CHAPTER FIVE
RESTORING THE TRUE WORSHIP — THE WORSHIP OF FAITH
Since the time of unbelief and rebellion at Kadesh, circumcision, the token-sign of the Covenant has been inappropriate and abandoned. In accordance with the law that only circumcised Israelites should keep the Passover, the celebration of that festival, also, has been ignored. In fact, there has been a general decline in religious observance. But now, in preparation for entering the inheritance designed for the nation, a restoration of all these necessary things is insisted upon. The new generation has demonstrated its belief in Yahweh, and to date has obeyed what has been required. Divine power has been demonstrated in the overthrow ofSihon and Og, and in the miraculous and meaningful miracle of the Jordan. Therefore, success in the impending attack upon the Canaanites will not depend upon military strategy and skill, but upon faith. Accordingly, there must be a restoration of the true religion in all its particulars. First, as the Covenant nation, all the males have to undergo the pain of circumcision; then the Passover must be reinitiated, and finally the diet changed. These requirements are matters of essential preliminaries to the conquest of the land. They typify what is required of saints today. The Chapter describes Jericho as paralysed by Fear — v. /; Circumcision re-instituted — vv. 2-9; The Passover Restored — vv. 10-11; The Diet changed — v. 12; The Divine Presence Revealed — vv. 13-15. By these means Israel is equipped to undertake the conquest of the land.
Fear In The Land — v. 1VERSE 1
g§5
but retire to the protection of their strong
walk-h?ghlands.
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"And all the kings of the Canaanites, which were by the sea" — These were the kings of the lowlands. See the description in Num. 13:29.
"Heard that Yahweh had dried up the waters of Jordan from before the children of Israel" — Evidently the Canaanites had their spies watching what took place, and reported it to various nations throughout the land. This partially fulfilled the prophetic words of Moses (Exod. 15:14).
"Until we were passed over" — The pronoun is used nationally of the Israelites as a whole, and strongly implies that Joshua was the writer of the book. See Exod. 15:16.
"That their heart melted, neither was there spirit in them any more, because of the children of Israel" — A negative spirit of depression and defeatism settled upon them, destroying their will to fight. See Ch. 2:11. This fulfilled the promise of Exod. 23:27. Circumcision Re-instituted — w. 2-9
Since the time of unbelief and rebellion at Kadesh-barnea the sign of the covenant had been deemed inappropriate (Num. 14:1-25), and so the rite of circumcision ignored. But now it has to be re-instituted. The people have demonstrated their belief in Yahwehy and He is prepared to enter into Covenant with them. Indeed, it is imperative that they do so, for the Abrahamic Covenant decreed that excommunication must be the lot of those ignoring this rite (see Gen. 17:9-14).
VERSE 2
"At that time Yahweh said unto Joshua, Make thee sharp knives" — The
Hebrew charboth tsurim denotes "knives of stone, rock or flint". The use of such knives is not indicative that Israel was in the "stone age" of its history, as is sometimes ignorantly affirmed, but for ceremonial purposes. Metallurgy was well known to Israel, but iron was considered defiling (Exod. 20:25; Deut. 27:5); the rust of iron being tantamount to the decay of flesh (Josh. 8:31). Stone is figurative of human nature, but unhewn stones, by which altars were made, represented human nature shaped by God. Christ was in all points like his brethren as far as his nature was concerned; but he never gave way to sin: his character was Divine, shaped by His Father, like the unhewn stones of the altar. The knives of flint were similar for they were sharpened according to Divine direction, and therefore represented the
THE CHRISTADELPHIAN EXPOSITOR
Word of God, which "is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit (that which is fleshly in contrast to the spiritual), and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner (or critic) of the thoughts and intents of the heart" (Heb. 4:12). Christ is the Word made flesh, and hence the antitype of these knives of flint or stone. When a believer moulds his life according to the pattern of Christ, he will become circumcised of heart (Rom. 2:28-29; Col. 2:11), for he will see the need to deny, or cut off, all practices that do not conform thereto.
"And circumcise again the children of Israel" — This reads as though the Israelites were circumcised the second time, but that is not so. The word "again" is from the Hebrew shuwb, signifying "to turn", and not necessarily the second time. It can signify a return into a former state, as well as "again". The word "circumcise" is from the Hebrew muwl, signifying to "cut short, curtail or destroy" . Tne rite of circumcision required the cutting off of flesh, the curtailing of its gratification, the repudiation of its lusts. The Abrahamic covenant demanded that all be circumcised (Gen. 17:7-10). The mark in the flesh, normally hidden from human eyes, denoted the "circumcision of the heart" or the repudiation of the lusts of the flesh (Deut. 30:6; Jer. 4:4). Such a circumcision is still obligatory upon Christ's followers (Rom. 2:28-29; Col. 2:11). It is a process that commences with baptism and culminates with the bestowal of Divine nature at the coming of the Lord. Apparently all those who came out of Egypt were circumcised (Josh. 5:4), but the rite was discontinued by the generation condemned to wander in the wilderness.
