Joshua 5 10

Joshua 5:10 kjv

And the children of Israel encamped in Gilgal, and kept the passover on the fourteenth day of the month at even in the plains of Jericho.

Joshua 5:10 nkjv

Now the children of Israel camped in Gilgal, and kept the Passover on the fourteenth day of the month at twilight on the plains of Jericho.

Joshua 5:10 niv

On the evening of the fourteenth day of the month, while camped at Gilgal on the plains of Jericho, the Israelites celebrated the Passover.

Joshua 5:10 esv

While the people of Israel were encamped at Gilgal, they kept the Passover on the fourteenth day of the month in the evening on the plains of Jericho.

Joshua 5:10 nlt

While the Israelites were camped at Gilgal on the plains of Jericho, they celebrated Passover on the evening of the fourteenth day of the first month.

Joshua 5 verses

Joshua 5 10 Meaning

Joshua 5:10 signifies the faithful adherence of the new generation of Israelites to God’s covenant commands immediately upon entering the Promised Land. It records the first celebration of the Passover feast within Canaan, commemorating God’s deliverance from Egypt, after a forty-year period without its regular observance. This act of worship confirmed their renewed commitment to the Lord and marked a pivotal moment of spiritual preparation before the conquest began.

Joshua 5 10 Context

Joshua 5:10 is nestled within a profoundly significant series of events following Israel's miraculous crossing of the Jordan River into the Promised Land. Chapters 3 and 4 detail the division of the Jordan and the crossing itself, signifying God's fulfillment of His promise and His confirmation of Joshua as Moses' successor. Immediately prior to this verse, the entire generation born in the wilderness underwent circumcision (Josh 5:2-9). This act rectified their neglect of the Abrahamic covenant sign during the 40 years of wandering, effectively 'rolling away the reproach of Egypt' (Josh 5:9) at the very site named Gilgal. Thus, the Passover observance described in verse 10 occurs at a crucial moment when Israel, physically cleansed and spiritually renewed through covenant re-commitment, stands poised for the conquest of Canaan, demonstrating their reliance on God's provision rather than human might alone. It establishes Gilgal as a temporary, foundational holy site.

Joshua 5 10 Word analysis

• And the children of Israel (וּבְנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל, u'v'nei Yisra'el):
  • "Children of Israel" signifies the entire covenant community, God's chosen people.
  • It refers specifically to the generation born and raised in the wilderness, now entering the Promised Land, distinct from the previous rebellious generation.
  • This emphasis highlights continuity with the Abrahamic covenant while marking a new, obedient phase.
• encamped (וַיַּחֲנוּ, vayyachanû):
  • From the root חנה (chanah), meaning "to encamp," "to pitch tents."
  • Indicates a temporary dwelling, a military-like encampment.
  • It reflects their posture as an army, poised for conquest, yet also a people settling by divine instruction.
• in Gilgal (בַּגִּלְגָּל, baGilgal):
  • "Gilgal" literally means "a circle" or "a roll."
  • It was the first camp after crossing the Jordan, serving as a base camp and initial spiritual center for Israel in Canaan.
  • It signifies the "rolling away" of the reproach of Egypt (Josh 5:9) due to circumcision and served as a reminder of God's covenant faithfulness and purity. It later becomes a significant cultic site and command center.
• and kept the Passover (וַיַּעֲשׂוּ אֶת־הַפֶּסַח, vayya‘asû ’et-haPesaḥ):
  • "Kept" or "made/performed" (‘asâ) the Passover. This implies carrying out a command, performing a sacred ritual.
  • "Passover" (פֶּסַח, Pesaḥ) directly connects to God's act of passing over the Israelite homes in Egypt while striking the firstborn of the Egyptians.
  • It's an act of worship, thanksgiving, and remembering God's mighty deliverance and covenant promises. This marks a re-initiation of their communal spiritual life, which had lapsed for 40 years regarding this specific observance.
• on the fourteenth day of the month (בְּאַרְבָּעָה עָשָׂר יוֹם לַחֹדֶשׁ, b'arba'ah ‘asâr yôm laḥōdhesh):
  • Refers to the 14th day of the first month (Abib/Nisan), the precise date commanded in Exod 12:6 and Lev 23:5.
  • Highlights their meticulous obedience to God's divine timetable, indicating disciplined adherence to His Law even in hostile territory.
• at even (בָּעֶרֶב, ba'erev):
  • Meaning "in the evening," specifically referring to the period "between the two evenings" (Exod 12:6, Lev 23:5).
  • This precise timing ensures adherence to the sacred ritual requirements, emphasizing the holy nature of the observance.
• in the plains of Jericho (בְּעַרְבוֹת יְרִיחוֹ, b'arvot Yerîḥô):
  • "Plains" (עֲרָבוֹת, 'aravot) indicates flat, arid regions or steppes.
  • "Jericho" is the strategic Canaanite city, soon to be the first conquest.
  • This geographical specificity grounds the spiritual event within the imminent military campaign, linking their spiritual preparation directly to the task ahead. It highlights the stark contrast: a sacred act of worship taking place on the doorstep of battle.

