The Second Generation Circumcised
1 So it was, when all the kings of the Amorites whowereon the west side of the Jordan, and all the kings of the Canaaniteswhowereby the sea,heard that theLordhad dried up the waters of the Jordan from before the children of Israel until we had crossed over, that their heart melted;and there was no spirit in them any longer because of the children of Israel.
2 At that time theLordsaid to Joshua, “Makeflint knives for yourself, and circumcise the sons of Israel again the second time.”
3 So Joshua made flint knives for himself, and circumcised the sons of Israel at the hill of the foreskins.
4 And thisisthe reason why Joshua circumcised them:All the people who came out of Egyptwhoweremales, all the men of war, had died in the wilderness on the way, after they had come out of Egypt.
5 For all the people who came out had been circumcised, but all the people born in the wilderness, on the way as they came out of Egypt, had not been circumcised.
6 For the children of Israel walkedforty years in the wilderness, till all the peoplewhoweremen of war, who came out of Egypt, were consumed, because they did not obey the voice of theLord—to whom theLordswore thatHe would not show them the land which theLordhad sworn to their fathers that He would give us,“a land flowing with milk and honey.”
7 Then Joshua circumcisedtheir sonswhomHe raised up in their place; for they were uncircumcised, because they had not been circumcised on the way.
8 So it was, when they had finished circumcising all the people, that they stayed in their places in the camptill they were healed.
9 Then theLordsaid to Joshua, “This day I have rolled awaythe reproach of Egypt from you.” Therefore the name of the place is calledGilgal to this day.
10 Now the children of Israel camped in Gilgal, and kept the Passoveron the fourteenth day of the month at twilight on the plains of Jericho.
11 And they ate of the produce of the land on the day after the Passover, unleavened bread and parched grain, on the very same day.
12 Thenthe manna ceased on the day after they had eaten the produce of the land; and the children of Israel no longer had manna, but they ate the food of the land of Canaan that year.
The Commander of the Army of the Lord
13 And it came to pass, when Joshua was by Jericho, that he lifted his eyes and looked, and behold,a Man stood opposite himwith His sword drawn in His hand. And Joshua went to Him and said to Him, “AreYou for us or for our adversaries?”
14 So He said, “No, butasCommander of the army of theLordI have now come.”
# And Joshuafell on his face to the earth andworshiped, and said to Him, “What does my Lord say to His servant?”
15 Then the Commander of theLord’s army said to Joshua,“Take your sandal off your foot, for the place where you standisholy.” And Joshua did so.