RUSSELL SANDERS
10-24-2025
THE LIFE OF JOSHUA – LESSON 9
ENCAMPED AT GILGAL

Yesterday we spoke how Israel crossed the Jordan River into Canaan. The river had flooded, and this was the widest part of the river. God had held back all water to create a dry riverbed for the crossing.

Joshua had one man from each tribe take a large stone from the riverbed and carry them over to the dry land of Canaan to the site where they would camp the first night. He used the stones to build a monument for future generations to see in remembrance of this miraculous crossing.

The encampment was in the plain of Jericho. It was south of the city on the eastward side. Mountains were on the west side. Joshua named the location Gilgal, which means “crossing.” When the Canaanites heard of this crossing their hearts melted for fear.

Now that they were in the promised land of Canaan, it was time to keep the Law of Moses that God had given. Two significant events were to take place before they could advance past Gilgal.

The first was circumcision. No circumcisions had taken place in the wilderness for those that were born there. God ordered all those males to be circumcised. This would be the men aged forty to the newborn.

The second was the keeping of Passover. They had arrived at Gilgal on the tenth day of the first month of the Biblical calendar. It was the day on which they must select a lamb to be prepared for Passover. The lamb was kept for three days, then on the 13th of the month it would be slain and roasted outdoors over a fire. Then that evening, the 14th day of the month, they ate the lamb. (Joshua 5:10). The following day (the 15th) they observed the feast of Unleavened Bread (Joshua 5:11).

There is no evidence that these feasts were observed in the wilderness. We do not know for sure either way. Nevertheless, it is clear that Joshua was going to lead the nation in observance of all that God had commanded. Both his heart and his actions were righteous before Jehovah.

We also need to live righteously in thought and actions. Joshua set the right example, and so must we.