation · Life Application Study Bible · Original pages: 320, 321
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5Joshua 5
1When all the Amorite kings west of the Jordan and all the Canaanite kings who lived along 5 the Mediterranean coast* heard how the LORD had dried up the Jordan River so the people of Israel could cross, they lost heart and were paralyzed with fear because of them.
Israel Reestablishes Covenant Ceremonies
22At that time the LORD told Joshua, “Make flint knives and circumcise this second generation of Israelites.*” So Joshua made flint knives and circumcised the entire male population of Israel at Gibeath-haaraloth.* 4Joshua had to circumcise them because all the men who were old enough to fight in battle when they left Egypt had died in the wilderness. Those who left Egypt had all been circumcised, but none of those born after the Exodus, during the years in the wilderness, had been circumcised. The Israelites had traveled in the wilderness for forty years until all the men who were old enough to fight in battle when they left Egypt had died. For they had disobeyed the LORD, and the LORD vowed he would not let them enter the land he had sworn to give us—a land flowing with milk and honey. ’So Joshua circumcised their sons— those who had grown up to take their fathers’ places—for they had not been circumcised on the way to the Promised Land. 8After all the males had been circumcised, they rested in the camp until they were healed. 9Then the LORD said to Joshua, “Today I have rolled away the shame of your slavery in Egypt.” So that place has been called Gilgal* to this day. 10While the Israelites were camped at Gilgal on the plains of Jericho, they celebrated Passover on the evening of the fourteenth day of the first month.* The very next day they began to eat unleavened bread and roasted grain harvested from the land. 12No manna appeared on the day they first ate from the crops of the land, and it was never seen again. So from that time on the Israelites ate from the crops of Canaan.
B. CONQUERING THE PROMISED LAND (5:13—12:24)
After crossing the Jordan River, the Israelites begin to conquer Canaan. Jericho is the first to fall. Then Israel suffers its first defeat because of one man’s disobedience. After the people remove the sin from their community, they strike again—this time with success. Soon great kings attack from the north and south, but they are defeated because God is with Israel. Evil could not be tolerated in the Promised Land, nor can it be tolerated in our lives. We, like Israel, must ruthlessly remove sin from our lives before it takes control of us.
1. Joshua attacks the center of the land
The LORD’s Commander Confronts Joshua
1313 When Joshua was near the town of Jericho, he looked up and saw a man standing in front of him with sword in hand. Joshua went up to him and demanded, “Are you friend or foe?” 4“Neither one,” he replied. “I am the commander of the LORD’s army.” At this, Joshua fell with his face to the ground in reverence. “I am at your command,” Joshua said. “What do you want your servant to do?” SThe commander of the LORD's army replied, “Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy.” And Joshua did as he was told.
The Fall of Jericho
Now the gates of Jericho were tightly shut because the people were afraid of the Israelites. No one was allowed to go out or in. 2But the LORD said to Joshua, “I have given you
Textual footnotes
- foreskins.” 5:9 Gilgal sounds like the Hebrew word galal, meaning “to roll.” 5:10 This day in the ancient Hebrew
- lunar calendar occurred in late March, April, or early May.
- 5:1 Hebrew along the sea.
- 5:2 Or circumcise the Israelites a second time, 5:3 Gibeath-haaraloth means “hill of
Life Application Notes 7 notes
5:1The Israelites spent 39 years in the wilderness unnecessarily because they were terrified of the Canaanites, They underestimated God’s ability. The Israelites’ first attempt to enter the Promised Land had failed (Numbers 13-14). Here Israel saw that the Canaanites were terrified of their army. The Canaanites had heard about {srael’s great victories through God (2:9-11), and they hoped that the Jordan River would slow Israel down or discourage them from entering Canaan. But news that the Israe!- ites had crossed the Jordan on dry land caused any courage the Canaanites still had to melt away. Don't underestimate God. If we are faithful to God, he will cause great opposition to disappear. God can change the attitudes of those who oppose him.
5:2,3The rite of circumcision marked Israel's position as God’s covenant people. When God made the original covenant with Abraham, he required that each male be circumcised as a sign of cutting Off the old life and beginning a new life with God (Genesis 17:13). Other cultures at that time used circumcision as a sign of entry into aduithood, but only Israel used it as a sign of following God.
5:8,9Located about two miles northeast of Jericho, Gilgal was Israel's base camp and their temporary center of government and worship during their invasion of Canaan. Here the people renewed their commitment to God and covenant with him before attempting to conquer the new land. At Gitgal the angelic commander of the LORD’s army appeared to Joshua with further instructions for battle and encouragement for the conquest (5:13-15). After the conquest, Gilgal continued to be an important place in Israel. It was here that Israel’s first king, Saul, was crowned (1 Samuel 11:14, 15).
