At that time the LORD said to Joshua, “Make flint knives and circumcise the sons of Israel a second time.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
The command to use "flint knives" isn't just about the material; it signifies a return to ancient, perhaps even divinely-appointed, methods for a sacred covenantal act. This deliberate choice of stone over metal, echoing Zipporah's earlier act, suggests a purification and a symbolic re-consecration, marking Israel's renewed identity before entering the Promised Land.
At that time the LORD said to Joshua, “Make flint knives and circumcise the sons of Israel a second time.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
As the Israelites finally stand on the threshold of the Promised Land after forty years of wandering, God commands Joshua to circumcise the entire male population. This act is necessary because those born in the wilderness had not received this covenant sign, marking a spiritual renewal and a definitive break from the past before engaging with the Canaanites. The command is given immediately after crossing the Jordan, right before the Passover observance, signifying their re-establishment as God's covenant people.
Why would God command such a painful rite just as the Israelites were about to conquer the land? This wasn't about earning God's favor, but remembering His.
After crossing the Jordan, the Lord commands Joshua to circumcise the Israelite men. This act, a sign of God's covenant with Abraham, was a powerful reminder. Many born in the wilderness had never received this mark, signifying their generation's disobedience. Yet, God doesn't say, 'Now earn your place.' Instead, He says, 'Circumcise them.' It's a grace-filled act, re-establishing the covenant sign on a people who, despite their past failings, are entering the promised land by His power alone. It’s a physical marker of belonging, reminding them that their inheritance comes from God's faithfulness, not their own perfection.
The text mentions circumcising 'a second time.' What does this mean? Was it a repeat, or a new beginning for a new generation?
The command to circumcise 'a second time' isn't about repeating the rite on individuals already circumcised. Instead, it signifies a renewal of the covenant for the generation entering Canaan. The men who came out of Egypt and were circumcised had largely perished in the wilderness due to disobedience (Numbers 14:29). Those born during the wilderness wanderings were uncircumcised. This command, therefore, marks a significant transition: a formal re-establishment of the covenant sign for a new generation, setting them apart for God's purposes in the promised land. It’s a divine reset, wiping the slate clean and re-inscribing them as God’s people.
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Why would God instruct Joshua to use 'flint knives' for such a crucial religious act? It speaks volumes about humility and dependence.
The instruction to use 'knives of flint' (or sharp stone) is striking. While iron was known, God commanded the use of a more primitive tool for this vital covenant rite. This wasn't due to a lack of metal; rather, it emphasizes dependence on God and a humble approach to His commands. It mirrors the altar God commanded in Exodus 20:25, which was to be made of unhewn stones, as using iron would have 'defiled' it. Similarly, using flint might have been seen as more pure or fitting for a sacred rite dedicated to God. It teaches that God's work isn't dependent on the most advanced tools, but on our willing obedience, even with simple means.
Understand the original words
mul · Hebrew Verb
The sign of the covenant between God and Abraham's descendants. It signifies setting apart for God, the removal of the old nature, and entry into the covenant community.
tsor · Hebrew Noun
A sharp-edged stone used for cutting, specifically associated with ritual or religious acts in the Old Testament, such as circumcision, preserving ancient practices even when metal was available.
Yisra'el · Hebrew Noun
Refers to the physical progeny of Jacob, chosen by God to be His covenant people, set apart for His glory and purposes.
This command to circumcise a new generation as they enter the Promised Land highlights that God's covenant is renewed with each generation, and faithfulness is essential to possessing His promises. It also marks a symbolic cleansing and re-dedication before engaging with the land and its inhabitants.
c. 1446 BC
Exodus from Egypt and First Passover
The Israelites leave Egypt, a pivotal moment that marks the beginning of their covenant relationship with God after a period of slavery. The Passover was instituted, and a general circumcision of the males was likely performed before or during this time, as participation in the Passover required it.
c. 1446-1406 BC
Wandering in the Wilderness
For forty years, the Israelites wandered in the desert. Due to their disobedience and rebellion, the generation that left Egypt (except for those under 20 at Kadesh) did not enter the Promised Land. During this time, the rite of circumcision for males was neglected.