Words-Group by words-group analysis data

• And the children of Israel encamped in Gilgal: This phrase establishes the specific group (the covenant people), their temporary location (a crucial base camp), and their readiness posture (military encampment). It signals their first stable presence inside the land after a long journey and a dramatic entry.
• and kept the Passover: This is the core action, highlighting their renewed spiritual identity and commitment. After the Jordan crossing (divine enablement) and mass circumcision (covenant purification), observing the Passover underscores their readiness to enter the covenant land as God's consecrated people. It signifies the corporate act of remembering redemption and reaffirming identity.
• on the fourteenth day of the month at even: This temporal precision underscores meticulous obedience to divine commands, showing their serious regard for God's Law even under the pressure of imminent war. It’s an act of faith that God’s timetable is paramount.
• in the plains of Jericho: This geographic detail connects the sacred act directly to the reality of the impending war. They are celebrating redemption not from a position of safety, but right at the doorstep of the enemy, highlighting divine protection and confidence in God's power even in the face of daunting challenges.

Joshua 5 10 Bonus section

The sequence of events in Joshua 3-5 (crossing Jordan, circumcision, Passover, manna ceasing) is profoundly theological, showcasing God’s deliberate re-establishment of His covenant people. The Jordan crossing solidified God's presence with them; circumcision renewed their covenant purity; Passover re-affirmed their redeemed identity, enabling them to feast on the Lord's provision, echoing God's sustenance through their history. The subsequent ceasing of the manna (Josh 5:12) signals the transition to living off the bounty of the Promised Land, marking an end to the wilderness provision and a new era of cultivation and inheritance, symbolic of living fully under God's blessing in His appointed land. Gilgal became their operational base, a cultic center, and a memorial site for these foundational events, demonstrating that their spiritual state was paramount to their success.

Joshua 5 10 Commentary

Joshua 5:10 portrays a crucial act of spiritual and national identity re-affirmation for the Israelites. Having miraculously crossed the Jordan River and symbolically shed the "reproach of Egypt" through mass circumcision at Gilgal, this new generation demonstrates profound obedience by immediately observing the Passover. This act was not merely a ritual but a powerful declaration of faith, gratitude, and dependence on God. It recalled His past faithfulness in delivering them from bondage, renewed their covenant relationship, and spiritually prepared them for the formidable military tasks ahead in the land of Jericho. The specific timing ("fourteenth day of the month at even") and location ("plains of Jericho") underscore their disciplined adherence to the Law even as they stood on the brink of holy war, illustrating that spiritual order and obedience precede and empower military conquest. This feast was their communal act of sanctification before embarking on their divine mission to conquer Canaan.