| Geneva Study Bible At that time the LORD said unto Joshua, Make thee sharp knives, {b} and circumcise again the children of Israel the second time. (b) For now they had left it off, about 40 years. Wesley's Notes 5:2 At that time - As soon as ever they were come to Gilgal, which was on the tenth day; and so this might be executed the eleventh day, and that in the morning: on the thirteenth day they were sore of their wounds, and on the fourteenth day they recovered, and at the even of that day kept the passover. Make - Or, prepare, or make ready, as this word sometimes used. As it was not necessary for those who had such knives already to make others for that use; so it is not probable that such were commanded to do so, but only to make them sharp and fit for that work. The second time - He calleth this a second circumcision, not as if these same persons had been circumcised before, but with respect to the body of the people, where of one part had been circumcised before, and the other at this time, which is called a second time, in relation to some former time wherein they were circumcised, either, in Egypt, when many of the people, who possibly for fear or favour of the Egyptians, had neglected this duty, were by the command of Moses circumcised. Or at Sinai, when they received the passover, Numb 9:5, which no uncircumcised person might do. King James Translators' Notes sharp...: or, knives of flints Scofield Reference Notes [1] circumcision Circumcision is the "sign" of the Abrahamic Covenant Gen 17:7-14 Rom 4:11. "The reproach of Egypt" was that, during the later years of the Egyptian bondage, this separating sign had been neglected (cf. Ex 4:24-26 and this neglect had continued during the wilderness wanderings. The N.T. analogue is world conformity; the failure openly to take a believer's place with Christ in death and resurrection. Rom 6:2-11 Gal 6:14-16. Spiritually it is mortifying the deeds of the body through the Spirit. Rom 8:13 Gal 5:16,17 Col 2:11,12 3:5-10. Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary Jos 5:2-12. Circumcision Is Renewed. 2. At that time-on the encampment being made after the passage. the Lord said unto Joshua, Make thee sharp knives-Stone knives, collect and make them ready. Flints have been used in the early times of all people; and although the use of iron was known to the Hebrews in the days of Joshua, probably the want of a sufficient number of metallic implements dictated the employment of flints on this occasion (compare Ex 4:25). circumcise again the children of Israel the second time-literally, "return and circumcise." The command did not require him to repeat the operation on those who had undergone it, but to resume the observance of the rite, which had been long discontinued. The language, however, evidently points to a general circumcising on some previous occasion, which, though unrecorded, must have been made before the celebration of the passover at Sinai (compare Ex 12:48; Nu 9:5), as a mixed multitude accompanied the camp. "The second time" of general circumcising was at the entrance into Canaan. Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary 5:1-9 How dreadful is their case, who see the wrath of God advancing towards them, without being able to turn it aside, or escape it! Such will be the horrible situation of the wicked; nor can words express the anguish of their feelings, or the greatness of their terror. Oh that they would now take warning, and before it be too late, flee for refuge to lay hold upon that hope set before them in the gospel! God impressed these fears on the Canaanites, and dispirited them. This gave a short rest to the Israelites, and circumcision rolled away the reproach of Egypt. They were hereby owned to be the free-born children of God, having the seal of the covenant. When God glorifies himself in perfecting the salvation of his people, he not only silences all enemies, but rolls back their reproaches upon themselves. | 
