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Joshua 5:1 ¶ And it came to pass, when all the kings of the Amorites, which were on the side of Jordan westward, and all the kings of the Canaanites, which were by the sea, heard that the LORD had dried up the waters of Jordan from before the children of Israel, until we were passed over, that their heart melted, neither was there spirit in them any more, because of the children of Israel. 

Once the kings of the Amorites and the other king of the Canaanites west of Jordan heard how the LORD had dried up the waters of the Jordan River to allow the children of Israel to cross over on dry ground, they became very afraid.

Joshua 5:2 At that time the LORD said unto Joshua, Make thee sharp knives, and circumcise again the children of Israel the second time. 

Joshua 5:3 And Joshua made him sharp knives, and circumcised the children of Israel at the hill of the foreskins. 

Joshua 5:4 And this is the cause why Joshua did circumcise: All the people that came out of Egypt, that were males, even all the men of war, died in the wilderness by the way, after they came out of Egypt. 

Joshua 5:5 Now all the people that came out were circumcised: but all the people that were born in the wilderness by the way as they came forth out of Egypt, them they had not circumcised. 

Joshua 5:6 For the children of Israel walked forty years in the wilderness, till all the people that were men of war, which came out of Egypt, were consumed, because they obeyed not the voice of the LORD: unto whom the LORD sware that he would not shew them the land, which the LORD sware unto their fathers that he would give us, a land that floweth with milk and honey. 

Joshua 5:7 And their children, whom he raised up in their stead, them Joshua circumcised: for they were uncircumcised, because they had not circumcised them by the way. 

The LORD commanded Joshua to make some sharp knives and once again circumcise the males of Israel, and he did so. Although the men that came out of Egypt were circumcised, they had not circumcised their children that were born after leaving Egypt.  That whole generation that had come out of Egypt had died in the wilderness because of their unbelief.  Consequently, most of the men of war at this time were uncircumcised. 

The LORD had established circumcision as a sign of the covenant between Him and the children of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.

Genesis 17:10–11 “This is my covenant, which ye shall keep, between me and you and thy seed after thee; Every man child among you shall be circumcised. And ye shall circumcise the flesh of your foreskin; and it shall be a token of the covenant betwixt me and you.”

Circumcision was a cutting away of the flesh that affirmed the people of Israel as God’s chosen people and acknowledged Him as their LORD.  

Circumcision is a cutting away of the flesh that represents one’s sin and one’s desire to follow God in obedience.  As Christians, we too are to be circumcised, but that circumcision is one of the heart as described by the Apostle Paul.

Romans 2:28–29 “For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh: But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.”

I liked the application made by Guzik:  “Of course, this is the same work God wants to do in us, taking away the dishonor and shame of our previous sin and rebellion, and seeing ourselves as who we are in Jesus.”

Joshua 5:8 And it came to pass, when they had done circumcising all the people, that they abode in their places in the camp, till they were whole. 

Joshua 5:9 And the LORD said unto Joshua, This day have I rolled away the reproach of Egypt from off you. Wherefore the name of the place is called Gilgal unto this day. 

Once all the males had been circumcised, they remained in the camp until they had healed. The LORD declared that their obedience had taken away the shame they had experienced as slaves in Egypt.  The place was named “Gilgal,” meaning “rolling,” because there the shame of Israel had been rolled away.

I think the shame being referenced is a reference to the disobedience and unbelief of the previous generation that found root in their sojourn in Egypt.

Although I think it was safe to say that the people of Israel did not have to fear an attack from the people of the land who were so afraid of them and their God, it still left the people of Israel in a very vulnerable position.  Adam Clarke makes insightful observation: “But why did not God order them to be circumcised while they were on the east side of Jordan in a state of great security? Because he chose to bring them into straits and difficulties where no counsel or might but his own could infallibly direct and save them; and this he did that they might see that the excellence of the power was of God, and not of man.”

The NIV Commentary noted that males must be circumcised to participate in Passover.

Exodus 12:48–49 “And when a stranger shall sojourn with thee, and will keep the passover to the LORD, let all his males be circumcised, and then let him come near and keep it; and he shall be as one that is born in the land: for no uncircumcised person shall eat thereof. One law shall be to him that is homeborn, and unto the stranger that sojourneth among you.” 

