Joshua 5:10-11
While the people of Israel were encamped at Gilgal, they kept the Passover on the fourteenth day of the month in the evening on the plains of Jericho. And the day after the Passover, on that very day, they ate of the produce of the land, unleavened cakes and parched grain.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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This wasn't just a meal; it was a powerful statement of renewed identity and obedience. By celebrating Passover, Israel re-established a vital religious observance that had been neglected for nearly forty years in the wilderness, signifying their full return to covenant life and God's promised land.
Having just crossed the Jordan River and undergone circumcision, the Israelites establish their camp at Gilgal. They then celebrate their first Passover on this new land, marking a significant moment of religious renewal and national identity after years in the wilderness. This observance directly precedes the fall of Jericho, signaling their renewed covenant with God as they prepare to conquer Canaan.
Imagine the feeling: after 40 years wandering, the Israelites finally crossed into the Promised Land. What was the very first thing they did to mark this incredible milestone?
The Israelites set up camp at Gilgal, and their first major act was to celebrate the Passover. This wasn't just any Passover; it was the third one in their history, and its significance was immense. The first was in Egypt, a night of judgment and liberation. The second was at Sinai, after receiving the Law. Now, here in Canaan, on the plains of Jericho, they celebrated their third. This act powerfully declared their renewed commitment to God and His covenant promises as they stepped onto the land God had given them.
Something miraculous that had sustained the Israelites for 40 years suddenly stopped. What does this abrupt end signify, and what replaced it?
The day after the Passover celebration, the manna, which had been their daily bread in the wilderness, disappeared. This wasn't a sign of God's withdrawal, but the opposite! It signaled their arrival and full provision in the Promised Land. They transitioned from God's direct, miraculous provision of manna to enjoying the 'old corn' and fruits of Canaan. This marked a crucial shift from dependence on a temporary, supernatural supply to enjoying the blessings of the land God had promised and prepared for them.
As Joshua surveyed the formidable city of Jericho, he encountered a striking figure. Who was this warrior, and what did his presence mean for Israel's campaign?
Joshua, likely scouting Jericho, meets a powerful figure with a drawn sword – the Captain of the Lord's Host. Joshua's immediate question, 'Are you for us, or for our adversaries?', reveals his uncertainty and dependence. The Captain's response, 'Neither; but as commander of the army of the LORD I have now come,' clarifies his role. He wasn't a partisan ally but the divine leader of Israel's army. This encounter, marked by Joshua's reverence and the command to remove his sandals because the ground was holy, was a profound reassurance. God Himself was leading them, and His presence sanctified their mission and promised victory.
Understand the original words
pesach · Hebrew Noun
The foundational feast of Israel commemorating the LORD's deliverance of His people from slavery in Egypt, specifically the night when the destroyer passed over the houses marked by the blood of the lamb.
pesach · Hebrew Noun
A major annual feast commemorating the Lord’s deliverance of Israel from bondage in Egypt, centering on the sacrifice of a lamb.
Celebrating the Passover in the Promised Land after a long period of wandering and spiritual neglect underscores a profound return to God's covenant and provision.
c. 1446 BC
Israelites Leave Egypt
The Exodus from Egypt, a pivotal event, marks the beginning of Israel's journey as a nation. This event included the first Passover observance.
c. 1445 BC
Second Passover Observed
The Israelites observe their second Passover at Mount Sinai, as recorded in Numbers 9. This event highlights a period of specific divine instruction and covenant.
c. 1406 BC
Conquest of Canaan Begins
Following the death of Moses and a period of wilderness wandering, Joshua leads the Israelites across the Jordan River to begin their conquest of the Promised Land.
c. 1406 BC
Circumcision Resumed at Gilgal
After crossing the Jordan, Joshua is commanded to circumcise the Israelite men who were born in the wilderness. This act prepares them for the Passover and re-establishes a key covenant sign.
c. 1406 BC
This is the original institution of the Passover, establishing the very ordinance Israel is now observing in Gilgal. It highlights the significance of this meal as a memorial of their liberation from Egypt.
Numbers 9:1-14This passage details the second observance of the Passover, which occurred in the wilderness. It's significant because Joshua 5 implies a lapse in its observance, making this current observance a return to a vital spiritual practice.
Deuteronomy 16:1-8This chapter sets forth the laws for celebrating the Passover and other feasts once Israel settled in the Promised Land. It underscores the commanded regularity and importance of this event in their new life.
Joshua 4:19-24Immediately preceding this, the Israelites crossed the Jordan and set up memorial stones. The Passover observance here serves as another pivotal moment, marking their full entry into the land God promised.
Amos 5:25The prophet Amos questions whether sacrifices were truly offered during the wilderness wanderings, implying a spiritual decline. Joshua's observance of the Passover here directly counters that notion, showing a renewed commitment to God's commands.
cambridgeJoshua 5:10: "And the children of Israel encamped in Gilgal, and kept the passover on the fourteenth day of the month at even in the plains of Jericho."
10–12. Celebration of the Passover Cessation of the Manna 10 . And the children of Israel encamped in Gilgal ] The camp became permanent, and probably in grateful memorial of the many associations connected with the place, the people made it for centuries the great gathering-place of the tribes ( Joshua 9:6 ; Joshua 10:6 ; Joshua 10:43 ). The f…
gillJoshua 5:10: "And the children of Israel encamped in Gilgal, and kept the passover on the fourteenth day of the month at even in the plains of Jericho."
And the children of Israel encamped in Gilgal,.... Not after their circumcision, but before, and where they continued encamped during that, and until the passover had been kept by them; this was little more than a mile from Jericho; see Gill on Joshua 4:19 , and kept the passover on the fourteenth day of the month at even; exactly as it was ord…
This wasn't just a meal; it was a powerful statement of renewed identity and obedience. By celebrating Passover, Israel re-established a vital religious observance that had been neglected for nearly forty years in the wilderness, signifying their full return to covenant life and God's promised land.
Having just crossed the Jordan River and undergone circumcision, the Israelites establish their camp at Gilgal. They then celebrate their first Passover on this new land, marking a significant moment of religious renewal and national identity after years in the wilderness. This observance directly precedes the fall of Jericho, signaling their renewed covenant with God as they prepare to conquer Canaan.
Having just crossed the Jordan River and undergone circumcision, the Israelites establish their camp at Gilgal. They then celebrate their first Passover on this new land, marking a significant moment of religious renewal and national identity after years in the wilderness. This observance directly precedes the fall of Jericho, signaling their renewed covenant with God as they prepare to conquer Canaan.
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Third Passover Observed at Gilgal
Encamped at Gilgal on the plains of Jericho, the Israelites celebrate their third Passover. This marks the first Passover celebrated in the Promised Land, signifying a new era for the nation.
c. 1406 BC
Manna Ceases
The day after the Passover observance and eating of the land's produce, the manna that had sustained Israel in the wilderness stops. This signifies their full transition to living off the land God provided.
"While the people of Israel were encamped at Gilgal, they kept the Passover on the fourteenth day of the month in the evening on the plains of Jericho. And the day after the Passover, on that very day, they ate of the produce of the land, u…" — This wasn't just a meal; it was a powerful statement of renewed identity and obedience. By celebrating Passover, Israel re-established a vital religious observance that had been neglected for nearly…
