Joshua 5:1–7 describes how after the Israelites miraculously cross the Jordan River, the LORD commands Joshua to circumcise all the males. Joshua obeys the LORD and circumcises the Israelite men, marking their membership in the covenantal community.
In Joshua 5:1-7Joshua 5:1-7 commentary, commentary the news of the Israelites crossing into Canaan spreads to the kings of Canaan, intimidating them. The men of Israel are circumcised.
In the previous chapter, the Israelites crossed the Jordan River on dry ground, a sign that the authority of Moses had passed to Joshua. A few centuries later, Elisha would also part the Jordan River as a sign that the authority of Elijah had passed to him (2 Kings 2:13-152 Kings 2:13-15 commentary). Once the miraculous crossing was over, they set up twelve memorial stones on the western side of the river and twelve more amid the dry riverbed.
On that day, they erected the national memorial at Gilgal, a town near Jericho, to instruct future generations on how the LORD led them across the Jordan River. The monument would testify to the LORD’s greatness to all nations and cause God’s people to revere Him throughout their lives (Joshua 4:19-24Joshua 4:19-24 commentary).
In the opening of Joshua 5Joshua 5 commentary, commentary the Bible describes the emotional and psychological effects of the miraculous river crossing: when all the kings of the Amorites who were beyond the Jordan to the west, and all the kings of the Canaanites who were by the sea, heard how the LORD had dried up the waters of the Jordan before the sons of Israel until they had crossed (v. 1a).
The Amorites inhabited the northern part of Canaan, Syria, and the eastern side of Jordan. They ruled most of Transjordan during the conquest and represented a major obstacle for the Israelites as they settled the Promised Land. The Amorites in the west occupied the hill country, while the Canaanites were in the coastal plains.
The Amorite and Canaanite kings knew the Israelites were on the eastern side of the Jordan. They had heard of the Israelites’ crossing of the Red Sea a generation earlier, escaping slavery from Egypt, and had learned how Israel had defeated Sihon and Og⎯two Transjordan Amorite kings (Joshua 2:10Joshua 2:10 commentary). But in their mind, the Jordan River that separated them from the Israelites would cause a delay in Israel’s crossing to the west bank since the water was at flood stage (Joshua 3:15Joshua 3:15 commentary−16). Thus, when they learned about the miracle of the crossing, their hearts melted, and there was no spirit in them any longer because of the sons of Israel (v. 1b).
The Bible uses the image of melting to describe the effects of fear in multiple places (Deuteronomy 20:8Deuteronomy 20:8 commentary, commentaryJoshua 2:9Joshua 2:9 commentary, 1111 commentary, Psalm 22:14Psalm 22:14 commentary). The idea of a melted heart means a total loss of strength and resistance. (The heart stands for the core of a person’s inner being.) That means the pagan kings were terrified by the suddenness of the crossing. They did not expect these enemies to arrive on their land so soon.
From these kings’ perspective, the Israelites were a deadly, dangerous people group backed by a very powerful God. They were dealing with a massive, nomadic nation which had successfully escaped slavery from the most powerful neighboring kingdom, Egypt, had crossed the Red Sea through a miracle (which also drowned the Pharaoh’s army), had survived a generation in the wilderness, had slain King Sihon and King Og the Giant and their armies, and had now crossed into Canaan by another miracle from their powerful God. Now, since the Israelites were already beyond the Jordan to the west, battle was looming. The enemy would soon face God’s people. Their destruction was at hand.
Although the pagan kings were in great terror, the Israelites did not immediately attack them. From a military standpoint, any delay on Israel’s part would be irrational. In other words, one would expect the people of God to fight against their foes once they reached the land beyond the Jordan. This act would be the most logical one since it offers a greater chance of victory. However, it did not happen this way because the Israelites needed more instructions in preparation for the battle. They only acted when God told them what to do.They paused to listen to the LORD, the great warrior who would fight on their behalf to give them victory (Joshua 10:42Joshua 10:42 commentary).
At that time, the LORD spoke to Joshua, saying: Make for yourself flint knives and circumcise again the sons of Israel the second time (v. 2).
Circumcision is the act of cutting off the penile foreskin of a male. In Old Testament times, the father usually performed the procedure (Genesis 21:4Genesis 21:4 commentary). It was the sign of God’s covenant with Abraham (Genesis 17:9Genesis 17:9 commentary−14). It was an outward action reminding the Israelites that they belonged to the family of God through their covenant relationship with Him.
The Egyptians also practiced circumcision. The mummy of King Tut was found to be circumcised. Prior to the Hasmonean period (300 BC), Jewish practice was to only cut off a small portion of the penile foreskin. However, when the Greeks were ruling Israel, some Hellenistic Jews created a procedure to reverse circumcision to evade being identified as a Jew. Jewish tradition was afterwards modified to include instructions that ensured the foreskin was cut sufficient enough to make reversal impossible (Rashi on Joshua 5:2Joshua 5:2 commentary).
Circumcision of the flesh is a physical sign of something that God desires to happen much more deeply, on the level of the heart. Circumcision of the heart is mentioned 3 times in the Old Testament (Deuteronomy 10:16Deuteronomy 10:16 commentary, 30:630:6 commentary, Jeremiah 4:4Jeremiah 4:4 commentary). The Israelites viewed the penile foreskin as a piece of flesh that was uneeded and could cause medical problems if left. The same concept is applicable to circumcision of the heart. The human heart (the mind’s deepest intentions) is very deceitful and wicked (Jeremiah 17:9Jeremiah 17:9 commentary). The command to circumcise our hearts is to cut off all the thoughts of the flesh so that the spirit can be the guiding force in our lives.
“Circumcise yourselves to the LORD And remove the foreskins of your heart, Men of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem, Or else My wrath will go forth like fire And burn with none to quench it, Because of the evil of your deeds.” (Jeremiah 4:4Jeremiah 4:4 commentary)
An interesting verse in Ezekiel speaks of circumcision of gentiles who will be able to enter the Temple during the Messianic Era,
“Thus says the Lord GOD, ‘No foreigner uncircumcised in heart and uncircumcised in flesh, of all the foreigners who are among the sons of Israel, shall enter My sanctuary.’” (Ezekiel 44:9Ezekiel 44:9 commentary)
Circumcision would thus set the people apart for God’s service so they could enjoy the benefits of the covenant. In light of this, the LORD commanded Joshua to circumcise the Israelites againthe second time. The temporal phrase the second time does not mean Joshua was to circumcise the same individuals again because that would be impossible. Instead, it means to perform the rite again with knives made with flint, a rock usually found in abundance in biblical lands (Exodus 4:25Exodus 4:25 commentary). It gradually disappeared, making room for other metals such as copper, bronze, and iron.
Joshua did as the LORD instructed him to do. He made himself flint knives and circumcised the sons of Israel at Gibeath-haaraloth (v. 3). The term Gibeath-haaraloth means “hill of the foreskins.” It refers to a site within the tribal territory of Benjamin near Gilgal. Although the exact location of this site is unknown, it is nonetheless important since Joshua performed the circumcision rite there. But why did he have to circumcise the Israelite males? This is the reason why Joshua circumcised them: all the people who came out of Egypt who were males, all the men of war, died in the wilderness along the way after they came out of Egypt (v. 3).
The phrase all the men of war refers to the Israelite men twenty years and older eligible for military duty. It recalls the incident at Kadesh-Barnea, where Moses commanded twelve men to spy out Canaan (Numbers 13Numbers 13 commentary−14). Upon their return, ten gave a fearful report:
“We went in to the land where you sent us; it certainly does flow with milk and honey, and this is its fruit. Nevertheless, the people who live in the land are strong, and the cities are fortified and very large; moreover, we saw the descendants of Anak there.” (Numbers 13:27Numbers 13:27 commentary−28)
The spies’ timid report prompted the Israelites to rebel against God in their unbelief. But Caleb and Joshua believed in God. They encouraged the people to move forward because they trusted in God’s power to give them the Promised Land (Numbers 13:30Numbers 13:30 commentary). For this reason, the LORD decreed that all the adult Israelites, except for Caleb and Joshua, would not enter the land of Canaan because of their lack of faith (Numbers 14:22Numbers 14:22 commentary−30). Thus, He allowed them to die in the wilderness during their forty years of wandering.
Joshua, the new Israelite leader, ministered to a new generation of Israelites. All the males who came out of Egypt were circumcised but died in the wilderness due to their disobedience and unbelief. Joshua was to perform the religious rite again because all the people who were born in the wilderness along the way as they came out of Egypt had not been circumcised.
Simply put, the Israelites neglected the practice of circumcision as well as presenting sacrifices on the Lord’s appointed festivals during their wilderness years (Amos 5:25Amos 5:25 commentary). But as they were now in Canaan, they were to obey the covenant God made with Abraham. Thus, the ceremony would remind the covenant people that they owed their existence to Yahweh, the God of their ancestor Abraham (Genesis 17:12Genesis 17:12 commentary).
The Bible gave the reason for the death of the former generation of Israelites: For the sons of Israelites walked forty years in the wilderness, until all the nation, that is, the men of war who came out of Egypt, perished because they did not listen to the voice of the LORD (v. 6a). Under normal circumstances, the journey from Egypt to Canaan would take eleven days (Deuteronomy 1:2Deuteronomy 1:2 commentary). However, since the Israelites had rebelled at Kadesh-Barnea⎯the point of entering Canaan⎯the LORD prolonged their journey by commanding them to wander in the desert for forty years until they ceased to exist.
This period would come to be known as “the rebellion in the wilderness.” The Psalms and the book of Hebrews would later warn people not to follow that example (Psalms 78:40Psalms 78:40 commentary, 95:8-1195:8-11 commentary, 106:14106:14 commentary, Hebrews 3:8Hebrews 3:8 commentary, 1717 commentary).
The author of the book of Hebrews makes this comparison between the failed first generation of Israelites and Christians who harden their hearts and become disobedient and unbelieving (Hebrews 3:12-19Hebrews 3:12-19 commentary). The first generation of Israelites who left Egypt showed themselves to be disobedient to God and so did not possess the land as their inheritance. Likewise, New Testament believers can fail to prove themselves faithful, and can also “come short” of receiving their inheritance (Hebrews 3:6Hebrews 3:6 commentary).
The inheritance promised to New Testament believers is to share in Christ’s reign over the earth according to God’s original plan (Hebrews 2:7-9Hebrews 2:7-9 commentary). The unbelieving Israelites of the first generation in the Old Testament did not enter God’s rest (the Promised Land), but they were still God’s people. God still supernaturally took care of their needs in the wilderness (Deuteronomy 8:3-4Deuteronomy 8:3-4 commentary).
Similarly, New Testament believers are made new creations in Christ, which is a finished work. We are God’s children no matter what (Hebrews 3:1Hebrews 3:1 commentary). We cannot outsin God’s grace (Romans 5:20-21Romans 5:20-21 commentary). What is in question is our reward—the consequences of our choices in life. The author of Hebrews encourages us to pursue this additional “rest” (Hebrews 4:8-9Hebrews 4:8-9 commentary), which refers to the opportunity to receive an inheritance as a reward for finishing the work God gives us to do (Ephesians 2:10Ephesians 2:10 commentary). God will not permit us to enter this “rest” if we are disobedient and live a life to please sin and self. However, everyone who believes on Jesus are children of God (John 3:5John 3:5 commentary, 14-1514-15 commentary).
The promise of the inheritance given to the first generation Israelites did not benefit the first generation because they did not walk in faith (Hebrews 3:18-19Hebrews 3:18-19 commentary). In the same way, the promises of God also have no benefit to us without faith to walk in them. To inherit God’s promises, we must act upon them. Without faith in God, we cannot obey Him; faith is necessary to gain the reward of our inheritance (Hebrews 3:18-19Hebrews 3:18-19 commentary).
As shown in Hebrews 2Hebrews 2 commentary, commentary all authority was given to Jesus because He was obedient, even to the point of dying on a cross (Hebrews 2:9-10Hebrews 2:9-10 commentary). He desires to share that authority with all who trust and follow Him, enduring rejection from the world as He did (Hebrews 2:10Hebrews 2:10 commentary, commentaryRevelation 3:21Revelation 3:21 commentary).
Joshua emphasized the punishment of the rebellious generation of Israelites by saying: The LORD had sworn that He would not let them see the land which the LORD had sworn to their fathers to give us, a land flowing with milk and honey (v. 6b). The phrase milk and honey describes the productivity and fertility of the land of Canaan. God had promised to give such a place to His covenant people to demonstrate His love and care for them; He had sworn to their fathers Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob to give them this fertile land (Genesis 12:7Genesis 12:7 commentary, 26:326:3 commentary, 28:1328:13 commentary).
But since the first generation rebelled against their LORD, He let them die in the wilderness. The second generationwas Their children whom He raised up in their place (v. 7). The children of the rebellious first generation would inherit the promises of the land flowing with milk and honey, because they obeyed God in faith that He would secure victory for them over their enemies. This second generation of males Joshua circumcised; for they were uncircumcised because they had not circumcised them along the way (v. 7).
The wilderness journey was quite an experience for the Israelites. They went through a hard time of training and discipline (Deuteronomy 8:1Deuteronomy 8:1 commentary−6). During those years, the people faced hunger and thirst. They even saw “fiery serpents and scorpions” (Deuteronomy 8:15Deuteronomy 8:15 commentary). Despite their disobedience, the LORD miraculously provided for them. Since they were His covenant people, they were to follow the covenantal requirements, as outlined in Genesis “Every male among you shall be circumcised” (Genesis 17:10Genesis 17:10 commentary). This surgical procedure would mark the people as members of the covenantal community. God always requires faith and obedience from His people.
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Joshua 5:1–7 meaning
In Joshua 5:1-7Joshua 5:1-7 commentary, commentary the news of the Israelites crossing into Canaan spreads to the kings of Canaan, intimidating them. The men of Israel are circumcised.
In the previous chapter, the Israelites crossed the Jordan River on dry ground, a sign that the authority of Moses had passed to Joshua. A few centuries later, Elisha would also part the Jordan River as a sign that the authority of Elijah had passed to him (2 Kings 2:13-152 Kings 2:13-15 commentary). Once the miraculous crossing was over, they set up twelve memorial stones on the western side of the river and twelve more amid the dry riverbed.
On that day, they erected the national memorial at Gilgal, a town near Jericho, to instruct future generations on how the LORD led them across the Jordan River. The monument would testify to the LORD’s greatness to all nations and cause God’s people to revere Him throughout their lives (Joshua 4:19-24Joshua 4:19-24 commentary).
In the opening of Joshua 5Joshua 5 commentary, commentary the Bible describes the emotional and psychological effects of the miraculous river crossing: when all the kings of the Amorites who were beyond the Jordan to the west, and all the kings of the Canaanites who were by the sea, heard how the LORD had dried up the waters of the Jordan before the sons of Israel until they had crossed (v. 1a).
The Amorites inhabited the northern part of Canaan, Syria, and the eastern side of Jordan. They ruled most of Transjordan during the conquest and represented a major obstacle for the Israelites as they settled the Promised Land. The Amorites in the west occupied the hill country, while the Canaanites were in the coastal plains.
The Amorite and Canaanite kings knew the Israelites were on the eastern side of the Jordan. They had heard of the Israelites’ crossing of the Red Sea a generation earlier, escaping slavery from Egypt, and had learned how Israel had defeated Sihon and Og⎯two Transjordan Amorite kings (Joshua 2:10Joshua 2:10 commentary). But in their mind, the Jordan River that separated them from the Israelites would cause a delay in Israel’s crossing to the west bank since the water was at flood stage (Joshua 3:15Joshua 3:15 commentary−16). Thus, when they learned about the miracle of the crossing, their hearts melted, and there was no spirit in them any longer because of the sons of Israel (v. 1b).
The Bible uses the image of melting to describe the effects of fear in multiple places (Deuteronomy 20:8Deuteronomy 20:8 commentary, commentary Joshua 2:9Joshua 2:9 commentary, 1111 commentary, Psalm 22:14Psalm 22:14 commentary). The idea of a melted heart means a total loss of strength and resistance. (The heart stands for the core of a person’s inner being.) That means the pagan kings were terrified by the suddenness of the crossing. They did not expect these enemies to arrive on their land so soon.
From these kings’ perspective, the Israelites were a deadly, dangerous people group backed by a very powerful God. They were dealing with a massive, nomadic nation which had successfully escaped slavery from the most powerful neighboring kingdom, Egypt, had crossed the Red Sea through a miracle (which also drowned the Pharaoh’s army), had survived a generation in the wilderness, had slain King Sihon and King Og the Giant and their armies, and had now crossed into Canaan by another miracle from their powerful God. Now, since the Israelites were already beyond the Jordan to the west, battle was looming. The enemy would soon face God’s people. Their destruction was at hand.
Although the pagan kings were in great terror, the Israelites did not immediately attack them. From a military standpoint, any delay on Israel’s part would be irrational. In other words, one would expect the people of God to fight against their foes once they reached the land beyond the Jordan. This act would be the most logical one since it offers a greater chance of victory. However, it did not happen this way because the Israelites needed more instructions in preparation for the battle. They only acted when God told them what to do.They paused to listen to the LORD, the great warrior who would fight on their behalf to give them victory (Joshua 10:42Joshua 10:42 commentary).
At that time, the LORD spoke to Joshua, saying: Make for yourself flint knives and circumcise again the sons of Israel the second time (v. 2).
Circumcision is the act of cutting off the penile foreskin of a male. In Old Testament times, the father usually performed the procedure (Genesis 21:4Genesis 21:4 commentary). It was the sign of God’s covenant with Abraham (Genesis 17:9Genesis 17:9 commentary−14). It was an outward action reminding the Israelites that they belonged to the family of God through their covenant relationship with Him.
The Egyptians also practiced circumcision. The mummy of King Tut was found to be circumcised. Prior to the Hasmonean period (300 BC), Jewish practice was to only cut off a small portion of the penile foreskin. However, when the Greeks were ruling Israel, some Hellenistic Jews created a procedure to reverse circumcision to evade being identified as a Jew. Jewish tradition was afterwards modified to include instructions that ensured the foreskin was cut sufficient enough to make reversal impossible (Rashi on Joshua 5:2Joshua 5:2 commentary).
Circumcision of the flesh is a physical sign of something that God desires to happen much more deeply, on the level of the heart. Circumcision of the heart is mentioned 3 times in the Old Testament (Deuteronomy 10:16Deuteronomy 10:16 commentary, 30:630:6 commentary, Jeremiah 4:4Jeremiah 4:4 commentary). The Israelites viewed the penile foreskin as a piece of flesh that was uneeded and could cause medical problems if left. The same concept is applicable to circumcision of the heart. The human heart (the mind’s deepest intentions) is very deceitful and wicked (Jeremiah 17:9Jeremiah 17:9 commentary). The command to circumcise our hearts is to cut off all the thoughts of the flesh so that the spirit can be the guiding force in our lives.
“Circumcise yourselves to the LORD
And remove the foreskins of your heart,
Men of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem,
Or else My wrath will go forth like fire
And burn with none to quench it,
Because of the evil of your deeds.”
(Jeremiah 4:4Jeremiah 4:4 commentary)
An interesting verse in Ezekiel speaks of circumcision of gentiles who will be able to enter the Temple during the Messianic Era,
“Thus says the Lord GOD, ‘No foreigner uncircumcised in heart and uncircumcised in flesh, of all the foreigners who are among the sons of Israel, shall enter My sanctuary.’”
(Ezekiel 44:9Ezekiel 44:9 commentary)
Circumcision would thus set the people apart for God’s service so they could enjoy the benefits of the covenant. In light of this, the LORD commanded Joshua to circumcise the Israelites again the second time. The temporal phrase the second time does not mean Joshua was to circumcise the same individuals again because that would be impossible. Instead, it means to perform the rite again with knives made with flint, a rock usually found in abundance in biblical lands (Exodus 4:25Exodus 4:25 commentary). It gradually disappeared, making room for other metals such as copper, bronze, and iron.
Joshua did as the LORD instructed him to do. He made himself flint knives and circumcised the sons of Israel at Gibeath-haaraloth (v. 3). The term Gibeath-haaraloth means “hill of the foreskins.” It refers to a site within the tribal territory of Benjamin near Gilgal. Although the exact location of this site is unknown, it is nonetheless important since Joshua performed the circumcision rite there. But why did he have to circumcise the Israelite males? This is the reason why Joshua circumcised them: all the people who came out of Egypt who were males, all the men of war, died in the wilderness along the way after they came out of Egypt (v. 3).
The phrase all the men of war refers to the Israelite men twenty years and older eligible for military duty. It recalls the incident at Kadesh-Barnea, where Moses commanded twelve men to spy out Canaan (Numbers 13Numbers 13 commentary−14). Upon their return, ten gave a fearful report:
“We went in to the land where you sent us; it certainly does flow with milk and honey, and this is its fruit. Nevertheless, the people who live in the land are strong, and the cities are fortified and very large; moreover, we saw the descendants of Anak there.”
(Numbers 13:27Numbers 13:27 commentary−28)
The spies’ timid report prompted the Israelites to rebel against God in their unbelief. But Caleb and Joshua believed in God. They encouraged the people to move forward because they trusted in God’s power to give them the Promised Land (Numbers 13:30Numbers 13:30 commentary). For this reason, the LORD decreed that all the adult Israelites, except for Caleb and Joshua, would not enter the land of Canaan because of their lack of faith (Numbers 14:22Numbers 14:22 commentary−30). Thus, He allowed them to die in the wilderness during their forty years of wandering.
Joshua, the new Israelite leader, ministered to a new generation of Israelites. All the males who came out of Egypt were circumcised but died in the wilderness due to their disobedience and unbelief. Joshua was to perform the religious rite again because all the people who were born in the wilderness along the way as they came out of Egypt had not been circumcised.
Simply put, the Israelites neglected the practice of circumcision as well as presenting sacrifices on the Lord’s appointed festivals during their wilderness years (Amos 5:25Amos 5:25 commentary). But as they were now in Canaan, they were to obey the covenant God made with Abraham. Thus, the ceremony would remind the covenant people that they owed their existence to Yahweh, the God of their ancestor Abraham (Genesis 17:12Genesis 17:12 commentary).
The Bible gave the reason for the death of the former generation of Israelites: For the sons of Israelites walked forty years in the wilderness, until all the nation, that is, the men of war who came out of Egypt, perished because they did not listen to the voice of the LORD (v. 6a). Under normal circumstances, the journey from Egypt to Canaan would take eleven days (Deuteronomy 1:2Deuteronomy 1:2 commentary). However, since the Israelites had rebelled at Kadesh-Barnea⎯the point of entering Canaan⎯the LORD prolonged their journey by commanding them to wander in the desert for forty years until they ceased to exist.
This period would come to be known as “the rebellion in the wilderness.” The Psalms and the book of Hebrews would later warn people not to follow that example (Psalms 78:40Psalms 78:40 commentary, 95:8-1195:8-11 commentary, 106:14106:14 commentary, Hebrews 3:8Hebrews 3:8 commentary, 1717 commentary).
The author of the book of Hebrews makes this comparison between the failed first generation of Israelites and Christians who harden their hearts and become disobedient and unbelieving (Hebrews 3:12-19Hebrews 3:12-19 commentary). The first generation of Israelites who left Egypt showed themselves to be disobedient to God and so did not possess the land as their inheritance. Likewise, New Testament believers can fail to prove themselves faithful, and can also “come short” of receiving their inheritance (Hebrews 3:6Hebrews 3:6 commentary).
The inheritance promised to New Testament believers is to share in Christ’s reign over the earth according to God’s original plan (Hebrews 2:7-9Hebrews 2:7-9 commentary). The unbelieving Israelites of the first generation in the Old Testament did not enter God’s rest (the Promised Land), but they were still God’s people. God still supernaturally took care of their needs in the wilderness (Deuteronomy 8:3-4Deuteronomy 8:3-4 commentary).
Similarly, New Testament believers are made new creations in Christ, which is a finished work. We are God’s children no matter what (Hebrews 3:1Hebrews 3:1 commentary). We cannot outsin God’s grace (Romans 5:20-21Romans 5:20-21 commentary). What is in question is our reward—the consequences of our choices in life. The author of Hebrews encourages us to pursue this additional “rest” (Hebrews 4:8-9Hebrews 4:8-9 commentary), which refers to the opportunity to receive an inheritance as a reward for finishing the work God gives us to do (Ephesians 2:10Ephesians 2:10 commentary). God will not permit us to enter this “rest” if we are disobedient and live a life to please sin and self. However, everyone who believes on Jesus are children of God (John 3:5John 3:5 commentary, 14-1514-15 commentary).
The promise of the inheritance given to the first generation Israelites did not benefit the first generation because they did not walk in faith (Hebrews 3:18-19Hebrews 3:18-19 commentary). In the same way, the promises of God also have no benefit to us without faith to walk in them. To inherit God’s promises, we must act upon them. Without faith in God, we cannot obey Him; faith is necessary to gain the reward of our inheritance (Hebrews 3:18-19Hebrews 3:18-19 commentary).
As shown in Hebrews 2Hebrews 2 commentary, commentary all authority was given to Jesus because He was obedient, even to the point of dying on a cross (Hebrews 2:9-10Hebrews 2:9-10 commentary). He desires to share that authority with all who trust and follow Him, enduring rejection from the world as He did (Hebrews 2:10Hebrews 2:10 commentary, commentary Revelation 3:21Revelation 3:21 commentary).
Joshua emphasized the punishment of the rebellious generation of Israelites by saying: The LORD had sworn that He would not let them see the land which the LORD had sworn to their fathers to give us, a land flowing with milk and honey (v. 6b). The phrase milk and honey describes the productivity and fertility of the land of Canaan. God had promised to give such a place to His covenant people to demonstrate His love and care for them; He had sworn to their fathers Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob to give them this fertile land (Genesis 12:7Genesis 12:7 commentary, 26:326:3 commentary, 28:1328:13 commentary).
But since the first generation rebelled against their LORD, He let them die in the wilderness. The second generationwas Their children whom He raised up in their place (v. 7). The children of the rebellious first generation would inherit the promises of the land flowing with milk and honey, because they obeyed God in faith that He would secure victory for them over their enemies. This second generation of males Joshua circumcised; for they were uncircumcised because they had not circumcised them along the way (v. 7).
The wilderness journey was quite an experience for the Israelites. They went through a hard time of training and discipline (Deuteronomy 8:1Deuteronomy 8:1 commentary−6). During those years, the people faced hunger and thirst. They even saw “fiery serpents and scorpions” (Deuteronomy 8:15Deuteronomy 8:15 commentary). Despite their disobedience, the LORD miraculously provided for them. Since they were His covenant people, they were to follow the covenantal requirements, as outlined in Genesis “Every male among you shall be circumcised” (Genesis 17:10Genesis 17:10 commentary). This surgical procedure would mark the people as members of the covenantal community. God always requires faith and obedience from His people.