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| 1 And it came to pass when all the kings of the Amorites, who were beyond the Jordan westward, and all the kings of the Canaanites, who were by the sea, heard that Jehovah had dried up the waters of the Jordan from before the children of Israel, until they had passed over, that their heart melted, and there was no spirit in them any more, because of the children of Israel. |
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| 2 At that time Jehovah said to Joshua, Make thee stone-knives, and circumcise again the children of Israel the second time. |
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| 3 And Joshua made him stone-knives, and circumcised the children of Israel at the hill of Araloth. |
And circumcised – Symbolizing a cutting off, a separation from the flesh, its aims, hopes and desires. R1857:3, R4070:3
The period of wilderness wanderings was a period of partial disfavor with the Lord, during which both circumcision and the annual commemoration of their Passover ceased. The renewal of both when they entered Canaan marked the return of divine favor. R3086:3
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| 4 And this is the cause why Joshua circumcised them: all the people that had come out of Egypt, the males, all the men of war, had died in the wilderness on the way, after they came out of Egypt. |
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| 5 For all the people that came out were circumcised; but all the people that were born in the wilderness on the way, after they came out of Egypt, them had they not circumcised. |
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| 6 For the children of Israel had walked forty years in the wilderness, till the whole nation of men of war had perished who had come out of Egypt, who had not hearkened to the voice of Jehovah; to whom Jehovah had sworn that he would not show them the land which Jehovah had sworn unto their fathers that he would give us, a land flowing with milk and honey. |
Forty years – Typifying the 19 centuries of the Gospel age. R3079:3
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| 7 And their sons whom he raised up in their stead, them Joshua circumcised, for they were uncircumcised, because they had not circumcised them on the way. |
Joshua circumcised – Typifying that the first work of the Millennial age will be a consecration to the Lord. R3086:6
Typifying, as far as the Royal Priesthood is concerned, a putting away of sin from the will. R4070:3
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| 8 And it came to pass when the whole nation had finished being circumcised, that they abode in their place in the camp, till they were whole. |
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| 9 And Jehovah said to Joshua, This day have I rolled away the reproach of Egypt from off you. And the name of the place was called Gilgal to this day. |
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| 10 And the children of Israel encamped in Gilgal, and held the passover on the fourteenth day of the month, at even, in the plains of Jericho. |
Kept the passover – Typifying that in the Millennial age the work of redemption through the precious blood of Christ will again be prominently brought to the attention of all who wish to become God's people. R3086:6
Typifying, as far as the Royal Priesthood is concerned, communion with Christ in his sacrifice. R3087:2
Fourteenth day of the month – There the Jubilee cycles began to count. R1980:3
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| 11 And they ate of the old corn of the land on the morrow after the passover, unleavened loaves, and roasted corn on that same day. |
Old corn – Their first year was a Sabbath year. OV100:3
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| 12 And the manna ceased on the morrow, when they had eaten of the old corn of the land; and there was no more manna for the children of Israel; and they ate of the produce of the land of Canaan that year. |
Manna ceased – In the Millennial Kingdom mankind will no longer be dependent upon the divine revelation contained in the Scriptures. The new dispensation will have spiritual food and sustenance of its own. R3087:1
Fruit of the land – Typifying the new sources of spiritual food in the Millennium. R3087:1
Typifying, in the case of the Royal Priesthood, every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. R3087:2
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| 13 And it came to pass when Joshua was by Jericho, that he lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, there stood a man before him with his sword drawn in his hand. And Joshua went to him, and said to him: Art thou for us, or for our enemies? |
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| 14 And he said, No; for as captain of the army of Jehovah am I now come. Then Joshua fell upon his face to the earth, and worshipped, and said to him, What saith my lord unto his servant? |
Captain of the host – An angel had materialized for the purpose of communicating the divine plans to Joshua. R5343:3
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| 15 And the captain of Jehovah's army said to Joshua, Loose thy sandal from off thy foot: for the place whereon thou standest is holy. And Joshua did so. |
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