Joshua 5:2

_AT THAT TIME THE LORD SAID UNTO JOSHUA, MAKE THEE SHARP KNIVES, AND CIRCUMCISE AGAIN THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL THE SECOND TIME._ At that time - on the encampment being made after the passage. THE LORD SAID UNTO JOSHUA, MAKE THEE SHARP KNIVES, х_ CHARBOWT_ (H2719) _ TSURIYM_ (H6697), sharp knives (cf. Psalms 89:44, "edge of the sword"); but the Septuagint has machairas petrinas ek petras akrotomou, stone knives, of sharp-pointed stone; taking _ TSUWR_ (H6698) in the sense of a rock, sharp and precipitous. So also Vulgate, Syriac, and Arabic render the word] - stone knives; i:e., prepare, make them ready. Flints have been used an the early times of all people; and although the use of iron was known to the Hebrews in th

2._At that time the Lord said, _etc It seems very strange and almost monstrous, that circumcision had so long been laid aside, especially as it became those who were receiving daily admonitions to be more than usually careful to cultivate the exercises of piety. It was the symbol of the adoption to which they owed their freedom. And it is certain that when they were reduced to extremity and groaning under tyranny, they always circumcised their children. We know also how sternly God threatened to be an avenger against any one who should allow the eighth day to pass. Had the observance been neglected in Egypt their carelessness might have admitted of excuse, as at that time the covenant of God appeared to have become in a manner obsolete. But now when the divine faithfulness in establishing the covenant is once more refulgent, what excuse could there be for not testifying on their part tha...

1-9 How dreadful is their case, who see the wrath of God advancing towards them, without being able to turn it aside, or escape it! Such will be the horrible situation of the wicked; nor can words express the anguish of their feelings, or the greatness of their terror. Oh that they would now take warning, and before it be too late, flee for refuge to lay hold upon that hope set before them in the gospel! God impressed these fears on the Canaanites, and dispirited them. This gave a short rest to the Israelites, and circumcision rolled away the reproach of Egypt. They were hereby owned to be the free-born children of God, having the seal of the covenant. When God glorifies himself in perfecting the salvation of his people, he not only silences all enemies, but rolls back their reproaches upon themselves....

Verse Joshua 5:2. _MAKE THEE SHARP KNIVES_] חרבות צרים _charboth tsurim,_ _knives of rock, stone_, or _flint_. Before the use of iron was _common_, all the nations of the earth had their edge-tools made of _stones, flints_, c. In the lately discovered islands this is found to be a common case. Our ancestors in these countries made their _arrow_ and _spear-heads_ of _flint_: these I have often seen turned up by the plough. But we cannot suppose that at the time here referred to the Israelites were destitute of _iron_, and were therefore obliged to use knives made of _stone_ or _flint_, their different manufactures in the wilderness prove that they must have had both _iron_ and _steel_. Why then use _knives_ made of _stone_? Probably it was unlawful to use _metal_ of any kind in this religious rite and indeed this s...

MAKE THEE SHARP KNIVES - Render rather as marg., and compare marginal reference and note. Knives of flint or stone were in fact used for circumcision, and retained for that and other sacred purposes, even after iron had become in common use. The rendering of the margin is adopted by almost all ancient versions, by most commentators, and by the fathers generally, who naturally regarded circumcision performed by Joshua and by means of knives of stone or rock, as symbolic of the true circumcision performed by Christ, who is more than once spoken of as the Rock (compare 1 Corinthians 10:4; Romans 2:29; Colossians 2:11). See...

EXPOSITION THE CIRCUMCISION.— JOSHUA 5:1 WHICH WERE ON THE SIDE OF JORDAN WESTWARD. A large portion of the territory of the Amorites had, as we have seen (Joshua 3:10), been already conquered. The remaining tribes on the other side Jordan were apprehensive of the same fate. For "on the side," the original has "across." Having hitherto written of Israel as on the eastern side of Jordan, he continues the same expression after he has narrated the crossing. But writing as he did on the west side of Jordan, and for readers the vast majority of whom were on the west side of Jordan, he adds the expression "westward" (literally, _seaward_)_ _to prevent any possibility of mistake. Until we were passed over.

AT THAT TIME THE LORD SAID UNTO JOSHUA,.... When the people had passed over Jordan, and had pitched in Gilgal, and Joshua had set up the stones there; and particularly when the dread of them had seized the inhabitants of Canaan, and deprived them of all their courage; and so was a fit time for the execution of what is next ordered, and seems designed in the providence of God among other things particularly for that: MAKE THEM SHARP KNIVES; not that Joshua was to make them himself, but to order them to be made; for a considerable number would be wanted for the use to be made of them: the Targum calls them sharp razors; and Ben Gersom says they were made of brass, more likely of iron or steel, which perhaps he means; but the Hebrew text is, "knives of rocks", "flints" or "stones"; and so Maimonides p interprets the words, and as they are rendered in various versions q; with such an instru...

CIRCUMCISION Circumcision is the "sign" of the Abrahamic Covenant (Genesis 17:7); (Romans 4:11). "The reproach of Egypt" was that, during the later years of the Egyptian bondage, this separating sign had been neglected (Compare (Exodus 4:24) and this neglect had continued during the wilderness wanderings. The New Testament analogue is world conformity; the failure openly to take a believer's place with Christ in death and resurrection. (Romans 6:2); (Galatians 6:14). Spiritually it is mortifying the deeds of the body through the Spirit.

5. AT GILGAL CHAPTER 5 _ 1. The terrified enemies (Joshua 5:1)_ 2. Circumcision commanded and executed (Joshua 5:2) 3. The Passover kept (Joshua 5:10) 4. The old corn of the land (Joshua 5:11) 5. The captain of Jehovah's host (Joshua 5:13) The events at Gilgal are of much interest. Jehovah had brought His people over Jordan. All His promises were kept. He had promised to deliver them out of Egypt and to bring them into the land of Canaan. All is now accomplished. The wilderness is behind them and they face the marvellous

Joshua Circumcises the Israelites. Here we have an interesting but quite unhistorical account of the institution of circumcision. Circumcision (pp. 83, 99f.) is a prehistoric rite practised by many nations in antiquity and by the South Sea Islanders, African, and Australian aborigines in the present day. Here we have an attempt to date its origin in Israel from the entry into Palestine, while in Genesis 17* (P) its origin is dated from the command given by God to Abraham. The endeavours of subsequent scribes to bring the two accounts into conformity with one another are seen in the insertion of Joshua 5:3. The original narrative is probably to be found in Joshua 5:2 and Joshua 5:9. Joshua is ordered to circumcise the nation by Yahweh, who says, Thi