Joshua 5:8-9 shows that after the circumcision and recovery of the Israelite men, the LORD declares that He has rolled away the reproach of Egypt from them.
In Joshua 5:8-9Joshua 5:8-9 commentary, commentary God tells the Israelites He has removed from them the shame of having been slaves in Egypt.
In the previous passage, the LORD instructed Joshua to circumcise all the Israelite males as a sign that they were members of the covenant community and children of Abraham. Joshua obeyed the voice of God and circumcised the people since this did not occur during their wilderness wandering (Joshua 5:1Joshua 5:1 commentary−7).
Now, when they had finished circumcising all the nation, they remained in the places in the camp until they were healed (v. 8).
Circumcision ⎯the act of cutting off the foreskin of the male reproductive organ⎯was the sign of God’s covenant with Abraham (Genesis 17:9Genesis 17:9 commentary−14). It was an outward action, signifying membership in the covenant community of God. As such, it would set the people apart for God’s service so they could enjoy the benefits of the covenant. Since the surgical procedure was painful, the males needed some time to rest and recover. Thus, they stayed in their camp.
Circumcision of the flesh is a physical sign of something that God desires to happen much more deeply—circumcision 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 unneeded and could cause health 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)
Once the healing process from the mass circumcision was over, the LORD spoke to Joshua. The Hebrew term translated as LORD is Yahweh, the self-existent and everlasting God who revealed Himself to Moses at the burning bush (Exodus 3:14Exodus 3:14 commentary).
The name often highlights God’s covenant relationship with the Israelites. In this relationship, Yahweh was the Suzerain ruler, and Israel was the vassal. He was their covenant partner who always kept His part of the agreement and required them to do the same while providing a means of atonement when they failed.
Unfortunately, the people continuously rebelled against their Suzerain Ruler (as we are all prone to do), so they fell under His judgment. In our passage, God declared He would be gracious to the Israelites: ‘Today I have rolled away the reproach of Egypt from you’ (v. 9).
The reproach of Egypt means the stigma of being slaves and the mentality that comes with being a slave. 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.
The Israelites were slaves to Pharaoh and Egypt for about 400 years. They lived under oppression and affliction (Exodus 1:12Exodus 1:12 commentary). But the LORD redeemed them “with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm” (Deuteronomy 26:8Deuteronomy 26:8 commentary). He rescued them so that they could possess the land of Canaan, “a land flowing with milk and honey” (Deuteronomy 26:9Deuteronomy 26:9 commentary).
Yet, after their redemption, the Israelites wandered for forty years in the wilderness because they did not obey God or trust Him when it came time to conquer Canaan (Numbers 13Numbers 13 commentary−14, Hebrews 3:9Hebrews 3:9 commentary). During those forty years of suffering in the wilderness, the Egyptians undoubtedly had heaped scorn on Israel, thinking their God had abandoned them.
Nevertheless, the circumcision of the new generation of the Israelites signaled the end of that shame. Their disgrace was over. A new life had begun. The people of God made it safely to the Promised Land and resumed the sacred covenantal rite of circumcision, which they had neglected during all their wilderness years. This obedience to the covenant prompted God to remove the reproach (or disgrace) of Egypt from His people. So, the name of that place is called Gilgal to this day.
The term Gilgal means “rolling.” It comes from a verb, which means to roll a stone either to shut a well or a cave (see Genesis 29:3Genesis 29:3 commentary, 88 commentary, 1010 commentary and commentaryJoshua 10:18Joshua 10:18 commentary). It was thus fitting to name the town “Gilgal” because the LORD had removed the reproach of Egypt from His people. He had been gracious to them. Their circumcision was a powerful testimony of His goodness. He gave them a new heart to obey Him and live righteously before Him. God was at work in His people’s lives. He is still at work today.
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Joshua 5:8−9 meaning
In Joshua 5:8-9Joshua 5:8-9 commentary, commentary God tells the Israelites He has removed from them the shame of having been slaves in Egypt.
In the previous passage, the LORD instructed Joshua to circumcise all the Israelite males as a sign that they were members of the covenant community and children of Abraham. Joshua obeyed the voice of God and circumcised the people since this did not occur during their wilderness wandering (Joshua 5:1Joshua 5:1 commentary−7).
Now, when they had finished circumcising all the nation, they remained in the places in the camp until they were healed (v. 8).
Circumcision ⎯the act of cutting off the foreskin of the male reproductive organ⎯was the sign of God’s covenant with Abraham (Genesis 17:9Genesis 17:9 commentary−14). It was an outward action, signifying membership in the covenant community of God. As such, it would set the people apart for God’s service so they could enjoy the benefits of the covenant. Since the surgical procedure was painful, the males needed some time to rest and recover. Thus, they stayed in their camp.
Circumcision of the flesh is a physical sign of something that God desires to happen much more deeply—circumcision 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 unneeded and could cause health 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)
Once the healing process from the mass circumcision was over, the LORD spoke to Joshua. The Hebrew term translated as LORD is Yahweh, the self-existent and everlasting God who revealed Himself to Moses at the burning bush (Exodus 3:14Exodus 3:14 commentary).
The name often highlights God’s covenant relationship with the Israelites. In this relationship, Yahweh was the Suzerain ruler, and Israel was the vassal. He was their covenant partner who always kept His part of the agreement and required them to do the same while providing a means of atonement when they failed.
Unfortunately, the people continuously rebelled against their Suzerain Ruler (as we are all prone to do), so they fell under His judgment. In our passage, God declared He would be gracious to the Israelites: ‘Today I have rolled away the reproach of Egypt from you’ (v. 9).
The reproach of Egypt means the stigma of being slaves and the mentality that comes with being a slave. 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.
The Israelites were slaves to Pharaoh and Egypt for about 400 years. They lived under oppression and affliction (Exodus 1:12Exodus 1:12 commentary). But the LORD redeemed them “with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm” (Deuteronomy 26:8Deuteronomy 26:8 commentary). He rescued them so that they could possess the land of Canaan, “a land flowing with milk and honey” (Deuteronomy 26:9Deuteronomy 26:9 commentary).
Yet, after their redemption, the Israelites wandered for forty years in the wilderness because they did not obey God or trust Him when it came time to conquer Canaan (Numbers 13Numbers 13 commentary−14, Hebrews 3:9Hebrews 3:9 commentary). During those forty years of suffering in the wilderness, the Egyptians undoubtedly had heaped scorn on Israel, thinking their God had abandoned them.
Nevertheless, the circumcision of the new generation of the Israelites signaled the end of that shame. Their disgrace was over. A new life had begun. The people of God made it safely to the Promised Land and resumed the sacred covenantal rite of circumcision, which they had neglected during all their wilderness years. This obedience to the covenant prompted God to remove the reproach (or disgrace) of Egypt from His people. So, the name of that place is called Gilgal to this day.
The term Gilgal means “rolling.” It comes from a verb, which means to roll a stone either to shut a well or a cave (see Genesis 29:3Genesis 29:3 commentary, 88 commentary, 1010 commentary and commentary Joshua 10:18Joshua 10:18 commentary). It was thus fitting to name the town “Gilgal” because the LORD had removed the reproach of Egypt from His people. He had been gracious to them. Their circumcision was a powerful testimony of His goodness. He gave them a new heart to obey Him and live righteously before Him. God was at work in His people’s lives. He is still at work today.