Joshua 5:10 ¶ And the children of Israel encamped in Gilgal, and kept the passover on the fourteenth day of the month at even in the plains of Jericho. 

Joshua 5:11 And they did eat of the old corn of the land on the morrow after the passover, unleavened cakes, and parched corn in the selfsame day. 

Joshua 5:12 And the manna ceased on the morrow after they had eaten of the old corn of the land; neither had the children of Israel manna any more; but they did eat of the fruit of the land of Canaan that year. 

The children remained encamped at Gilgal in the plains of Jericho and observed Passover on the 14th day of the month.  They ate of the old corn of the land on the day after Passover—unleavened cakes and parched grain.  Manna was no longer provided after that first meal of the grain of the land.  They ate from the produce of Canaan that year.

JFB explains that the grain came from the storehouses of Jericho that were outside the city walls.

Isn’t it interesting that deliverance from Egypt began with Passover and taking possession of the land was initiated with Passover.

Joshua 5:13 ¶ And it came to pass, when Joshua was by Jericho, that he lifted up his eyes and looked, and, behold, there stood a man over against him with his sword drawn in his hand: and Joshua went unto him, and said unto him, Art thou for us, or for our adversaries? 

Joshua 5:14 And he said, Nay; but as captain of the host of the LORD am I now come. And Joshua fell on his face to the earth, and did worship, and said unto him, What saith my lord unto his servant? 

Joshua 5:15 And the captain of the LORD’S host said unto Joshua, Loose thy shoe from off thy foot; for the place whereon thou standest is holy. And Joshua did so. 

Some time after Passover it seems, Joshua was near Jericho when he suddenly saw a man holding a drawn sword standing across from him.  He asked the man whether he was friend or foe.  The man declared that he was captain of the host of the LORD.  Joshua immediately fell prostrate in worship before him and asked what his message was for the LORD’s servant.  The captain told Joshua to take his shoes off because he was standing on holy ground—and he did so.

So, who is the captain of the LORD’s host?  None other than the preincarnate Jesus.  An angel would never have allowed Joshua to worship him.  The presence of an angel would not make the ground around him holy.  I don’t know if Joshua understood this or not, but his actions infer that he did.  This is another reminder that the LORD and His spiritual army of angels are working in conjunction with servants of the LORD as they seek to do His will—another example, Elisha’s protection from the armies of Syria.

2 Kings 6:15–17 “And when the servant of the man of God was risen early, and gone forth, behold, an host compassed the city both with horses and chariots. And his servant said unto him, Alas, my master! how shall we do? And he answered, Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them. And Elisha prayed, and said, LORD, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see. And the LORD opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha.” 

Wiersbe: “Joshua was reminded that he was second in command.  Every father and mother, pastor, and Christian leader is second in command to the Lord Jesus Christ, and when we forget this fact, we start to move toward defeat and failure.”

Joshua 6:1 ¶ Now Jericho was straitly shut up because of the children of Israel: none went out, and none came in. 

Joshua 6:2 And the LORD said unto Joshua, See, I have given into thine hand Jericho, and the king thereof, and the mighty men of valour. 

Joshua 6:3 And ye shall compass the city, all ye men of war, and go round about the city once. Thus shalt thou do six days. 

Joshua 6:4 And seven priests shall bear before the ark seven trumpets of rams’ horns: and the seventh day ye shall compass the city seven times, and the priests shall blow with the trumpets. 

Joshua 6:5 And it shall come to pass, that when they make a long blast with the ram’s horn, and when ye hear the sound of the trumpet, all the people shall shout with a great shout; and the wall of the city shall fall down flat, and the people shall ascend up every man straight before him. 

This chapter opens with Jericho on lockdown; no one was allowed either to leave or enter the city because they feared the children of Israel.  The LORD told Joshua that He had given them the city, even their king and mighty soldiers.  He expected them to do exactly as He said, however.  

