Joshua 5 1

Joshua 5:1 kjv

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.

Joshua 5:1 nkjv

So it was, when all the kings of the Amorites who were on the west side of the Jordan, and all the kings of the Canaanites who were by the sea, heard that the LORD had dried up the waters of the Jordan from before the children of Israel until we had crossed over, that their heart melted; and there was no spirit in them any longer because of the children of Israel.

Joshua 5:1 niv

Now when all the Amorite kings west of the Jordan and all the Canaanite kings along the coast heard how the LORD had dried up the Jordan before the Israelites until they had crossed over, their hearts melted in fear and they no longer had the courage to face the Israelites.

Joshua 5:1 esv

As soon as all the kings of the Amorites who were beyond the Jordan to the west, and all the kings of the Canaanites who were by the sea, heard that the LORD had dried up the waters of the Jordan for the people of Israel until they had crossed over, their hearts melted and there was no longer any spirit in them because of the people of Israel.

Joshua 5:1 nlt

When all the Amorite kings west of the Jordan and all the Canaanite kings who lived along the Mediterranean coast heard how the LORD had dried up the Jordan River so the people of Israel could cross, they lost heart and were paralyzed with fear because of them.

Joshua 5 verses

Joshua 5 1 Meaning

Joshua 5:1 details the profound psychological impact the miraculous crossing of the Jordan River had on the kings of the Amorites and Canaanites residing in the promised land. Upon hearing how the Lord had dried up the Jordan, their courage completely failed, and their resolve vanished, leaving them without the spirit or will to oppose Israel. This fear, instilled by God, rendered the enemies impotent and opened the way for Israel's subsequent campaigns.

Joshua 5 1 Context

Joshua chapter 5 is a pivotal transition point after the miraculous crossing of the Jordan River in chapter 3 and the erection of the Gilgal memorial in chapter 4. The fear of the Canaanite kings in verse 1 sets the stage for a period of national covenant renewal and preparation at Gilgal. Following this verse, Israel undergoes circumcision, celebrates the Passover, and experiences the cessation of manna, indicating a new era in the land of Canaan where they would rely on the produce of the land. This strategic display of divine power described in verse 1 renders the enemy psychologically disarmed before Israel even engages in battle, highlighting God's pre-emptive action.

Joshua 5 1 Word analysis

• And it came to pass: Hebrew וַיְהִי (va·y'hî), a common narrative transition, signifying a sequence of events, a divine leading in the unfolding story.
• when all the kings: Hebrew כָּל־מַלְכֵי (kol-mal'ḵê) - "all" emphasizes the universal fear across the enemy leadership. "Kings" (מֶלֶךְ, melech) refers to city-state rulers in Canaan, indicating a comprehensive threat.
• of the Amorites, which were on the side of Jordan westward: Hebrew הָאֱמֹרִי אֲשֶׁר בְּעֵבֶר הַיַּרְדֵּן (hā'ěmōrî 'ăšer bĕ'êver hayyarden) - "Amorites" (ʾĚmōrī) sometimes refers broadly to the pre-Israelite inhabitants of Canaan, particularly the hill country. "Westward" (lit. "beyond the Jordan" towards the sea) specifies their location from Israel's perspective, placing them in direct confrontation.
• and all the kings of the Canaanites, which were by the sea: Hebrew וְכָל־מַלְכֵי הַכְּנַעֲנִי אֲשֶׁר עַל־הַיָּם (wəḵol-mal'ḵê hakkəna'ănî 'ăšer ʿal-hayyām) - "Canaanites" (Kənaʿănî) often refers to those inhabiting the lowlands and coastal plains. The "sea" here is the Mediterranean, encompassing important trading cities. This shows comprehensive fear from various tribes.
• heard that the LORD had dried up the waters of Jordan from before the children of Israel, until we were passed over: Hebrew בְּשָׁמְעָם אֶת־אֲשֶׁר הֹובִישׁ יְהוָה אֶת־מֵי הַיַּרְדֵּן מִפְּנֵי בְנֵי־יִשְׂרָאֵל עַד־עָבְרֵנוּ (bəšom'ām 'eṯ-'ăšer hōwviš Yahweh 'eṯ-mê hayyarden mippənê bənê-Yišrā'ēl ʿaḏ-'ōvrênû) -
  • Heard (בְּשָׁמְעָם, bəšom'ām): Emphasizes the transmission and reception of this significant news, demonstrating the impact of divine revelation.
  • LORD (יְהוָה, YHWH): Crucially attributes the miracle to Israel's covenant God, not to a human general or natural phenomenon. This establishes His supremacy.
  • dried up (הֹובִישׁ, hōwviš): A powerful verb denoting complete desiccation, highlighting the supernatural scale of the miracle, paralleling the Red Sea parting.
  • until we were passed over (עַד־עָבְרֵנוּ, ʿaḏ-ʿōvrênû): The "we" refers to Israel as the corporate body, including Joshua. This is an instance of the narrator identifying with the people of Israel, perhaps an editor incorporating a tradition that used first person.
• that their heart melted: Hebrew וַיִּמַּס לְבָבָם (wa-yyimmas ləvāvām) -
  • Melted (מָסַס, masas): A strong, metaphorical verb indicating complete loss of courage and resolution, as wax melts. It portrays extreme terror and psychological collapse. Used similarly in Ex 15:15 to describe the melting of enemy hearts.
  • Heart (לֵב, lev): In Hebrew thought, the heart is the seat of intellect, will, courage, and moral character. Their very core being was dissolved by fear.
• neither was there spirit in them any more: Hebrew וְלֹא־הָיְתָה בָם עוֹד רוּחַ (wəlōʾ-hāyəṯâ ḵām ʿôd rûaḥ) -
  • Spirit (רוּחַ, ruach): Here, ruach refers to life breath, vital energy, courage, or resolve. Its absence means they were utterly demoralized, lifeless in their capacity to fight.
• because of the children of Israel: Hebrew מִפְּנֵי בְנֵי־יִשְׂרָאֵל (mippənê bənê-Yišrā'ēl) - Lit. "from the face of" the children of Israel, emphasizing the direct cause of their terror – not Israel's might, but God's work for Israel.

