What happensPermalink
The men of Israel circumcise themselves. Israel keeps the passover and begins to eat off the land; the manna stops on that day. Joshua encounters an angel, the commander of the army of the Lord.
Why it mattersPermalink
Rather than immediately invading Canaan, Israel reaffirms its covenant with God through circumcision and celebrating Passover. All the men Moses had circumcised after fleeing Egypt were dead, so the new generation needed to be circumcised.
Key versePermalink
And the Lord said to Joshua, “Today I have rolled away the reproach of Egypt from you.” And so the name of that place is called Gilgal to this day.