“It was at that time that Adonai said to Y’hoshua, ‘Make yourself knives of flint, and circumcise the people of Israel again, a second time’.”-Joshua 5:2
Let’s continue to dive into more of the great spiritual principles embedded in the text of Joshua Chapter 5.
So Israel has safely crossed over the Jordan River and has set up camp at Gilgal (located north of Jericho).
Right off the bat, the very first command Joshua gives is that all of about 1 million men are to undergo circumcision.
Can you say “OUCH!”?
Can you imagine about a million foreskins strewn across the land after this mass bloody BRIT MILAH?
In fact, the very Hebrew name given to the area is GIV’AT HA’ARALOT which literally translates to “The Hill of Foreskins”.
A most suitable title I think.
So what was the reason why this mass bloody ceremony took place?
Verse 4 tells us…
“The reason Y’hoshua circumcised was that all the people who had left Egypt who were males, all the fighting men, had died in the desert along the way after leaving Egypt.“
So to put it simply, this new 2nd generation had not been circumcised when they were in the Wilderness.
Apparently, Moses decided to halt the commandment to circumcise during the wilderness journey (and as the Lawgiver, he had the right to do so).
From a practical perspective, Moses’ decision was probably because such an operation is not only painful, it can be downright dangerous if germs creep into the wound.
However, there is a deeper and much more profound meaning behind why the men of Israel had to be circumcised.
Keep in mind Israel was about to celebrate their first Passover in the land of their inheritance.
Can you imagine a bunch of uncircumcised Hebrews celebrating Passover?
While their parents had been circumcised after they had received the law, they had not.
And it was of utmost importance they undergo this sacred ritual.
Keep in mind that circumcision was a sign of acceptance for BOTH the Abrahamic AND Mosaic Covenant.
Since Israel was at the cusp of inheriting their Promised Land, a divine land connected to all of the core covenant promises Hashem had made with His people, it was unthinkable that the men of Israel not be circumcised.
Anyone who refused would by default be declining his right to participate in the promises of the Lord.
Finally, understand that Joshua had been give strict orders to be obedient to the Law and make sure the people were also in strict compliance with God’s holy instructions.
It was simply understood that obedience equalled receiving the blessings of God.
Hence, as the first required step of obedience, this circumcision had to be taken care of immediately.
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