Joshua 5:8

8 And when they had been circumcised they rested continuing there in the camp till they were healed.

Joshua 5:8 Meaning and Commentary

Joshua 5:8

And it came to pass, when they had done circumcising all the
people
Which seems as if it was done in one day, even on the same day they passed over Jordan, and came to Gilgal; though Bishop Usher

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FOOTNOTES:

F1 thinks it was the day following; and so the Jews ^F2 say it was on the eleventh of Nisan:

that they abode in their places in the camp till they were whole:
till the wound made by circumcision was healed; now as it was on the tenth day they passed over Jordan, and came to Gilgal, where they were circumcised, there were three entire days between that and the fourteenth, when they kept the passover; during which time they kept within their tents in the camp, being unfit to move from thence, for on the third day of circumcision they were usually sore, ( Genesis 34:25 ) ; but being well on the fourth, were able to attend the passover. As the providence of God greatly appeared in favour of Israel, by causing a dread to fall on their enemies, that they durst not sally out of the city and attack them; so it showed great faith in Joshua, and the Israelites, to administer circumcision at this time, just as they were landed in an enemy's country; and when the waters of Jordan were returned, and there was no going back, and if they could, as they were not in a condition to fight, so not to flee.

F1 Annales Vet. Test. p. 38.
F2 Seder Olam Rabba, c. 11. p. 31.

Joshua 5:8 In-Context

6 Wherefore most of the fighting men that came out of the land of Egypt, were uncircumcised, who disobeyed the commands of God; concerning whom also he determined that they should not see the land, which the Lord sware to give to their fathers, a land flowing with milk and honey.

7 And in their place he raised up their sons, whom Joshua circumcised, because they were uncircumcised, having been born by the way.

8 And when they had been circumcised they rested continuing there in the camp till they were healed.

9 And the Lord said to Joshua the son of Naue, On this day have I removed the reproach of Egypt from you: and he called the name of that place Galgala.

10 And the children of Israel kept the passover on the fourteenth day of the month at evening, to the westward of Jericho on the opposite side of the Jordan in the plain.

Footnotes

• [a]. sitting. A frequent Hebraism.