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| 1 And it came to pass, when all the kings of the Amorites, that were beyond the Jordan westward, and all the kings of the Canaanites, that were by the sea, heard how that Jehovah had dried up the waters of the Jordan from before the children of Israel, until they were passed over, that their heart melted, neither was there spirit in them any more, because of the children of Israel. |
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| 2 At that time Jehovah said unto Joshua, Make thee knives of flint, and circumcise again the children of Israel the second time. |
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| 3 And Joshua made him knives of flint, and circumcised the children of Israel at the hill of the foreskins. |
And circumcised – Symbolizing a cutting off, a separation from the flesh, its aims, hopes and desires. R1857:3, R4070:3
The period of wilderness wanderings was a period of partial disfavor with the Lord, during which both circumcision and the annual commemoration of their Passover ceased. The renewal of both when they entered Canaan marked the return of divine favor. R3086:3
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| 4 And this is the cause why Joshua did circumcise: all the people that came forth out of Egypt, that were males, even all the men of war, died in the wilderness by the way, after they came forth out of Egypt. |
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| 5 For all the people that came out were circumcised; but all the people that were born in the wilderness by the way as they came forth out of Egypt, they had not circumcised. |
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| 6 For the children of Israel walked forty years in the wilderness, till all the nation, even the men of war that came forth out of Egypt, were consumed, because they hearkened not unto the voice of Jehovah: unto whom Jehovah sware that he would not let them see the land which Jehovah sware unto their fathers that he would give us, a land flowing with milk and honey. |
Forty years – Typifying the 19 centuries of the Gospel age. R3079:3
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| 7 And their children, whom he raised up in their stead, them did Joshua circumcise: for they were uncircumcised, because they had not circumcised them by the way. |
Joshua circumcised – Typifying that the first work of the Millennial age will be a consecration to the Lord. R3086:6
Typifying, as far as the Royal Priesthood is concerned, a putting away of sin from the will. R4070:3
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| 8 And it came to pass, when they had done circumcising all the nation, that they abode in their places in the camp, till they were whole. |
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| 9 And Jehovah said unto Joshua, This day have I rolled away the reproach of Egypt from off you. Wherefore the name of that place was called Gilgal, unto this day.
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| 10 And the children of Israel encamped in Gilgal; and they kept the Passover on the fourteenth day of the month at even in the plains of Jericho. |
Kept the passover – Typifying that in the Millennial age the work of redemption through the precious blood of Christ will again be prominently brought to the attention of all who wish to become God's people. R3086:6
Typifying, as far as the Royal Priesthood is concerned, communion with Christ in his sacrifice. R3087:2
Fourteenth day of the month – There the Jubilee cycles began to count. R1980:3
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| 11 And they did eat of the produce of the land on the morrow after the Passover, unleavened cakes and parched grain, in the selfsame day. |
Old corn – Their first year was a Sabbath year. OV100:3
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| 12 And the manna ceased on the morrow, after they had eaten of the produce of the land; neither had the children of Israel manna any more; but they did eat of the increase of the land of Canaan that year. |
Manna ceased – In the Millennial Kingdom mankind will no longer be dependent upon the divine revelation contained in the Scriptures. The new dispensation will have spiritual food and sustenance of its own. R3087:1
Fruit of the land – Typifying the new sources of spiritual food in the Millennium. R3087:1
Typifying, in the case of the Royal Priesthood, every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. R3087:2
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| 13 And it came to pass, when Joshua was by Jericho, that he lifted up his eyes and looked, and, behold, there stood a man over against him with his sword drawn in his hand: and Joshua went unto him, and said unto him, Art thou for us, or for our adversaries? |
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| 14 And he said, No; but as prince of the host of Jehovah am I now come. And Joshua fell on his face to the earth, and did worship, and said unto him, What saith my lord unto his servant? |
Captain of the host – An angel had materialized for the purpose of communicating the divine plans to Joshua. R5343:3
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| 15 And the prince of Jehovah’s host said unto Joshua, Put off thy shoe from off thy foot; for the place whereon thou standest is holy. And Joshua did so. |
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