And this is the cause why Joshua did circumcise: All the people that came out of Egypt, that were males, even all the men of war, died in the wilderness by the way, after they came out of Egypt.
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
And this is the cause why Joshua did circumcise,.... Or the reason of the command given him to circumcise the children of Israel at this time, namely, what follows: all the people that came out of Egypt that were males, even all the men of war; meaning such that were twenty years old, and upwards: died in the wilderness, by the way, after they came...
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