c. 1406 BC— this verse
Crossing the Jordan River
The miraculous crossing of the Jordan River into the Promised Land. This event signified a new beginning and the fulfillment of God's promise to Abraham.
c. 1406 BC
Circumcision at Gilgal
Immediately after crossing the Jordan, Joshua, by God's command, circumcised the new generation of Israelite men. This act symbolically removed the 'reproach of Egypt' and re-established their covenant status in the Promised Land.
c. 1406 BC
First Passover in the Promised Land
After the men were healed from circumcision, the Israelites celebrated the Passover on the 14th day of the month, the first time this feast had been observed in the Promised Land.
This passage lays the foundation for circumcision as the covenant sign God established with Abraham, highlighting its essential nature and the consequences of neglecting it, directly paralleling the need for its re-establishment in Joshua's time.
Exodus 4:24-26This passage records Zipporah circumcising her son with a 'flint knife,' which provides a precedent for using stone instruments in this sacred rite and highlights its life-or-death significance for the covenant people.
Numbers 14:29-35This passage explains the forty years of wilderness wandering as a consequence for the Israelites' disbelief, directly linking the generation that refused to enter the Promised Land to the uncircumcised state of those who would eventually enter, making Joshua's command a necessary step for the new generation.
Ezekiel 36:25-27This prophetic passage speaks of God cleansing His people and giving them a new spirit, which aligns with the idea of renewal and purification that the re-establishment of circumcision symbolized for Israel as they entered the land.
Romans 4:11Paul uses Abraham's circumcision as a sign of righteousness received by faith, connecting the Old Testament rite to a spiritual reality that resonates with the symbolic 'second circumcision' Israel was undergoing to be set apart for God's purposes in the new land.
calvinJoshua 5:1-9: "And it came to pass, when all the kings of the Amorites, which were on the side of Jordan westward, and all the kings of the Canaanites, which were by the sea, heard that the LORD had dried up the waters of Jordan from before the children of Israel, until we were passed over, that their heart melted, neither was there spirit in them any more, because of the children of Israel."
- And it came to pass, when all the kings of the Amorites, which were on the side of Jordan westward,…
cambridgeJoshua 5:2: "At that time the LORD said unto Joshua, Make thee sharp knives, and circumcise again the children of Israel the second time."
2 . Make thee sharp knives ] Or, as in margin, knives of flint. “Stonen knyues,” Wyclif. In Exodus 4:25 we read that Zipporah, the wife of Moses, took a “sharp stone,” or “knife of flint,” and circumcised her son. Joshua followed the custom of antiquity on this occasion, for they had no other knives with them. Herodotus, 11. 86, mentions “stone knives” as us…
The command to use "flint knives" isn't just about the material; it signifies a return to ancient, perhaps even divinely-appointed, methods for a sacred covenantal act. This deliberate choice of stone over metal, echoing Zipporah's earlier act, suggests a purification and a symbolic re-consecration, marking Israel's renewed identity before entering the Promised Land.
As the Israelites finally stand on the threshold of the Promised Land after forty years of wandering, God commands Joshua to circumcise the entire male population. This act is necessary because those born in the wilderness had not received this covenant sign, marking a spiritual renewal and a definitive break from the past before engaging with the Canaanites. The command is given immediately after crossing the Jordan, right before the Passover observance, signifying their re-establishment as God's covenant people.
As the Israelites finally stand on the threshold of the Promised Land after forty years of wandering, God commands Joshua to circumcise the entire male population. This act is necessary because those born in the wilderness had not received this covenant sign, marking a spiritual renewal and a definitive break from the past before engaging with the Canaanites. The command is given immediately after crossing the Jordan, right before the Passover observance, signifying their re-establishment as God's covenant people.
"At that time the LORD said to Joshua, “Make flint knives and circumcise the sons of Israel a second time.”" — The command to use "flint knives" isn't just about the material; it signifies a return to ancient, perhaps even divinely-appointed, methods for a sacred covenantal act. This deliberate choice of ston…
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Last reviewed October 2026