Chapter commentary
Joshua Chapter 5
1
Jos 5:1.
简体中文
English original
Jos 5:1.
THE CANAANITES AFRAID.
1. 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--Under the former designation were included the people who inhabited the mountainous region, and under the latter those who were on the seacoast of Palestine.
heard that the Lord had dried up the waters of Jordan . . . that their heart melted--They had probably reckoned on the swollen river interposing for a time a sure barrier of defense. But seeing it had been completely dried up, they were completely paralyzed by so incontestable a proof that God was on the side of the invaders. In fact, the conquest had already begun in the total prostration of spirit among the native chiefs. "Their heart melted," but unhappily not into faith and penitent submission.
2
Jos 5:2-12.
简体中文
约书亚记 5:2-12。
重新施行割礼
2. 那时——即在渡河之后安营之时。
耶和华对约书亚说：你制造火石刀——即石刀，要收聚备用。早期各族人都曾使用火石；希伯来人在约书亚时代虽已知用铁，但可能因金属器具数量不足，这一次便采用了火石
(参 出 4:25)。
第二次给以色列人行割礼——直译为"再去行割礼"。这命令并非要他对已经受过割礼的人重作一遍，而是要恢复一项久已中断的礼仪。不过，这话显然是指向此前某次普遍的割礼，那一次虽未记在经上，但必定在西奈守逾越节之前已经举行
(参 出 12:48； 民 9:5)，
因为营中有一群闲杂人跟随。这"第二次"普遍的割礼，是在进迦南之时。
English original
Jos 5:2-12.
CIRCUMCISION IS RENEWED.
2. At that time--on the encampment being made after the passage.
the Lord said unto Joshua, Make thee sharp knives--Stone knives, collect and make them ready. Flints have been used in the early times of all people; and although the use of iron was known to the Hebrews in the days of Joshua, probably the want of a sufficient number of metallic implements dictated the employment of flints on this occasion (compare
Ex 4:25).
circumcise again the children of Israel the second time--literally, "return and circumcise." The command did not require him to repeat the operation on those who had undergone it, but to resume the observance of the rite, which had been long discontinued. The language, however, evidently points to a general circumcising on some previous occasion, which, though unrecorded, must have been made before the celebration of the passover at Sinai (compare
Ex 12:48; Nu 9:5),
as a mixed multitude accompanied the camp. "The second time" of general circumcising was at the entrance into Canaan.
3
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简体中文
3. 在山脊上——大概是约旦河边最高阶地中的一座黏土山丘，位于棕榈林旁的一处高地上。
English original
3. at the hill--probably one of the argillaceous hills that form the highest terrace of the Jordan, on a rising ground at the palm forest.
4
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简体中文
4-7. 约书亚施行割礼的缘故乃是——在旷野出生的孩童没有受割礼，可能是因百姓奔波迁徙不停所致；但一般更普遍的看法以为，真正的原因乃是那不信的一代被主弃绝、定于旷野中灭尽，神与他们所立的约便暂时中止，而他们的儿女也要担当父辈的罪孽
(民 14:33)；
不过，由于这些儿女终将进入应许之地，神的约也必与他们重新坚立。
English original
4-7. this is the cause why Joshua did circumcise--The omission to circumcise the children born in the wilderness might have been owing to the incessant movements of the people; but it is most generally thought that the true cause was a temporary suspension of the covenant with the unbelieving race who, being rejected of the Lord, were doomed to perish in the wilderness, and whose children had to bear the iniquity of their fathers
(Nu 14:33),
though, as the latter were to be brought into the promised land, the covenant would be renewed with them.
8
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简体中文
8. 给众民行完了割礼——由于在旷野出生未受割礼的人数必然极其庞大，人们难免要问：这么短的时间内如何能为如此众多的人行这礼？但据计算，已经受过割礼的人（宣告判刑时尚未满二十岁的）与当受割礼的人之比为一比四，因此全部典礼不难在一天之内完成。割礼既是圣约的记号与印证，行割礼便等于在应许之地领受了基业；神将此事推迟到他们实际进入那地才行，实在是神智慧而满有恩典的举措——祂把这艰难的本分延后，直到百姓因最近那惊人的神迹而大受振奋，预备好顺服神的旨意之时。
他们在营中……直等到痊愈了——据估算，在那些不必受割礼的人中，仍有五万多人留守，可在敌军来袭时护卫营盘。
English original
8. when they had done circumcising all the people--As the number of those born in the wilderness and uncircumcised must have been immense, a difficulty is apt to be felt how the rite could have been performed on such a multitude in so short a time. But it has been calculated that the proportion between those already circumcised (under twenty when the doom was pronounced) and those to be circumcised, was one to four, and consequently the whole ceremony could easily have been performed in a day. Circumcision being the sign and seal of the covenant, its performance was virtually an investment in the promised land, and its being delayed till their actual entrance into the country was a wise and gracious act on the part of God, who postponed this trying duty till the hearts of the people, animated by the recent astonishing miracle, were prepared to obey the divine will.
they abode in their places . . . till they were whole--It is calculated that, of those who did not need to be circumcised, more than fifty thousand were left to defend the camp if an attack had been then made upon it.
