The Israelites are circumcised at Gilgal
1 The kings of the Amorites on the west of the Jordan and all the kings of
the Canaanites who lived in the neighboring lands of the Mediterranean Sea
came to know how Yahweh dried up the bed of the Jordan for the Israelites to
cross. So they lost their courage and spirit to face the Israelites.
2 At that time, Yahweh said to Joshua: ¡°Make flint knives and celebrate a
new circumcision for the sons of Israel.¡±
3 Jo shua obeyed the order of Yahweh and circumcised the Israelites at a
place called the Hill of the Foreskins.
4 This is the reason why Joshua did this sec ond circumcision: all the men
of Israel who left Egypt were circumcised, but they died during their
journey in the desert.
5 But all those born in the desert were not circumcised.
6 For the Israelites walked in the desert for forty years until the whole
nation died¡ªthe whole generation who did not obey Yahweh. For Yah weh had
sworn that they would not enter the land flowing with milk and honey which
he promised to their ancestors.
7 But it was their children, whom Joshua circumcised.
8 After circumcising all, they rested in the camp until they were healed.
9 Then Yahweh said to Joshua: ¡°Today I have re moved from you the shame of
Egypt.¡± So the place is called Gilgal up to this day.
10 The Israelites encamped in Gilgal where they celebrated the Passover on
the evening of the fourteenth day of the month in the plains of Jericho.
11 On the following day, they ate of the produce of the land: unleavened
bread and roasted grain on that very day.
12 And from that day on when they ate of the produce of the land, the manna
ceased.
There was no more manna for the Is raelites, and that year they ate of the
fruit of the land of Canaan.
13 When Joshua was near Jericho, he lifted up his eyes and saw before him a
man with a drawn sword in his hand. Joshua approached him and said: ¡°Are you
for us or for our ene mies?¡±
14 And he answered: ¡°No, I have come as the commander of the army of
Yahweh.¡± Joshua lay prostrate on the ground, worshiped him and said: ¡°What
does my Lord ask of his servant?¡±
15 The commander of the army of Yahweh said to him: ¡°Take off your sandals
from your feet; the place where you stand is holy.¡± And Joshua did so.
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Comments Joshua, Chapter 5
• 5.1 At their first encampment, Joshua¡¯s men celebrated their first
religious cult performing circumcision (see Gen 17:10). In Israel, this was
the sign of one¡¯s entrance into the religious community. In order to insist
on this obligation, the book notes that, upon entering the Holy Land, all
the men were circumcised.
From that day on, they ate of the produce of the land (v. 11). See
commentary on Exodus 16 for the explanations concerning the manna and
legends about it.
Then begins a new era. Up to this time, the religion of the Israelites had
been that of a nomadic people. Now begins a deep crisis which will last
until King David¡¯s time, with the Israelites try ing to adapt themselves to
their new situation as farmers and city-dwellers and gradually evolving a
kind of religion suitable for this new situa tion. This text goes even
further: the time of the journey, the time of the march towards the Promised
Land is over; the people have entered this land. The manna, nourishment for
the journey, no longer falls and the people satisfy their hunger with the
fruit of the country. So it will be at the end of time when all humanity
will have reached the Father and his kingdom, no longer will the Church give
people bread for the journey¡ªwhat they will have is the eternal presence of
God.