Joshua - Chapter 5

1. Why is it necessary to provide for a second circumcision operation?
2. And, how does verse 2 relate to verse 4, since the former makes reference to "a second time" and verse 4 would seem to indicate that this would be "the first time"?
3. Does verse 5 resolve this tension? Why does the word "brit? not appear in this particular narration?

These first three questions are all related, so I'll answer them all at once. Before leaving Egypt, the Jews engaged in a mass circumcision where all those who were not able to be circumcised (because of the conditions of slavery) entered the Brit. However, in the desert the conditions didn't make circumcision possible, so the generation to enter the land was not circumcised. Hence the mass circumcision. This was the second mass circumcision that the nation undertook, but for this generation it was the first.

4. What is the significance of the phrase "to remove the shame of Egypt from you"? Is this a physiological observation or is it an observation dealing with the relationship of the people, one circumcised to freedom, and independent? Or, to neither?

Circumcision is one of the core acts in Judaism. While the Jews in Egypt and the desert were not able to fulfil this obligation, they knew of the obligation, and not being able to fulfil it could have been a source of shame - not in front of others, but shame in front of God.

The mass circumcision here put that in the past. The Jews were now a free nation, and never again would they have to endure the shame of not fulfilling the mitzvoh of Brit Milah. An history shows that to be true, despite all the hardships we have endured for 1000's of years, we have always managed to keep true to Brit Milah.

So, I think the answer is that the verse is about physiological observations, relationships, and freedom.

5. According to verses 10 and 11, how long did the Passover last at this time?

These verses describe one day of Passover - bringing the sacrifice on the 14th of Nisan and eating matzoh on the 15th. But I don't think that implies that Passover was only 1 day at the time; it is only the first Festival day that is being described. Nothing in the following verses suggests that those events could not have happened during Passover.

6. In verse 13 the action of Joshua would indicate what characteristic?

This verse shows how Joshua was a very different leader than Moses. Joshua perceived the events from the eyes of a military leader, someone about to lead an army to war - totally missing the spiritual aspect. Joshua was surely a righteous leader but was charged with a military mission - to conquer the land, so he viewed everything through those eyes. Contrast this episode to when Bilam encountered the angel of God. Bilam was not a righteous man, but he was spiritually oriented. When he saw the angel, he immediately knew what he was looking at. The fact that he was wicked didn't cloud his judgement.

Perhaps the ability to perceive God doesn't lie in whether or not you are a good person, but depends just on how you choose to see the world?


7. Why, in verse 14 is the answer, first, "no"? And, what is "an officer of God's army"? How does the instruction given to Joshua parallel the instruction given to Moshe in Exodus?

The "commander of God's army" is not with the Jewish people, the Jewish people are part of Gods army. Perhaps the initial "No" is to set that straight.

The angel proceeds to tell Joshua to remove his sandals, for he is on holy ground. This is the same language used with Moses at the burning bush.


8. And what, indeed, is the answer to Joshua's observation at the end of verse 14: "What does my Lord have to say to His servant?" Other than the instruction to remove the sandals -- is there any other communication?

The rest of the communication is that "the place upon which you stand is holy". When God used that phrase with Moses at the burning bush, he meant that particular bit of land was holy - because of God's presence at the burning bush. But in this case, perhaps the holy land being referred to is the entire land of Israel. This verse is making it clear that now that they have crossed the Jordan, they are on holy land.

Favourite Quote : "Are you with us or with our enemies?" - Verse 13