Joshua 5:2-7

Contemporary English Version

Israel Gets Ready To Celebrate Passover

² While Israel was camped at Gilgal, the Lord said, “Joshua, make some flint knives^[a] and circumcise the rest of the Israelite men and boys.”^[b]

³ Joshua made the knives, then circumcised those men and boys at Haaraloth Hill.^{[c] 4-7 (A)} This had to be done, because none of Israel's baby boys had been circumcised during the 40 years that Israel had wandered through the desert after leaving Egypt.

And why had they wandered for 40 years? It was because right after they left Egypt, the men in the army had disobeyed the Lord. And the Lord had said, “None of you men will ever live to see the land that I promised Israel. It is a land rich with milk and honey, and someday your children will live there, but not before you die here in the desert.”