5:10This joyous Passover was the first to be celebrated in the Promised Land and only the third celebrated by Israel since the Exodus from Egypt. The last time was at the foot of Mount Sinai, 39 years earlier. This celebration reminded Israel of God's mighty miracles that brought them out of Egypt. There they had to eat in fear and haste; here they ate in celebration of God's blessings and promises. (See Exodus 12 for a description of the night the angel “passed over” the Israelites’ homes.)
5:11,12God supplied manna to the hungry Israelites during their 40 years in the wilderness (Exodus 16:14-31). In the bountiful Promised Land they no longer needed this daily food supply because the land was ready for planting and harvesting. God had miraculously provided food for the {sraelites while they were in the wilderness; here he provided food from the land itself. Prayer is not an alternative to preparation, and faith is not a substitute for hard work. God can and does provide miraculously for his people as needed, but he also expects them to use their God-given taients and resources to provide for themselves. If your prayers have gone unanswered, perhaps what you need is within your reach. Pray instead for the wisdom to see it and the energy and motivation to do it.
5:14,15This was an angel of superior rank, the commander of the LORD’s army. Some say he was an appearance of God in human form. As a sign of respect, Joshua took off his sandals. Although Joshua was Israel's leader, he was still subordinate to God, the absolute Leader. Awe and respect are the responses due to our holy God. How can we show respect for God? By our attitudes and actions. We should recognize God’s power, authority, and deep love, and our actions must model our absolute reverence for God. Respect for God is just as important today as it was in Joshua’s day, even. though removing shoes is no longer our cultural way of showing it.
Charts, profiles & sidebars from the printed pages
Personality profile · page 321
Profile: Rahab
Rahab was a prostitute in the city of Jericho. As a prostitute, she lived on the edge of society, one stop short of rejection. Her house, built right into the city wall, provided both lodging and favors to travelers, It was a natural place for the Israelite spies to stay, as they would be mistaken for Rahab’s customers. Stories about the Israelites had been circulating for some time, but now it was evident that the Israelites were about to invade. Living on the wall, Rahab felt especially vulnerable. Yet while she shared the general mood of fear with the rest of Jericho’s population, she alone turned to the LORD for her salvation. Her faith gave her the courage to hide the spies and lie to the authorities. Rahab knew her position was dangerous; she could have been killed if she had been caught harboring the Israelites. Rahab took the risk, however, because she sensed that the Israelites relied on a God worth trusting. And God rewarded Rahab by promising safety for her and her family. God works through people—like Rahab—whom we are inclined to reject. God remembers her because of her faith, not her profession. If at times you feel like a failure, remember that Rahab rose above her situation through her trust in God. You can do the same!
Strengths and accomplishments
Relative of Boaz, and thus an ancestor of David and Jesus
• One of only two women listed in the Hall of Faith in Hebrews 11
• Resourceful, willing to help others at great cost to herself
Weakness e She was a prostitute and mistake
Lesson from her life
• She did not let fear affect her faith in God’s ability to deliver
Vital statistics
• Where: Jericho
• Occupations: Prostitute/innkeeper, later became a wife
• Relatives: Ancestor of David and Jesus (Matthew 1:5)
• Contemporary: Joshua
Key verse
“It was by faith that Rahab the prostitute was not destroyed with the people in her city who refused to obey God. For she had given a friendly welcome to the spies” (Hebrews 11:31).
Rahab’s story is told in Joshua 2 and 6:22, 23. She is also mentioned in Matthew 1:5; Hebrews 11:31; and James 2:25.
Israel would attack this city first, and its destruction would put the fear of tsrael into the heart of every person in Canaan. The Canaanites saw \srael’s God as a nature god because he parted the Jordan and as a war god because he defeated Sihon and Og. But the Canaanites did not consider him a fortress god—one who could prevail against a walled city. The defeat of Jericho showed Not only that Israel’s God was superior to the Canaanite gods but also that he was invincible. 6:2-5 God told Joshua that Jericho was already delivered into his hands—the enemy was already defeated! What confidence Joshua must have had as he went into battle! Christians also fight against a defeated enemy. Our enemy, Satan, has been defeated by Christ (Romans 8:37-39; Hebrews 2:14, 15; 1 John 3:8). Although we still fight battles every day and sin runs rampant in the world, we have the assurance that the war has already been won. We do not have to be paralyzed by the power of a defeated enemy; we can overcome him through Christ's power.
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