9
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简体中文
9. 耶和华对约书亚说：我今日将埃及的羞辱从你们身上滚去了——埃及人因以色列人停止了割礼，便大肆讥诮，说他们举国被神弃绝；如今割礼之礼重新恢复，实际上就是宣告圣约已得恢复 [KEIL]。
吉甲——今日其名其址已全无踪迹可寻；但据约瑟夫所记，它距耶利哥约二英里，因有树荫和水源之利，颇宜安营。这是圣地中头一个被称为「圣」的地方
(书 5:15)。
English original
9. the Lord said unto Joshua, This day have I rolled away the reproach of Egypt--The taunts industriously cast by that people upon Israel as nationally rejected by God by the cessation of circumcision and the renewal of that rite was a practical announcement of the restoration of the covenant [KEIL].
Gilgal--No trace either of the name or site is now to be found; but it was about two miles from Jericho [JOSEPHUS], and well suited for an encampment by the advantages of shade and water. It was the first place pronounced "holy" in the Holy Land
(Jos 5:15).
10
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简体中文
10. 正月十四日黄昏，守逾越节——这是律法所定的日期
(参
出 12:17；
利 23:5；
民 28:16)。
如此，这民族便以一项庄严的宗教奉献之礼开始了它的存在。
English original
10. kept the passover on the fourteenth day of the month at even--The time fixed by the law (see on
Ex 12:17;
Le 23:5;
Nu 28:16).
Thus the national existence was commenced by a solemn act of religious dedication.
11
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简体中文
11、12. 他们吃了那地的出产——这些是居民逃入耶利哥时所存放在粮仓里的。
烘的谷——新谷
(参
利 23:10)，
大概还堆在田间。烤过——一种简单古朴的预备法，在东方颇受欢迎。食物既如此丰足，吗哪便停止降下；它适逢其时地不再降下，结合其在荒芜旷野中按时显现的事实来看，正是其来源神奇的有力明证。
English original
11, 12. And they did eat of the old corn of the land--found in storehouses of the inhabitants who had fled into Jericho.
parched corn--new grain (see on
Le 23:10),
probably lying in the fields. Roasted--a simple and primitive preparation, much liked in the East. This abundance of food led to the discontinuance of the manna; and the fact of its then ceasing, viewed in connection with its seasonable appearance in the barren wilderness, is a striking proof of its miraculous origin.
13
Jos 5:13-15.
简体中文
书 5:13-15。
使者向约书亚显现
13. 约书亚靠近耶利哥的时候——即在那城近郊，大概正在视察其防务，筹划攻城的良策。
有一个人对面站着，手里有拔出来的刀——从上下文的语气可见，这不是异象，而是真实的显现；其突兀使这位无畏的领袖惊讶，却未使他惧怕。
English original
Jos 5:13-15.
AN ANGEL APPEARS TO JOSHUA.
13. when Joshua was by Jericho--in the immediate vicinity of that city, probably engaged in surveying the fortifications, and in meditating the best plan of a siege.
there stood a man over against him with his sword drawn--It is evident from the strain of the context that this was not a mere vision, but an actual appearance; the suddenness of which surprised, but did not daunt, the intrepid leader.
14
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简体中文
14. 耶和华的军队——或指以色列民
(出 7:4；12:41；
赛 55:4)，
或指众天使
(诗 148:2)，
或二者兼包；其元帅乃是立约的使者，祂可见的显现因时而异。祂那整装待发的姿态，表明祂赞许并关切这场侵略之战。
约书亚俯伏在地下拜——约书亚采用这种绝对的伏俯之礼，表明这陌生人的言语和威仪在他心中所激发的深切敬畏。这人的真实身份，因祂接受敬拜的尊荣而显明出来
(参
徒 10:25、26；
启 19:10)，
更因那命令「把你脚上的鞋脱下来」而进一步显明
(出 3:5)。
English original
14. the host of the Lord--either the Israelitish people
(Ex 7:4; 12:41; Isa 55:4),
or the angels
(Ps 148:2),
or both included, and the Captain of it was the angel of the covenant, whose visible manifestations were varied according to the occasion. His attitude of equipment betokened his approval of, and interest in, the war of invasion.
Joshua fell on his face . . ., and did worship--The adoption by Joshua of this absolute form of prostration demonstrates the sentiments of profound reverence with which the language and majestic bearing of the stranger inspired him. The real character of this personage was disclosed by His accepting the homage of worship (compare
Ac 10:25, 26; Re 19:10),
and still further in the command, "Loose thy shoe from off thy foot"
(Ex 3:5).
约书亚记 5:1。
迦南人胆战心惊
1. 约旦河西亚摩利人的诸王，和靠海迦南人的诸王——前一个称呼包括居住在山地的百姓，后一个则包括巴勒斯坦沿海一带的百姓。
听见耶和华使约旦河的水干了……他们的心就消化了——他们原本大概指望暴涨的河水暂时成为可靠的防御屏障。但既见河水彻底干涸，这无可辩驳的证据表明神与入侵者同在，他们便完全瘫痪了。事实上，征服之战已经随着当地首领彻底丧胆而开始了。"他们的心消化了"，可惜并没有化为信心和悔改的顺服。