2At that time the Lord said to Joshua, “Make flint knives and circumcise the Israelite men again.”5:2 Gn 17:10–14; Ex 4:24–26; 12:44,48; Lv 12:3

3So Joshua made flint knives and circumcised the Israelite men at Gibeath-haaraloth.5:3 Or The Hill of Foreskins

4This is the reason Joshua circumcised them: All the people who came out of Egypt who were males — all the men of war — had died in the wilderness along the way after they had come out of Egypt.

5Though all the people who came out were circumcised, none of the people born in the wilderness along the way were circumcised after they had come out of Egypt.

6For the Israelites wandered in the wilderness forty years until all the nation’s men of war who came out of Egypt had died off because they did not obey the Lord.5:6 Dt 2:7,14 So the Lord vowed never to let them see the land he had sworn to their ancestors to give us, a land flowing with milk and honey.5:6 Nm 14:23–24; Dt 11:9

7He raised up their sons in their place; it was these Joshua circumcised. They were still uncircumcised, since they had not been circumcised along the way.

8After the entire nation had been circumcised, they stayed where they were in the camp until they recovered.5:8 Dt 30:6; Hs 6:1–2

9The Lord then said to Joshua, “Today I have rolled away the disgrace of Egypt from you.” Therefore, that place is still called Gilgal5:9 = to roll today.5:9 Jos 6:25

14“Neither,” he replied. “I have now come as commander of the Lord’s army.”5:14 Ex 7:4; 12:41; 1Sm 17:45

15The commander of the Lord’s army said to Joshua, “Remove the sandals from your feet, for the place where you are standing is holy.”5:15 Ex 3:5 And Joshua did that.