And Joshua made him sharp knives, and circumcised the children of Israel at the hill of the foreskins.
The circumcision took place at Gilgal, Israel's first encampment in Canaan a short distance from the Jordan. The name Gilgal signifies a rolling away or rolling off. Those circumcised were all the people born in the wilderness during the years of wandering. Joshua performed the rite in obedience to God's command after Israel had miraculously crossed the swollen Jordan on dry land into the promised land.
It occurred when the kings of the Amorites and Canaanites had heard how the Lord had stopped the Jordan before Israel and their hearts melted with fear, a fear increased by Israel having slain two kings. The circumcision was done before Israel kept the Passover in the plains of Jericho and prepared the people to keep it as they stood ready to enter Canaan. Those who held the other account place the circumcision after the people observed the Passover and before the overthrow of Jericho.
The rite had been suspended since the rebellion at Kadesh as a constant witness that the covenant of which circumcision was the appointed symbol had been broken. The discontinuance of the Passover during that time had evidenced the Lord's displeasure at Israel's desire to return to the land of bondage. Its performance now marked the end of the years of rejection, when God again acknowledged Israel as his people and restored the sign of the covenant. It was a recognition of God's covenant before the conquest of Jericho, whose overthrow would demonstrate that victory came from God's power.
Together with the Jordan crossing it fulfilled the declaration that the reproach of Egypt was rolled away that day, meaning the reproach of heathen nations against the Lord and his people that the Hebrews had failed to possess Canaan soon after leaving Egypt, had wandered long in the wilderness, and that God was not able to lead them in. God's opening of the Jordan on dry ground before them silenced this mockery and showed his power and favor, so that enemies could no longer reproach them for failing to possess the land. Gilgal also became the place where the manna ceased, Israel kept its first Passover after the wilderness wanderings, and the Captain of the Lord's host appeared.
The circumcision took place at Gilgal, Israel's first encampment in Canaan a short distance from the Jordan. The name Gilgal signifies a rolling away or rolling off. Those circumcised were all the people born in the wilderness during the years of wandering. Joshua performed the rite in obedience to God's command after Israel had miraculously crossed the swollen Jordan on dry land into the promised land.
It occurred when the kings of the Amorites and Canaanites had heard how the Lord had stopped the Jordan before Israel and their hearts melted with fear, a fear increased by Israel having slain two kings. The circumcision was done before Israel kept the Passover in the plains of Jericho and prepared the people to keep it as they stood ready to enter Canaan. Those who held the other account place the circumcision after the people observed the Passover and before the overthrow of Jericho.
The rite had been suspended since the rebellion at Kadesh as a constant witness that the covenant of which circumcision was the appointed symbol had been broken. The discontinuance of the Passover during that time had evidenced the Lord's displeasure at Israel's desire to return to the land of bondage. Its performance now marked the end of the years of rejection, when God again acknowledged Israel as his people and restored the sign of the covenant. It was a recognition of God's covenant before the conquest of Jericho, whose overthrow would demonstrate that victory came from God's power.
Together with the Jordan crossing it fulfilled the declaration that the reproach of Egypt was rolled away that day, meaning the reproach of heathen nations against the Lord and his people that the Hebrews had failed to possess Canaan soon after leaving Egypt, had wandered long in the wilderness, and that God was not able to lead them in. God's opening of the Jordan on dry ground before them silenced this mockery and showed his power and favor, so that enemies could no longer reproach them for failing to possess the land. Gilgal also became the place where the manna ceased, Israel kept its first Passover after the wilderness wanderings, and the Captain of the Lord's host appeared.