1 Todos os reis amorreus do lado oeste do rio Jordão e todos os reis cananeus que viviam no litoral do mar Mediterrâneo ficaram sabendo que o Senhor havia secado o Jordão para o povo de Israel passar. E, como o povo de Israel estava chegando, eles ficaram com medo e perderam toda a coragem.

2 O Senhor Deus disse a Josué:

— Prepare algumas facas de pedra e faça uma segunda cerimônia de circuncisão no meio do povo.

3 Josué fez as facas e circuncidou os israelitas no monte da Circuncisão. 4 Ele fez isso porque todos os homens que tinham idade para guerrear quando saíram do Egito haviam morrido pelo caminho, no deserto. 5 Todos os homens que saíram do Egito tinham sido circuncidados, mas isso não foi feito com nenhum dos que nasceram durante a viagem pelo deserto. 6 O povo de Israel havia andado quarenta anos pelo deserto. Durante esse tempo todos os homens que saíram do Egito em idade de guerrear tinham morrido porque haviam desobedecido a Deus, o Senhor. Deus tinha dito que não ia deixá-los ver a terra boa e rica que ele havia jurado dar aos seus antepassados. 7 Mas os filhos, que tomaram o lugar dos pais, não haviam sido circuncidados durante a viagem pelo deserto. Esta foi a nova geração que Josué circuncidou.

8 A nação inteira ficou acampada até que sararam todos os que foram circuncidados. 9 E o Senhor disse a Josué:

— Hoje eu tirei de vocês a vergonha de terem sido escravos no Egito.

Foi por isso que chamaram aquele lugar de Gilgal . E este nome continua até hoje.

10 Os israelitas estavam acampados em Gilgal, na planície em volta da cidade de Jericó, e ali comemoraram a Páscoa na noite do dia catorze do primeiro mês. 11 No dia seguinte comeram alimentos daquela terra: cereais torrados e pão sem fermento. 12 Depois disso os israelitas não tiveram mais o maná porque ele parou de cair do céu. Desse ano em diante, eles começaram a comer os alimentos da terra de Canaã.

13 Josué estava perto da cidade de Jericó. De repente, viu um homem com uma espada na mão parado na sua frente. Josué chegou perto dele e perguntou:

— Você é do nosso exército ou é inimigo?

14 — Não sou nem uma coisa nem outra — respondeu ele. — Estou aqui como comandante do exército de Deus, o Senhor.

Josué ajoelhou-se, encostou o rosto no chão e o adorou. E disse:

— Estou às suas ordens, meu senhor. O que quer que eu faça?

15 O comandante do exército do Senhor respondeu:

— Tire as sandálias porque a terra que você está pisando é santa.

E Josué obedeceu.

1 And it came to pass, when all the kings of the Amorites who were over the Jordan westward, and all the kings of the Canaanites who were by the sea, heard how that Yahweh had dried up the waters of the Jordan, from before the sons of Israel, until they had passed over, that their heart melted, and there was no spirit in them any more, because of the sons of Israel.

2 At that time, said Yahweh unto Joshua, Make thee knives of flint,and again circumcise the sons of Israel, a second time.

3 So Joshua made him knives of flint,and circumcised the sons of Israel, at the Hill of Foreskins.

4 Now, this, is the cause why Joshua did circumcise,all the people who came forth out of Egypt, who were males, all the men of war, died in the desert, by the way, after they came forth out of Egypt.

5 For, though all the people who came forth had been circumcised, yet, all the people who were born in the desert by the way, after they came forth out of Egypt, had they not circumcised.

6 Because, for forty years, did the sons of Israel journey in the desert, until all the nation who were men of war, who came forth out of Egypt, were consumed, because they hearkened not unto the voice of Yahweh,unto whom Yahweh sware that he would not let them see the land, which Yahweh sware unto their fathers, that he would give unto us, a land flowing with milk and honey.

7 Their sons, therefore, whom he had raised up in their stead, them, did Joshua circumcise,for, uncircumcised, they were, in that they had not circumcised them by the way.

8 And so it came to pass, when they had made an end of circumcising all the nation, they remained in their place, in the camp, until they were healed.

9 Then said Yahweh unto Joshua, To-day, have I rolled away the reproach of Egypt from off you. Wherefore the name of that place is called Gilgal unto this day. \fs15

10 Thus then the sons of Israel encamped in Gilgal,and kept the passover on the fourteenth day of the month, in the evening, in the waste plains of Jericho.

11 And they did eat of the corn of the land, on the morrow of the passover, unleavened cakes and parched ears of corn,on this selfsame day.

12 And the manna ceased on the morrow, when they had eaten of the corn of the land, neither had the sons of Israel manna any more,so they did eat of the yield of the land of Canaan throughout that year.

13 And it came to pass, while Joshua was at Jericho, that he lifted up his eyes, and looked, and lo! a man standing over against him, with his sword drawn, in his hand,so Joshua went unto him, and said to him, For us, art thou, or for our adversaries?

14 And he saidNay, but, I, as prince of the host of Yahweh, have, now, come. So Joshua fell on his face to the earth, and worshipped, and said unto him, What is my lord speaking unto his servant?

15 Then said the prince of the host of Yahweh unto JoshuaSlip off thy sandals from thy feet, for, as for the place whereon thou art standing, holy, it is. And Joshua did so.