"The second time" — Evidently there had been a general national circumcision of all those who were not circumcised when the people left Egypt. In this Zip-porah was compelled to subject her children (Exod. 4:24-26).
VERSE 3
'And Joshua made him sharp knives, and circumcised the children of Israel at the hill of the foreskins" — This site, of course, is unknown. The title given it implies the hill where the foreskins (the emblem of all worldly and carnal affections) were cut off and buried away. See Col. 2.11-13: 3:1-6. The operation is a painful one, particularly for adults. It
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THE CHRISTADELPHIAN EXPOSITOR taught Israel that obedience to Yahweh demands some sacrifice even to the extent of bloodshedding and pain. It would have absolutely incapacitated the warriors for engaging in war, so that the nation would have been at the mercy of the enemy, excepting that the enemy was completely immobilised by fear. From a strategic point of view, it was folly to circumcise the men after crossing the Jordan; for it could have been done on the other side, with the flowing river providing a protective shelter. But this rite, performed at this place, taught Israel that if they obey Yahweh, even at cost and danger to themselves, they need not fear the enemy: Yahweh would provide protection. And so it proved to be.
VERSE 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" — See Num. 14:29; 26:64-65; Deut. 2:16. The sentence of Num. 14:28-35 abrogated the national Covenant as far as that generation was concerned; and the discontinuance of the rite of circumcision, and of the celebration of the Passover were tokens of that. However, at the same time, the purpose of Yahweh to restore it on a national basis was made known (Num. 14:31). Now with evidence of YahwerTs grace extended to them manifested in the defeat of Sihon and Og, and the conquest of the eastern lands, the new generation is called upon to renew the Covenant. The people do so having been given wonderful proof of Yahweh's readiness to establish them in the Land by submitting to circumcision. In doing so, the Covenant is restored; and in keeping the Passover it is confirmed Circumcision signified the cutting off or repudiation of flesh; and Passover represented Divine deliverance and fellowship. Both, of course, anticipate the consummation of the Divine purpose in the Age to come (I.uke 22:18). To submit to circumcision on the western side of Jordan, as the males of Israel did, was a supreme act of faith for, as noted above, it would have completely incapacitated them for war, and put them at risk of enemy action. It showed that they trusted Yahweh. They had dared something for God, and in doing so, had placed themselves in a seemingly" vulnerable condition in view of the hostility of the Canaanites (cp. Gen,
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34:24-26). It was an act of great faith. Their confidence was in God.
VERSE 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" — For the 38 years of wandering since Kadesh, the old generation wandered without hope. Nevertheless Yahweh continued to communicate with them through Moses for the benefit of the new generation (Num. 15:1,17,35). He gave the manna, supplied water, and maintained their raiment (Deut. 8:2-6; 29:5-6). But the rite of circumcision was discontinued, the celebration of the Passover was ignored, as the old generation felt that it was cut off from full communion with Yahweh and "did that which was right in its own eyes" (Deut. 12:8-9). The record in Ezek. 20:10-26; Amos 5:25-26 reveals that the Law was ignored, the sabbaths profaned, and idolatrous practices followed. Stephen quoted from Psa. 81:12 to show that "God gave them up . . ." (Acts 7:42) and the people gave themselves to apostasy. However, the new generation was educated by trials during the same period (Deut. 8:2-3). Of necessity, many of the daily and yearly offerings set down in the law were omitted during the whole of the desert sojourn from Sinai. Offerings of firstfruits (Num. 28:26), the Feast of Tabernacles (Lev. 23:39) and other requirements of the Law were governed by the harvests and so were inappropriate in the desert. Therefore, there was a need for re-instruction as a preparation for entering the land. The instruction of Moses as recorded in Numbers and Deuteronomy performed that service (Deut. 12:8-9), and this was now completed by Joshua in introducing the rite of circumcision and the Festival of Passover.
VERSE 6
"For the children of Israel walked forty years in the wilderness" — See note at v. 19 Exactly fort) years were occupied since leaving Egypt.
Till all the people that were men of war, which came out of Egypt, were consumed" — The word "people" in Hebrew is gowy, a word normally reserved for Gentiles and invariable so in its plural form. It is applied to Israelites in Ch. 3:17; 4:11; and is rendered "nation" in Isa. 1:4; 9:2. Generally the term is used to indicate the apostate condition of the people. They
CHAPTER FIVE
were as Gentiles until incorporated into the Covenant by circumcision. The use of the term in such places illustrates that "the flesh profits nothing". Israelities as such were not acceptable to Yahweh; but only Israelites who, recognising the true nature of flesh, submitted to the terms and conditions of the Covenant. The last of the old generation had died south of the brook Zered(Deut. 2:13-14).
