Bible Commentaries

And it came to pass, when all the kings of the ^a 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.

(a) The Amorites were on both sides of Jordan, of which two kings were slain already on the side toward Moab.

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

(b) For now they had left it off, about 40 years.

And Joshua made him sharp knives, and circumcised the children of Israel at ^c the hill of the foreskins.

(c) Gilgal was so called, because they were there circumcised.

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 ^d not circumcised.

(d) For they looked daily to move at the Lord's command, which they who were newly circumcised could not do without great danger.

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

(e) For their sore was so grievous, that they were not able to move.

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

(f) By bringing you into this promised land, contrary to the wicked opinion of the Egyptians or the foreskin by which you were like the Egyptians.

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 ^g did worship, and said unto him, What saith my lord unto his servant?

(g) In that Joshua worships him, he acknowledges him to be God: and in that he calls himself the Lord's captain he declares himself to be Christ.