Chapter 5
The book of Joshua has so far been a resumption of pure historical narrative. It has been a chronological, almost daily journal, of the entry into Canaan to push out those currently there, and inhabit the land. Israel is taking over the land promised to them.
The miracle God did drying up the Jordan for the people to pass over, struck fear deep into the hearts of those they were about to conquer, taking much of the fight out of them. These Canaanite nations must have had spies out there, keeping tabs on where Israel was and what they were doing. They would want to be prepared and ready when Israel arrived at their gates. Even though they saw Israel's first move into Canaan, it did not make them feel prepared and ready. Seeing that God went before them and dried up a river in spring flood long enough for millions to cross, had the opposite effect. It was obvious that they were not going to be stopped. 2023 - Perhaps the Canaanites were thinking they had a lot more time to get ready, because Israel could not cross the Jordan while it was in flood. So this miraculous crossing not only showed a supernatural power behind Israel, but meant that attack was at the very doors.
These verses:
2 At that time the LORD said to Joshua, "Make flint knives and circumcise the sons of Israel a second time." ... 7 So it was their children, whom he raised up in their place, that Joshua circumcised. For they were uncircumcised, because they had not been circumcised on the way. ... 9 And the LORD said to Joshua, "Today I have rolled away the reproach of Egypt from you." And so the name of that place is called Gilgal to this day. [Jos 5:2, 7, 9 ESV]
I don't know why the knives had to be made of flint, but here is the explanation for why this had to be done, and what it symbolized. MSB says what was rolled away was the ridicule the Egyptians had heaped on them. Gilgal means "rolling"
Israel observes Passover in the Land of Canaan for the first time. Beginning the next day, the manna did not fall. They ate off the land from then on.
2024 - This verse: 10 While the sons of Israel camped at Gilgal they observed the Passover on the evening of the fourteenth day of the month on the desert plains of Jericho. [Jos 5:10 NASB95]. Observed on the 14th, on the evening. ESV says in the evening. NKJV says at twilight. Evening is the time from sundown until full dark. This is also twilight. So before the 14th ended, Passover was observed. We pretty much have to read that as "the lambs were slain at twilight". In terms of the death angel visiting Egypt, you would have wanted those doorposts painted red before the angel came "at night". That angel was coming about midnight. So plenty of time to kill the lambs and paint the doorposts.
These verses:
13 When Joshua was by Jericho, he lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, a man was standing before him with his drawn sword in his hand. And Joshua went to him and said to him, "Are you for us, or for our adversaries?" 14 And he said, "No; but I am the commander of the army of the LORD. Now I have come." And Joshua fell on his face to the earth and worshiped and said to him, "What does my lord say to his servant?" 15 And the commander of the LORD's army said to Joshua, "Take off your sandals from your feet, for the place where you are standing is holy." And Joshua did so. [Jos 5:13-15 ESV]
I should have noticed this myself, but didn't. MSB notes point out that this was Jesus, incarnate. A Christophany. Jesus is the commander of the Lord's army. Note that Joshua worships this "angel", but unlike the angels in Revelation, this one does not tell him to stand back up. This one doesn't say "only God should be worshiped". This one is worthy of worship. And just to be sure we don't miss who this is, Joshua is told to take off his sandals, just as Moses was told to take his off before God at the burning bush.
There is more here, too. This commander of the army IS God, because he is worshiped, and under the Sinai Covenant, "The Lord our God, the Lord is One". He says he is the commander of the army of the Lord - speaking of God in the third person. So He is not God? So here in the OT is an unmistakable indication that God does not operate as a single entity, but He operates separately depending on the task at hand. God Himself does not command armies. This role is in Jesus - and he is seen coming with his army again in Revelation.