Bible Commentaries
Joshua 5

Introduction

Overview

Joshua 5:1, The Canaanites are afraid; Joshua 5:2, Joshua renews circumcision; Joshua 5:10, The passover is kept at Gilgal Joshua 5:12, They eat the corn of the land and the manna ceases; Joshua 5:13, An angel appears to Joshua.

Verse 1

all the kings: Joshua 12:9-24, Joshua 24:15, Genesis 10:15-19, Genesis 15:18-21, Genesis 48:22, Judges 11:23, 2 Samuel 21:2, Ezekiel 16:3, Amos 2:9

Canaanites: Joshua 17:12, Joshua 17:18, Genesis 12:6, Exodus 23:28, Judges 1:1, Judges 4:2, Ezra 9:1, Psalms 135:11

which were by: Numbers 13:29, Judges 3:3, Zephaniah 2:4-6

heard: Joshua 2:9-11, Exodus 15:14, Exodus 15:15, Psalms 48:4-6, Revelation 18:10

neither was: 1 Samuel 25:37, 1 Kings 10:5, Isaiah 13:6-8, Ezekiel 21:7, Daniel 5:6

Reciprocal: Genesis 35:5 - General Leviticus 26:36 - I will send Numbers 14:14 - they have Deuteronomy 11:25 - There shall Deuteronomy 28:10 - and they shall Joshua 2:11 - our hearts Joshua 2:24 - faint Joshua 7:5 - wherefore Joshua 9:1 - on this Judges 7:14 - into his hand 2 Chronicles 14:14 - the fear 2 Chronicles 20:29 - the fear Nehemiah 6:16 - for they perceived Psalms 76:12 - He shall Isaiah 41:5 - the ends

Verse 2

sharp knives: or, knives of flints, Before the use of iron was common, all the nations of the earth had their edge tools made of stones, flints, etc. Our ancestors had their arrows and spearheads made of flint; which are frequently turned up by the plough. And even when iron became more common, stone knives seem to have been preferred for making incisions in the human body. The Egyptians used such to open the bodies for embalming; and the tribe of Alnajab in Ethiopia, who follow the Mosaic institution, perform the rite of circumcision, according to Ludolf, cultris lapidibus, with knives made of stone.

circumcise: Genesis 17:10-14, Deuteronomy 10:16, Deuteronomy 30:6, Romans 2:29, Romans 4:11, Colossians 2:11

Reciprocal: Genesis 17:14 - cut Genesis 17:23 - circumcised Genesis 34:14 - uncircumcised Exodus 4:25 - a sharp stone Hosea 9:15 - is in

Verse 3

Joshua: Genesis 17:23-27, Matthew 16:24

the hill of the foreskins: or, Gibeah haaraloth

Reciprocal: Genesis 17:11 - the flesh Exodus 4:25 - a sharp stone 1 Samuel 18:25 - foreskins

Verse 4

All the: Numbers 14:22, Numbers 26:64, Numbers 26:65, Deuteronomy 2:16, 1 Corinthians 10:5, Hebrews 3:17-19

Reciprocal: Genesis 17:10 - Every

Verse 5

they had not: Deuteronomy 12:8, Deuteronomy 12:9, Hosea 6:6, Hosea 6:7, Matthew 12:7, Romans 2:26, 1 Corinthians 7:19, Galatians 5:6, Galatians 6:15

Verse 6

walked: Numbers 14:32-34, Deuteronomy 1:3, Deuteronomy 2:7, Deuteronomy 2:14, Deuteronomy 8:4, Psalms 95:10, Psalms 95:11, Jeremiah 2:2

sware that: Numbers 14:23, Hebrews 3:11

a land: Exodus 3:8, Exodus 3:17, Ezekiel 20:6, Ezekiel 20:15, Joel 3:18

Reciprocal: Genesis 27:28 - plenty Genesis 34:25 - sore Exodus 33:3 - a land Numbers 13:27 - General Deuteronomy 27:3 - a land Joshua 24:7 - ye dwelt Judges 11:16 - walked Hebrews 3:9 - forty

Verse 7

their children: Numbers 14:31, Deuteronomy 1:39

Verse 8

when they: etc. Heb. when the people had made an end to be circumcised

till they were whole: Genesis 34:25

Verse 9

I rolled away: Joshua 24:14, Genesis 34:14, Leviticus 24:14, 1 Samuel 14:6, 1 Samuel 17:26, 1 Samuel 17:36, Psalms 119:39, Jeremiah 9:25, Ezekiel 20:7, Ezekiel 20:8, Ezekiel 23:3, Ezekiel 23:8, Ephesians 2:11, Ephesians 2:12

Gilgal: That is, rolling. Joshua 4:19

Reciprocal: Deuteronomy 11:30 - Gilgal Joshua 12:23 - Gilgal Joshua 15:7 - Gilgal 1 Samuel 13:4 - to Gilgal 2 Samuel 19:15 - Gilgal 2 Kings 2:1 - Gilgal Nehemiah 12:29 - the house Micah 6:5 - Shittim