All the men of war were to march around the city one time for each of the next six days.  Seven priests were to follow them blowing seven rams’ horns followed by the ark of the covenant.  On the seventh day, however, they were to march around the city seven times followed by the priests blowing their trumpets.  After the last circuit, the priests were to make a long blast on the trumpet, signaling for the people to shout a great shout.  The wall of the city would fall down flat, and the army of Israel would be able to enter the city.

Joshua 6:6 ¶ And Joshua the son of Nun called the priests, and said unto them, Take up the ark of the covenant, and let seven priests bear seven trumpets of rams’ horns before the ark of the LORD. 

Joshua 6:7 And he said unto the people, Pass on, and compass the city, and let him that is armed pass on before the ark of the LORD. 

Joshua 6:8 And it came to pass, when Joshua had spoken unto the people, that the seven priests bearing the seven trumpets of rams’ horns passed on before the LORD, and blew with the trumpets: and the ark of the covenant of the LORD followed them. 

Joshua 6:9 And the armed men went before the priests that blew with the trumpets, and the rereward came after the ark, the priests going on, and blowing with the trumpets. 

Joshua didn’t blink, didn’t hem and haw, didn’t roll his eyes because the plan sounded so outrageous—he immediately proceeded to instruct the people accordingly.  The people also responded with immediate obedience. 

“rereward” = rear guard

Joshua 6:10 And Joshua had commanded the people, saying, Ye shall not shout, nor make any noise with your voice, neither shall any word proceed out of your mouth, until the day I bid you shout; then shall ye shout. 

Joshua 6:11 So the ark of the LORD compassed the city, going about it once: and they came into the camp, and lodged in the camp. 

Joshua had also commanded the people to remain completely silent until the signal was given for them to shout.  For an entire army to remain totally quiet for that amount of time was a miracle in itself.  It reminds me of the scripture in Revelation that notes the silence in heaven that precedes the judgment following the opening of the seventh seal.

The ark was at the end of the procession and returned to the camp after they had marched around the city one time.

Joshua 6:12 And Joshua rose early in the morning, and the priests took up the ark of the LORD. 

Joshua 6:13 And seven priests bearing seven trumpets of rams’ horns before the ark of the LORD went on continually, and blew with the trumpets: and the armed men went before them; but the rereward came after the ark of the LORD, the priestsgoing on, and blowing with the trumpets. 

Joshua 6:14 And the second day they compassed the city once, and returned into the camp: so they did six days. 

Joshua 6:15 And it came to pass on the seventh day, that they rose early about the dawning of the day, and compassed the city after the same manner seven times: only on that day they compassed the city seven times. 

Joshua 6:16 And it came to pass at the seventh time, when the priests blew with the trumpets, Joshua said unto the people, Shout; for the LORD hath given you the city. 

The procession of the army, the priests with the rams’ horns and the ark performed this same routine for six days.  Don’t you wonder what was going through the minds of the people of Jericho that were watching from the wall?  Considering what they knew that the LORD had done on the behalf of Israel, they were surely trembling with fear.

On the seventh day they arose at dawn and began their journey around the city seven times.  After the seventh time, the priests blew the trumpet with the signal to shout; and Joshua told them to shout because the LORD had given them the city.

Joshua 6:17 ¶ And the city shall be accursed, even it, and all that are therein, to the LORD: only Rahab the harlot shall live, she and all that are with her in the house, because she hid the messengers that we sent. 

Joshua 6:18 And ye, in any wise keep yourselves from the accursed thing, lest ye make yourselves accursed, when ye take of the accursed thing, and make the camp of Israel a curse, and trouble it. 

Joshua 6:19 But all the silver, and gold, and vessels of brass and iron, are consecrated unto the LORD: they shall come into the treasury of the LORD. 

Joshua had to have given these instructions previous to the last day.  He told them that everything in the city was “accursed”—was to be utterly destroyed according to the Hebrew.  Only Rahab the harlot and all those in her house were to be allowed to live because of her protection of the spies.  No one was to take any souvenirs or they would become accursed and bring trouble upon the whole camp of Israel.  All the silver and gold and vessels of brass and iron were to be set apart for the LORD’s use and deposited in the tabernacle treasury.

Note:  The sin of one would have a detrimental impact on the whole, though the rest be innocent.  That is a sad truth that so many families know all to well.  

