Read Joshua 5 here (text coming …) or at Bible Gateway.
The Hebrew paragraphs:
5:1 {p} The drying up of the Jordan struck fear in the people of the land
5:2-8 {p} The sons of Israel circumcised at Gilgal
5:9-12 {s} Israel kept the Passover and ate the produce of Canaan so that the manna ceased
5:13-6:1 {s} Joshua encountered the Commander of YHVH’s army
Joshua 5:1-12 Chiastic Structure:
What was the reproach of Egypt that YHVH rolled away from Joshua, and Israel? That they had been slaves, and as such, were vagabonds and homeless ever since they had left their slavery in Egypt. Upon crossing the Jordan, they had entered into their permanent home, and were no longer wanderers. Upon entering their permanent home, YHVH asked them to be circumcised, because circumcision was the outward sign of their covenant with Him (Gen 17:10-11). Circumcision is a Natural Picture illustrating a spiritual reality, that when someone enters into a covenant with YHVH, their fleshliness, that is, their worldliness, is cut away from their hearts. They are walking in a different way now than all those around them.
Therefore circumcise the foreskin of your heart, and be stiff-necked no longer. Deu 10:16
And YHVH your God will circumcise your heart and the heart of your descendants, to love YHVH your God with all your heart and with all your soul, that you may live. Deu 30:6
If there are questions, this is a good resource:
The name Gibeath-haaraloth – Abarim Publications
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