SERIES G --- THE PROMISED LAND --- LESSON 05

ARMY OF ADONAI

CAPTAIN OF ADONAI’S ARMY

From Joshua 5

When the Amorites, who lived west of the Jordan River and the Canaanites, who lived along the Mediterranean Sea, heard how Adonai had dried up the waters of the Jordan River until the Israelites had crossed, they lost their courage to fight, for they were frightened by the people of Israel. About that time, Adonai gave further Instructions to Joshua. [Make flint knives and circumcise the men and boys of Israel,] Adonai Ordered. Joshua made the flint knives and circumcised the men and boys at Gibeath-haaraloth, which meant {The Hill of the Foreskins.} The Israelite males who had been circumcised when they left Egypt had died in the wilderness. They had been circumcised, but the males born since that time had not. The men of war who had come from Egypt all died in the wilderness because they did not listen to the voice of Adonai. Adonai had vowed that He would not let them enter the Promised Land, the land of milk and honey, so Israel had to wander in the wilderness until these men had died. Now the sons of these people had grown up in their place and these sons were being circumcised since they had not had that done along the way. When the work was finished, they stayed in camp until they were healed. Then Adonai said to Joshua, [today the shame of being uncircumcised has been rolled away from you.] Thus, the name of the place became Gilgal, which meant {To Roll.} While the people of Israel camped there at Gilgal, they observed the Passover on the evening of the 14th day of the month. The very next day they began to live off the land, eating what had been raised there. The new diet included unleavened bread and parched grain, for a day later, the manna stopped falling, never to be their food again. One day, while Joshua was near Jericho, a man suddenly appeared with a sword in his hand. Joshua went up to the man and asked, [Are you with us or with our enemies?] [I am Captain of Adonai’s army!] the man said. When Joshua heard that, he fell on the ground before the man. [What has my Adonai to say to His servant?] Joshua asked. [Remove your sandals!] said the Captain of Adonai’s army. [The place where you stand is holy.] Immediately Joshua did what had been Commanded.

COMMENTS

GILGAL -- THE FIRST STOP IN THE NEW LAND

Before the Israelites entered the Promised Land all men of military age died in the wilderness because of disobedience. The new generation was obedient and ready to wholly follow YHVH. As they prepared themselves to be the army of Adonai, Adonai appeared to Joshua and took personal Command. Gilgal is the name of the first place the people of Israel camped after they entered the Promised Land, the very name of the site indicates that several important things happened there. The first syllable, {gil,} means {to roll.} At the River Jordan, YHVH rolled away the water when the priests waded in with the Ark of the Covenant, so that the Israelites could cross on dry ground. Just as YHVH parted the water of the Sea of Reeds at the start of their journey, so He rolled it away again at the end of the journey. After the people reached Gilgal, all the males were circumcised. Adonai then told Joshua that the shame of being uncircumcised was finally rolled away. And so, one short name tells almost the whole story of the Israelites’ entry into the Promised Land and their first camp at a place called Gilgal.