Joshua 6:20 So the people shouted when the priests blew with the trumpets: and it came to pass, when the people heard the sound of the trumpet, and the people shouted with a great shout, that the wall fell down flat, so that the people went up into the city, every man straight before him, and they took the city. 

Joshua 6:21 And they utterly destroyed all that was in the city, both man and woman, young and old, and ox, and sheep, and ass, with the edge of the sword. 

When the priests gave the unique blast of the long signal, the army shouted very loudly and walls of Jericho fell down flat.  The soldiers took possession of the city, destroying everything in it—man and woman, young and old, and livestock.

We know that Rahab’s house was in the wall of the city, so the LORD must have spared that section to allow for her rescue.

This is a hard truth for many to accept because it seems so barbaric.  We have to remember that the LORD spared Canaan for over 400 years until the time that they were so full of sin that they were beyond repentance and judgment was necessary.  Obviously, Rahab was the exception and the LORD made provision for her similar to how He delivered Lot from Sodom and Gomorrah.  The destruction of people that were already doomed to hell was an act of protection for the people of Israel against their ungodly influence and/or acts of revenge. 

Moses had explained all this to the people previously.

Deuteronomy 18:9–14 “When thou art come into the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee, thou shalt not learn to do after the abominations of those nations. There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch, Or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer. For all that do these things are an abomination unto the LORD: and because of these abominations the LORD thy God doth drive them out from before thee. Thou shalt be perfect with the LORD thy God. For these nations, which thou shalt possess, hearkened unto observers of times, and unto diviners: but as for thee, the LORD thy God hath not suffered thee so to do.”

Joshua 6:22 But Joshua had said unto the two men that had spied out the country, Go into the harlot’s house, and bring out thence the woman, and all that she hath, as ye sware unto her. 

Joshua 6:23 And the young men that were spies went in, and brought out Rahab, and her father, and her mother, and her brethren, and all that she had; and they brought out all her kindred, and left them without the camp of Israel. 

Joshua instructed his two spies to personally go to “the harlot’s” house and bring her out with everything that was hers in accordance with their promise to her.  So they brought out Rahab and her family and belongings and left them outside the camp of Israel.

Joshua 6:24 And they burnt the city with fire, and all that was therein: only the silver, and the gold, and the vessels of brass and of iron, they put into the treasury of the house of the LORD. 

They burned down the city of Jericho and everything in it.  Only the silver, gold and vessels of brass and iron were collected to put in the treasury at the tabernacle.

Joshua 6:25 And Joshua saved Rahab the harlot alive, and her father’s household, and all that she had; and she dwelleth in Israel even unto this day; because she hid the messengers, which Joshua sent to spy out Jericho. 

Once again it is noted that Joshua saved Rahab the harlot and her family and belongings.  She was still living in Israel at the time Joshua wrote this record of this part of Israel’s history.  She was spared because she protected the spies.

Once again, Rahab is affirmed for her actions—actions that included lying for the right reason.  It stood out to me that every time Rahab is mentioned includes the fact that she was a harlot.  I think it is because it is such a testimony to the grace and mercy of the LORD, especially considering the blessings He had in store for her future.  We know that her descendants include King David and Jesus the Messiah.

Joshua 6:26 And Joshua adjured them at that time, saying, Cursed be the man before the LORD, that riseth up and buildeth this city Jericho: he shall lay the foundation thereof in his firstborn, and in his youngest son shall he set up the gates of it. 

Joshua 6:27 So the LORD was with Joshua; and his fame was noised throughout all the country. 

Joshua pronounced a curse on any man that dared to rebuild the city of Jericho in defiance to the LORD.  It would prove to be the death of his children.  In 1Kings 16 we have the record of the fulfillment of  this prophecy.

(The ESV has clearer wording)  1 Kings 16:34 “In his days Hiel of Bethel built Jericho. He laid its foundation at the cost of Abiram his firstborn, and set up its gates at the cost of his youngest son Segub, according to the word of the LORD, which he spoke by Joshua the son of Nun.”

The fall of Jericho added to Joshua’s fame and became known through the land.