Word-groups/phrases analysis:

• "All the kings... heard that the LORD had dried up...": This emphasizes the widespread and authoritative nature of the intelligence received by the enemy leadership, validating the authenticity and divine origin of the event. It's a strategic blow before physical combat.
• "their heart melted, neither was there spirit in them any longer": This powerful parallel structure describes the complete demoralization. The heart represents their will and courage, while spirit signifies their vigor and resolve. Both were completely absent, rendering them inert. This isn't just fear, but a debilitating, paralyzing terror.

Joshua 5 1 Bonus section

• The parallel between the Red Sea crossing (Ex 14) and the Jordan River crossing is stark. Just as Pharaoh's army was defeated by the Sea, so too the courage of Canaanite kings was drowned by the Jordan miracle, a testament to YHWH's consistent character as the Lord of Hosts and the Deliverer.
• The psychological warfare initiated by God highlights a pattern in His dealings: He often moves supernaturally to disrupt and dismay enemies, making human conflict less of a struggle against human strength and more about watching His triumph. This sets a precedent for how God continues to fight for His people.
• The phrase "their heart melted, neither was there spirit in them any more" vividly contrasts with the spirit and resolve that the Lord empowers His own people with (e.g., in Joshua 1, where Joshua is commanded to be strong and courageous, or Judges where the Spirit empowers leaders). The absence of ruach in the enemies suggests divine removal of their vital courage, an active spiritual incapacitation by God.

Joshua 5 1 Commentary

Joshua 5:1 serves as a critical theological statement regarding God's role in the conquest of Canaan. It underscores that the victory was not based on Israel's military prowess, but on the overwhelming power of YHWH. The divine act of drying the Jordan not only provided safe passage for Israel but also functioned as a strategic act of warfare, terrifying their enemies into psychological surrender. This fear was a direct fulfillment of God's earlier promises (Dt 2:25, Ex 23:27), demonstrating His faithfulness and active participation on behalf of His covenant people. It highlights that the spiritual battle often precedes the physical one, as God prepares the way by softening hearts, not only in repentance for salvation but in dread for judgment. The Canaanites' fear was not unto repentance, but a harbinger of judgment. It is a powerful reminder that "if God is for us, who can be against us?" (Rom 8:31). This event served as divine preparation for the upcoming campaign against Jericho and the subsequent taking of the land.