Verse 10

kept the passover: Ezekiel 12:3, Ezekiel 12:6, Ezekiel 12:7-16, Numbers 9:1-5

Reciprocal: Exodus 12:21 - and take Exodus 12:25 - when Exodus 23:15 - the feast Leviticus 23:5 - General Numbers 9:2 - his appointed Numbers 9:5 - they kept Joshua 2:1 - even Jericho Joshua 3:15 - all the time Joshua 4:13 - to the plains Joshua 9:6 - the camp Joshua 10:6 - to the camp Joshua 12:23 - Gilgal Joshua 15:7 - Gilgal Ezra 6:19 - kept Jeremiah 39:5 - in the plains Micah 6:5 - Shittim

Verse 11

old corn: The people would find abundance of old corn in the deserted granaries of the affrighted inhabitants, and the barley harvest being ripe, after offering the sheaf of first-fruits, they ate also new parched corn; and thus the manna being no longer necessary, ceased, after having been sent them regularly for almost forty years. To Christians the manna for their souls shall never fail, till they arrive at the Canaan above, to feast on its rich and inexhaustible provisions.

unleavened cakes: Exodus 12:18-20, Exodus 13:6, Exodus 13:7, Leviticus 23:6, Leviticus 23:14

Reciprocal: Exodus 23:15 - the feast Leviticus 25:22 - old fruit Leviticus 26:10 - General Numbers 15:19 - General Psalms 105:44 - inherited

Verse 12

the manna: Exodus 16:35, Nehemiah 9:20, Nehemiah 9:21, Revelation 7:16, Revelation 7:17

but they did eat: Deuteronomy 6:10, Deuteronomy 6:11, Proverbs 13:22, Isaiah 65:13, Isaiah 65:14, John 4:38

Reciprocal: Exodus 16:15 - It is manna Leviticus 23:14 - eat Leviticus 25:22 - old fruit Numbers 15:19 - General 2 Kings 4:6 - And the oil Psalms 105:40 - satisfied John 6:31 - fathers

Verse 13

he lifted: Genesis 33:1, Genesis 33:5, Daniel 8:3, Daniel 10:5

a man: Joshua 6:2, Genesis 18:2, Genesis 32:24-30, Exodus 23:23, Judges 13:8, Judges 13:9, Judges 13:11, Judges 13:22, Daniel 10:5, Hosea 12:3-5, Zechariah 1:8, Acts 1:10, Revelation 1:13

his sword: Numbers 22:23, 1 Chronicles 21:16, 1 Chronicles 21:17, 1 Chronicles 21:27, 1 Chronicles 21:30

Art thou for us: 1 Chronicles 12:17, 1 Chronicles 12:18

Reciprocal: Genesis 3:24 - a flaming Exodus 23:20 - Angel Exodus 32:26 - Who is on Judges 2:1 - And an angel 2 Chronicles 13:12 - for our captain Ezekiel 1:26 - the appearance of a man Ezekiel 10:1 - as the Ezekiel 34:24 - a prince Zechariah 1:18 - lifted Zechariah 12:8 - as the Matthew 12:30 - that is John 1:18 - he hath Philippians 2:6 - thought

Verse 14

but as captain: or, Prince, Exodus 23:20-22, Isaiah 55:4, Daniel 10:13, Daniel 10:21, Daniel 12:1, Hebrews 2:10, Revelation 12:7, Revelation 19:11-14

fell on his: Genesis 17:3, Genesis 17:17, Leviticus 9:24, Numbers 16:22, Numbers 16:45, Matthew 8:2, Luke 5:12, Acts 10:25, Acts 10:26, Revelation 19:10, Revelation 22:8, Revelation 22:9

What saith: 1 Samuel 3:9, 1 Samuel 3:10, Isaiah 6:8, Acts 9:6

my lord: Exodus 4:10, Exodus 4:13, Psalms 110:1, Matthew 22:44, Luke 1:43, Luke 20:42, John 20:28, Philippians 3:8

Reciprocal: Genesis 32:2 - God's Exodus 12:41 - hosts Numbers 14:5 - General Joshua 20:1 - spake Judges 2:1 - And an angel 1 Samuel 10:1 - captain 2 Kings 20:5 - the captain 1 Chronicles 12:22 - like the host of God 1 Chronicles 21:16 - saw the angel 2 Chronicles 14:13 - his host Psalms 103:21 - all ye his hosts Daniel 8:11 - the prince Daniel 8:15 - as Daniel 10:16 - my Lord Zechariah 12:8 - as the

Verse 15

Loose: Exodus 3:5, Acts 7:32, Acts 7:33, 2 Peter 1:18

And Joshua: Many persons have been puzzled to know what was intended by this extraordinary appearance of the angel to Joshua, because they supposed that the whole business ends with the chapter; whereas it is continued in the succeeding one, the first verse of which is a mere parenthesis, simply relating to the state of Jericho at the time when Joshua was favoured with this encouraging vision; by which he was shewn that their help came from God alone, and that it was not by human might or power, but by the Lord of hosts they were to obtain the victory.

Reciprocal: Genesis 28:16 - and I 1 Samuel 5:5 - tread 1 Samuel 10:1 - captain 2 Kings 20:5 - the captain Ecclesiastes 5:1 - thy foot Isaiah 20:2 - put Daniel 8:11 - the prince Hebrews 2:10 - the captain