And Joshua made him sharp knives, and circumcised the children of Israel at the hill of the foreskins.
The Canaanite kings had held their nerve until now, trusting their fortified cities and populated lands to hold the invaders at bay. But when word came that Israel had crossed Jordan by miracle, not by force, their hearts melted like wax; the God of nature Himself fought for this people, and all their courage evaporated.
AI summary
Commenting on Joshua 5:1-9
Joshua ordered the knives made and the circumcision done, though he performed neither himself; any man could circumcise, not priests alone, so the great number finished quickly. The foreskins heaped into a hill prefigure the spiritual circumcision without hands that all believers in Jesus, the antitype of Joshua, receive.
AI summary
Stone knives, not metal ones, though iron was known to the Hebrews by Joshua's time; flint was probably chosen because they lacked sufficient metal implements for so vast a people. The 'second time' does not require repeating the rite on those already circumcised, but resuming what had long been discontinued.
AI summary
Commenting on Joshua 5:2-12