Joshua 5:7
And their children, whom he raised up in their stead, them Joshua circumcised: for they were uncircumcised, because they had not circumcised them by the way. And their children, whom he raised up in their stead, them Joshua circumcised: for they were uncircumcised, because they had not circumcised them by the way.
Those whom Joshua circumcised were the children born to Israel during the wilderness journey, raised up in their stead in place of the former generation, who had remained uncircumcised because they had not been circumcised by the way while the people were traveling. The rite was performed in obedience to the Lord's instruction after Israel entered the promised land. Circumcision was thus renewed at Gilgal, Israel's first encampment in the promised land, and the circumcision of the children raised up in place of the wilderness generation was the recognition of God's covenant with Israel again.
It took place at Gilgal immediately after the miraculous passage of the swollen Jordan on dry land and before Israel kept its first Passover in the promised land in the plains near Jericho. It came before the observance of the Passover, before the appearance of the Angel of the covenant as Captain of the Lord's host, and before the taking and overthrow of Jericho. This belongs to Israel's history just before the people took possession of Jericho.
When Israel passed over, the Amorite and Canaanite kings heard and their hearts melted with fear. The crossing rolled away the reproach of Egypt by ending the mocking of Israel's enemies over the long delay in entering Canaan. That reproach was the reproach of the Lord and His people by the heathen nations, who had expected Israel at once to possess Canaan after leaving Egypt, and who when Israel wandered long in the wilderness proudly lifted themselves against God and declared He was not able to lead them in, but with Jordan now passed on dry land that reproach could no longer be made. This history just before Jericho, with its wilderness failures and victories, is to be remembered alongside the years in the wilderness. The same God who by the Captain of the Lord's host tore down the walls of Jericho still works for Israel in the same way, so that His commandment-keeping people will triumph, every opposing element will be defeated, and victory will attend the third angel's message.