For the children of Israel walked forty years in the wilderness, till all the people that were men of war, which came out of Egypt, were consumed, because they obeyed not the voice of the LORD: unto whom the LORD sware that he would not shew them the land, which the LORD sware unto their fathers that he would give us, a land that floweth with milk and honey.
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
Israel wandered forty years, the full number, not shortened, until every man of war who left Egypt had died, all above twenty years except Joshua and Caleb. They disobeyed the Lord's voice: murmuring against Him and His servants, especially after the spies' report. This provoked His oath that He would not show them the land He had sworn to their fathers, the land flowing with milk and honey.
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