Joshua 5 recounts the pivotal moments as the Israelites prepared to enter the Promised Land. The chapter begins with the news of their crossing the Jordan River spreading throughout the land, striking fear into the hearts of the Canaanite inhabitants. At this time, God commanded Joshua to circumcise all the men who had not been circumcised during their wilderness journey, as a sign of their covenant with Him. The Israelites obeyed, and they stayed in their camp until they healed.
On the day after their circumcision, the Israelites celebrated the Passover, commemorating their deliverance from Egypt. Miraculously, the manna they had relied on for forty years ceased to appear, as they now had access to the abundant produce of Canaan.
As Joshua was near Jericho, he encountered a mysterious figure holding a drawn sword. The man identified himself as the commander of the army of the Lord. Joshua fell to the ground and worshiped, recognizing this encounter as a divine moment. The commander instructed Joshua to remove his sandals, for the ground he stood on was holy. He then revealed that the walls of Jericho would fall, and Joshua followed his instructions meticulously.
Click the links below to explore the depths of each verse: