Joshua 5:10-12 describes how the Israelites observed the Passover in Canaan and ate some of the land’s produce. Then, the miraculous provision of manna stops.
In Joshua 5:10Joshua 5:10 commentary−12, the Israelites celebrate the first Passover within the borders of the Promised Land.
After Israel entered the Promised Land, the LORD asked Joshua to circumcise all the males because they had neglected this practice during their wilderness years. Joshua obeyed the LORD and resumed the rite. The people stayed in their camp for some time to rest and recover. Once the healing process was over, the LORD declared He had removed the disgrace of having been enslaved from them. Thus, the town where the people performed the circumcision took the name of Gilgal, which means “rolling” (Joshua 5:1Joshua 5:1 commentary−9).
During their convalescence, the Israelites were diligent to keep the Passover: While the sons of Israel camped at Gilgal, they observed the Passover (v. 10).
The Passover (Hebrew “pāsaḥ”) refers to the sacred Jewish observance that commemorates the night in which the LORD killed all the firstborn of the Egyptians during the tenth plague, but “passed over” the Israelite homes that had blood on their doorposts, sparing the Hebrew firstborn children (Exodus 12:12Exodus 12:12 commentary−13; Deuteronomy 16:1Deuteronomy 16:1 commentary−8).
The people of God celebrated this feast for the first time in Canaan on the evening of the fourteenth day of the month. They waited until after the circumcision because “no uncircumcised person” could participate in such a ritual (Exodus 12:48Exodus 12:48 commentary). Passover was a forshadowing of the death of Jesus the Messiah who was crucified on the very day that the Israelites were slaughtering their Passover lambs.
In the previous chapter, we learned that “the people came up from the Jordan on the tenth day of the first month (Joshua 4:19Joshua 4:19 commentary). Now, they celebrated the Passover festival on the fourteenth day, four days after they crossed the Jordan River. They celebrated on the desert plains of Jericho in the lower Jordan Valley, west of the Jordan River and about ten miles northwest of the Dead Sea (Joshua 2:1Joshua 2:1 commentary). Through the Passover celebration, the Israelites affirmed their identity with the LORD their God. Then, on the day after the Passover, on that very day, they ate some of the produce of the land, unleavened cakes and parched grain.
The unleavened cakes refer to bread made without yeast. The parched grain is a food cooked by dry roasting. Thus, for the first time since their arrival in the Promised Land, the Israelites ate the land’s produce by collecting grain from the fields, roasting some of it, and making bread without yeast from part of it. The manna ceased on the day after they had eaten some of the produce of the land so that the sons of Israel no longer had manna.
According to the book of Numbers, manna was like “coriander seed” (Numbers 11:7Numbers 11:7 commentary). It was “a fine flake-like thing, fine as the frost on the ground” (Exodus 16:14Exodus 16:14 commentary). This food was unknown to Israel’s ancestors. Manna is a Hebrew word meaning “What is this?” When the Israelites faced hardships (including a lack of food) during their forty years in the wilderness, God miraculously fed them with grain from heaven called manna (Psalm 78:24Psalm 78:24 commentary).
Through this provision, God sustained His people during their journey to the Promised Land (Deuteronomy 8:11Deuteronomy 8:11 commentary−16). Now that they were in their land, the manna stopped falling, and they ate some of the yield of the land of Canaan during that year. Although the wilderness journey was difficult for the Israelites, God carried them through it and brought them to the land of Canaan. They could now enjoy the benefits of the land, which the LORD swore to give to them.
The LORD is faithful to His promises. In Deuteronomy, He predicted that the Israelites would possess the land of Canaan and enjoy all its riches (Deuteronomy 6:10Deuteronomy 6:10 commentary−11). Despite their disobedience, God continually displayed His care and love for the children of Israel. He redeemed them from their bondage in Egypt, led them through their wilderness journey, and brought them to the Promised Land. His every word is true (Numbers 23:19Numbers 23:19 commentary).
