51 And it cometh to pass when all the kings of the Amorite which 'are' beyond the Jordan, towards the sea, and all the kings of the Canaanite which 'are' by the sea, hear how that Jehovah hath dried up the waters of the Jordan at the presence of the sons of Israel till their passing over, that their heart is melted, and there hath not been in them any more spirit because of the presence of the sons of Israel. 2 At that time said Jehovah unto Joshua, 'Make for thee knives of flint, and turn back, circumcise the sons of Israel a second time;' 3 and Joshua maketh for him knives of flint, and circumciseth the sons of Israel at the height of the foreskins. 4 And this 'is' the thing 'for' which Joshua circumciseth 'them': all the people who are coming out of Egypt, who are males, all the men of war have died in the wilderness, in the way, in their coming out of Egypt, 5 for all the people who are coming out were circumcised, and all the people who 'are' born in the wilderness, in the way, in their coming out from Egypt, they have not circumcised; 6 for forty years have the sons of Israel gone in the wilderness, till all the nation of the men of war who are coming out of Egypt, who hearkened not to the voice of Jehovah, to whom Jehovah hath sworn not to show them the land which Jehovah sware to their fathers to give to us, a land flowing with milk and honey, are consumed; 7 and their sons He raised up in their stead, them hath Joshua circumcised, for they have been uncircumcised, for they have not circumcised them in the way. 8 And it cometh to pass when all the nation have completed to be circumcised, that they abide in their places in the camp till their recovering; 9 and Jehovah saith unto Joshua, 'To-day I have rolled the reproach of Egypt from off you;' and 'one' calleth the name of that place Gilgal unto this day.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Joshua 5:1-9
Commentary on Joshua 5:1-9
(Read Joshua 5:1-9)
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.