9 And the LORD H3068 said H559 unto Joshua, H3091 This day H3117 have I rolled away H1556 the reproach H2781 of Egypt H4714 from off you. Wherefore the name H8034 of the place H4725 is called H7121 Gilgal H1537 unto this day. H3117
Then said H559 I unto them, Cast ye away H7993 every man H376 the abominations H8251 of his eyes, H5869 and defile H2930 not yourselves with the idols H1544 of Egypt: H4714 I am the LORD H3068 your God. H430 But they rebelled H4784 against me, and would H14 not hearken H8085 unto me: they did not every man H376 cast away H7993 the abominations H8251 of their eyes, H5869 neither did they forsake H5800 the idols H1544 of Egypt: H4714 then I said, H559 I will pour out H8210 my fury H2534 upon them, to accomplish H3615 my anger H639 against them in the midst H8432 of the land H776 of Egypt. H4714
Wherefore G1352 remember, G3421 that G3754 ye G5210 being in time past G4218 Gentiles G1484 in G1722 the flesh, G4561 who G3588 are called G3004 Uncircumcision G203 by G5259 that which G3588 is called G3004 the Circumcision G4061 in G1722 the flesh G4561 made by hands; G5499 That G3754 at G1722 that G1565 time G2540 ye were G2258 without G5565 Christ, G5547 being aliens G526 from the commonwealth G4174 of Israel, G2474 and G2532 strangers G3581 from the covenants G1242 of promise, G1860 having G2192 no G3361 hope, G1680 and G2532 without God G112 in G1722 the world: G2889
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Matthew Henry Commentary » Commentary on Joshua 5
Commentary on Joshua 5 Matthew Henry Commentary
Chapter 5
Israel have now got over Jordan, and the waters which had opened before them, to favour their march forward, are closed again behind them, to forbid their retreat backward. They have now got footing in Canaan, and must apply themselves to the conquest of it, in order to which this chapter tells us,
Jos 5:1-9
A vast show, no doubt, the numerous camp of Israel made in the plains of Jericho, where now they had pitched their tents. Who can count the dust of Jacob? That which had long been the church in the wilderness has now come up from the wilderness, leaning upon her beloved, and looks forth as the morning, fair as the moon, clear as the sun, and terrible as an army with banners. How terrible she was in the eyes of her enemies we are here told, v. 1. How fair and clear she was made in the eyes of her friends, by the rolling away of the reproach of Egypt, we are told in the following verses.
Jos 5:10-12
We may well imagine that the people of Canaan were astonished, and that when they observed the motions of the enemy they could not but think them very strange. When soldiers take the field they are apt to think themselves excused from religious exercises (they have not time nor thought to attend to them), yet Joshua opens the campaign with one act of devotion after another. What was afterwards said to another Joshua might truly be said to this, Hear now, O Joshua! thou and thy fellows that sit before thee are men wondered at (Zec. 3:8), and yet indeed he took the right method. that is likely to end well which begins with God. Here is,
Jos 5:13-15
We have hitherto found God often speaking to Joshua, but we read not till now of any appearance of God's glory to him; now that his difficulties increased his encouragements were increased in proportion. Observe,
And (lastly) Hereby he prepares him to receive the instructions he was about to give him concerning the siege of Jericho, which this captain of the Lord's host had now come to give Israel possession of.