After the Israelites cross the Jordan River and enter the Promised Land, Joshua circumcises all the males to mark them as members of the covenantal community since no one was circumcised in the wilderness. When the men recover, God informs them He has removed the reproach of Egypt from them. The “reproach of Egypt” means the stigma of being slaves and the mentality that comes with being a slave. The word for “reproach” can also be translated as “disgrace”

While slaves, the Israelites were told when to wake up, when to eat, how long to work, and what to do. Being freed from slavery required the Israelites to think for themselves and to become a self-governing society that makes decisions based on God’s will and not based on the desires of the human heart.

After not celebrating Passover during the 40 years in the wilderness (Amos 5:25), the Israelites observe the Passover for the first time in Canaan and eat some of the land’s produce. Then, the manna God provided for His people during their years in the wilderness ceases. Finally, Joshua encounters a divine messenger, the Commander of the LORD’s army. He asks Joshua to remove his shoes because he stands on holy ground. The chapter’s outline is as follows:

1. After the Israelites miraculously cross the Jordan River, the LORD commands Joshua to circumcise all the males. Joshua obeys the LORD and circumcises the people, marking their membership in the covenantal community (vv. 1–7).
   
   
2. After the circumcision and recovery of the Israelite men, the LORD declares that He has rolled away the reproach of Egypt from them (vv. 8−9).
   
   
3. The Israelites observe the Passover in Canaan and eat some of the land’s produce. Then, the miraculous provision of manna stops (vv. 10−12).
   
   
4. Joshua sees a man with a drawn sword in his hand. He informs Joshua that he is the Commander of the LORD’s army and instructs him to remove his sandals because he stands on holy ground (vv. 13−15).