Set to dark mode
Joshua 5:10−12 meaning
In Joshua 5:10Joshua 5:10 commentary−12, the Israelites celebrate the first Passover within the borders of the Promised Land.
After Israel entered the Promised Land, the LORD asked Joshua to circumcise all the males because they had neglected this practice during their wilderness years. Joshua obeyed the LORD and resumed the rite. The people stayed in their camp for some time to rest and recover. Once the healing process was over, the LORD declared He had removed the disgrace of having been enslaved from them. Thus, the town where the people performed the circumcision took the name of Gilgal, which means “rolling” (Joshua 5:1Joshua 5:1 commentary−9).
During their convalescence, the Israelites were diligent to keep the Passover: While the sons of Israel camped at Gilgal, they observed the Passover (v. 10).
The Passover (Hebrew “pāsaḥ”) refers to the sacred Jewish observance that commemorates the night in which the LORD killed all the firstborn of the Egyptians during the tenth plague, but “passed over” the Israelite homes that had blood on their doorposts, sparing the Hebrew firstborn children (Exodus 12:12Exodus 12:12 commentary−13; Deuteronomy 16:1Deuteronomy 16:1 commentary−8).
The people of God celebrated this feast for the first time in Canaan on the evening of the fourteenth day of the month. They waited until after the circumcision because “no uncircumcised person” could participate in such a ritual (Exodus 12:48Exodus 12:48 commentary). Passover was a forshadowing of the death of Jesus the Messiah who was crucified on the very day that the Israelites were slaughtering their Passover lambs.
To learn more about how Passover foreshadows the work of Christ, see our article: “Jesus and the Messianic Fulfillments of Passover and Unleavened Bread.”
In the previous chapter, we learned that “the people came up from the Jordan on the tenth day of the first month (Joshua 4:19Joshua 4:19 commentary). Now, they celebrated the Passover festival on the fourteenth day, four days after they crossed the Jordan River. They celebrated on the desert plains of Jericho in the lower Jordan Valley, west of the Jordan River and about ten miles northwest of the Dead Sea (Joshua 2:1Joshua 2:1 commentary). Through the Passover celebration, the Israelites affirmed their identity with the LORD their God. Then, on the day after the Passover, on that very day, they ate some of the produce of the land, unleavened cakes and parched grain.
The unleavened cakes refer to bread made without yeast. The parched grain is a food cooked by dry roasting. Thus, for the first time since their arrival in the Promised Land, the Israelites ate the land’s produce by collecting grain from the fields, roasting some of it, and making bread without yeast from part of it. The manna ceased on the day after they had eaten some of the produce of the land so that the sons of Israel no longer had manna.
According to the book of Numbers, manna was like “coriander seed” (Numbers 11:7Numbers 11:7 commentary). It was “a fine flake-like thing, fine as the frost on the ground” (Exodus 16:14Exodus 16:14 commentary). This food was unknown to Israel’s ancestors. Manna is a Hebrew word meaning “What is this?” When the Israelites faced hardships (including a lack of food) during their forty years in the wilderness, God miraculously fed them with grain from heaven called manna (Psalm 78:24Psalm 78:24 commentary).
Through this provision, God sustained His people during their journey to the Promised Land (Deuteronomy 8:11Deuteronomy 8:11 commentary−16). Now that they were in their land, the manna stopped falling, and they ate some of the yield of the land of Canaan during that year. Although the wilderness journey was difficult for the Israelites, God carried them through it and brought them to the land of Canaan. They could now enjoy the benefits of the land, which the LORD swore to give to them.
The LORD is faithful to His promises. In Deuteronomy, He predicted that the Israelites would possess the land of Canaan and enjoy all its riches (Deuteronomy 6:10Deuteronomy 6:10 commentary−11). Despite their disobedience, God continually displayed His care and love for the children of Israel. He redeemed them from their bondage in Egypt, led them through their wilderness journey, and brought them to the Promised Land. His every word is true (Numbers 23:19Numbers 23:19 commentary).