"Because they obeyed not the voice of Yahweh: unto whom Yahweh sware that He would not shew them the land, which Yahweh sware unto their fathers that He would give us, a land that floweth with milk and honey" — See Num. 14:21; Psa. 95:11; Heb. 3:11. The last phrase of the verse before us describes a land that is ideal for pasturage and produce, that is rich in grass for cattle, and of flowers for bees(Deut. 11:10-12).
VERSE 7
"And their children, whom He raised up in their stead, them Joshua circumcised" — There seems in this statement an echo of the excuse of the people in refusing to enter the land when they heard the spies' lament. They had excused their refusal on the grounds that their "children" would become a prey to the inhabitants of the land (Num. 14:3); and Yahweh's response had been that "your little ones, which ye said should be a prey, them will I bring in, and they shall know the land which ye have despised" (Num. 14:31). Now, in remarkable circumstances, His promise was about to be vindicated.
"For they were uncircumcised, because they had not circumcised them by the way" — The uncircumcised state of the children of the generation that perished illustrates the measure of their fathers' apostasy. It is also illuminating to recall that the circumcised Israelites perished in the wilderness, whilst their uncircumcised children were miraculously preserved and brought over Jordan. What is the record telling us? That it is not physical circumcision that counts, but that of the heart, that manifested in action (Rom. 2:25; 1 Cor. 7:19; Col. 2:11-13). This uncircumcised generation passed over the Jordan whereas the previous circumcised Israelites were denied entrance. Is not the type clear? So Israelites and Gentiles will go into the Kingdom of God because they "do by nature the things of the Law" (Rom. 2:13-15). Their circumcision is of the heart, repudiating the flesh in order to
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serve God. Therefore, this act of circumcision on the western banks of the Jordan, taught that Gentiles could be saved, equally with Israelites, if they embraced the hope of Israel and submitted to the requirements of the Law. Rahab and her household were cases in point for they accepted those conditions.
VERSE 8
"And it came to pass, when they had done circumcising all the people" — The
word "people" is gowy, the word normally used for Gentiles. They were Gentiles until circumcised, 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" (Rom. 2:28-29). These Israelites passed over Jordan as Gentiles; they were circumcised and became the Israel of God (Gal. 6:16).
"That they abode hi their places in the camp, till they were whole" — The word "whole" is chayah, and signifies to live or revive (see Luke 5:31; 8:48). Spiritual circumcision is the way to full eternal health and wellbeing. Those circumcised had been figuratively put to death, but now revived, as do Gentiles who are baptised, and figuratively circumcised today. How long would it take a circumcised warrior to be ready to engage in battle? The operation is a very painful one, and physicians suggest that at least three weeks would be required before they were properly healed. During whatever period of time it was, an uneasy quiet lay over the land. The inhabitants of Jericho doubtless wondered what the next move would be, but dominated by a fear and foreboding they could not explain or understand, they stayed behind the walls of their fortress whilst the camp of Israel remained apparently defenceless (Gen. 34:25). In that way Yahweh protected it. So He will all those who are prepared to obey His will at their own inconvenience and hurt; even though by so doing they disadvantage themselves.
VERSE 9
"And Yahweh said unto Joshua, This day have I rolled away the reproach of Egypt from off you" — The reproach of Egypt is slavery to sin and death. Those circumcised in Egypt were not freed from it (Gal. 5:3); for only the true circumcision, that which is of the heart and not
THE CHRISTADELPHIAN EXPOSITOR
merely that of the flesh, liberates from the domination of sin. The first act of such a circumcision is baptism, but that must be followed by consistent repudiation of fleshly motivation (Rom. 6:18-22; Gal. 5:1; John 8:32-36). Yahweh was pleased with the action of Joshua and the people, for their circumcision at such a time was a very great act of faith. Apparently without the least fear that the Canaanites might muster their forces and fall suddenly upon them — but, on the contrary, with a deep feeling that his first consideration must be to set himself and the people right in heart and true to every precept of their God, Joshua suspended all military movement; gave his enemies time to recover from their panic; halted his army for some days to heal from the pain of circumcision and also to celebrate the Feast of Passover, seven days; all as if the matter of religion, his standing and that of the nation before Yahweh, was infinitely of greater consequence than military strategy — as indeed it was.
"Wherefore the name of the place is called Gilgal unto this day" — The word Gilgal signifies Rolling, and was given because, said Yahweh, "This day have I rolled away (galal) the reproach of Egypt". The word "wheel" (Ezek. 10:2,6 galgal (the word "wheels" in Ezek. 1 is a different word) is from the same root, and is related to Gilgal to this extent, that before one can become part of the cherubic chariot of Yahweh, to move by its wheels to destroy that which is obnoxious to Him, the "reproach of Egypt" (the Gentile world) must be rolled away. This is done through spiritual circumcision in Christ. However, this Gilgal by the Place of Crossing was not the only site named Gilgal; for there were several such, including one close to Shechem mentioned in Deut. 11:29-30 where the Israelites later assembled (see Josh. 9:6). The Passover Restored — w. 10-11