The Israelites are circumcised at Gilgal
1 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.
2At that time, Yahweh said to Joshua: “Make flint knives and celebrate a new circumcision for the sons of Israel.” 3Joshua obeyed the order of Yahweh and circumcised the Israelites at a place called the Hill of the Foreskins.
4This is the reason why Joshua did this second circumcision: all the men of Israel who left Egypt were circumcised, but they died during their journey in the desert. 5But all those born in the desert were not circumcised. 6For the Israelites walked in the desert for forty years until the whole nation died — the whole generation who did not obey Yahweh. For Yahweh had sworn that they would not enter the land flowing with milk and honey which he promised to their ancestors. 7But it was their children, whom Joshua circumcised.
8After circumcising all, they rested in the camp until they were healed. 9Then Yahweh said to Joshua: “Today I have removed from you the shame of Egypt.” So the place is called Gilgal up to this day.
10The Israelites encamped in Gilgal where they celebrated the Passover on the evening of the fourteenth day of the month in the plains of Jericho. 11On the following day, they ate of the produce of the land: unleavened bread and roasted grain on that very day. 12And from that day on when they ate of the produce of the land, the manna ceased.
There was no more manna for the Israelites, and that year they ate of the fruit of the land of Canaan.
13When 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 enemies?” 14And 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?” 15The 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.
- Jos 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 trying to adapt themselves to their new situation as farmers and city-dwellers and gradually evolving a kind of religion suitable for this new situation. 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 - what they will have is the eternal presence of God.
