King James Version

What Does Joshua 5:10 Mean?

Joshua 5:10 in the King James Version says “And the children of Israel encamped in Gilgal, and kept the passover on the fourteenth day of the month at even in the p...” — study this verse from Joshua chapter 5 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“And the children of Israel encamped in Gilgal, and kept the passover on the fourteenth day of the month at even in the plains of Jericho.”

Joshua 5:10 · KJV

Context

8

And it came to pass, when they had done circumcising all the people, that they abode in their places in the camp, till they were whole. they had: Heb. the people had made an end to be circumcised

9

And the LORD said unto Joshua, This day have I rolled away the reproach of Egypt from off you. Wherefore the name of the place is called Gilgal unto this day. Gilgal: that is Rolling

10

And the children of Israel encamped in Gilgal, and kept the passover on the fourteenth day of the month at even in the plains of Jericho.

11

And they did eat of the old corn of the land on the morrow after the passover, unleavened cakes, and parched corn in the selfsame day.

12

And the manna ceased on the morrow after they had eaten of the old corn of the land; neither had the children of Israel manna any more; but they did eat of the fruit of the land of Canaan that year.

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Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
And the children of Israel encamped in Gilgal, and kept the passover on the fourteenth day of the month at even in the plains of Jericho.

This verse marks the first Passover celebrated in the Promised Land—a momentous occasion linking redemption from Egypt with inheritance of Canaan. The specific date "fourteenth day of the month at even" (arbaah asar yom lachodesh baarev, אַרְבָּעָה עָשָׂר יוֹם לַחֹדֶשׁ בָּעָרֶב) precisely follows the original Passover timing (Exodus 12:6, Leviticus 23:5), emphasizing continuity of covenant worship across forty years.

The location is significant: "the plains of Jericho" (bearavot Yericho, בְּעַרְבוֹת יְרִיחוֹ), within sight of the city they would soon conquer. Celebrating Passover—memorial of deliverance from Egypt—on the threshold of Canaan's conquest reinforced the theological connection between exodus and inheritance. God who delivered from bondage now gives the promised land. The Passover lamb's blood that protected Israel from judgment in Egypt prefigured the protection and victory God would give in Canaan.

Theologically, this Passover celebrates redemption accomplished (exodus complete, Jordan crossed, circumcision renewed) and anticipates coming victory (Jericho's fall imminent). It stands as a hinge between deliverance and inheritance, wandering and rest, promise and possession. This pattern prefigures Christian salvation: Christ our Passover is sacrificed (1 Corinthians 5:7), delivering us from sin's bondage (exodus) and bringing us into our spiritual inheritance (Canaan). The Lord's Supper similarly looks backward to Christ's sacrifice and forward to His return and our completed inheritance (1 Corinthians 11:26).

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Historical & Cultural Context

This Passover (approximately 1406 BCE) was the first celebrated in forty years apart from the original Egyptian Passover. Numbers 9:1-5 records a Passover at Sinai in the second year after exodus, but the text doesn't clearly indicate Passover celebration during subsequent wilderness wandering. The uncircumcised state of the wilderness generation may have prevented Passover observance, since circumcision was required for participation (Exodus 12:43-49).

The renewal of Passover after forty years demonstrated covenant restoration. The generation that experienced Egyptian bondage and celebrated the first Passover had died (except Joshua and Caleb). This new generation celebrated Passover for the first time as circumcised covenant members, marking their full incorporation into Israel's worship and identity. The meal connected them to their ancestors' redemption and to God's ongoing faithfulness.

Archaeological evidence from Jericho (Tell es-Sultan) shows occupation during the Late Bronze Age, consistent with the biblical chronology. The location "plains of Jericho" refers to the Jordan valley near the ancient city. Celebrating Passover within sight of a fortified enemy city demonstrated confidence in God's promised victory—the same God who defeated Egypt would defeat Jericho. The Passover meal thus became a declaration of faith and an act of spiritual warfare, proclaiming God's sovereignty over the land and its inhabitants.

Reflection Questions

  1. How does celebrating Passover on the threshold of conquest illustrate the connection between remembering God's past faithfulness and trusting Him for future victories?
  2. In what ways does your regular participation in the Lord's Supper connect you to Christ's completed work and your yet-to-be-fully-realized inheritance?
  3. What does the forty-year gap in Passover observance teach about the importance of covenant signs and regular worship for maintaining covenant identity?
  4. How can you make commemorations of God's redemptive work (baptism anniversaries, conversion testimonies) strengthening reminders for current challenges?
  5. How does the typological connection between Passover and Christ's sacrifice deepen your understanding of communion as both memorial and anticipation?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 14 words
וַיַּֽחֲנ֥וּ1 of 14

“encamped”

H2583

properly, to incline; by implication, to decline (of the slanting rays of evening); specifically, to pitch a tent; generally to encamp (for abode or s

בְנֵֽי2 of 14

“And the children”

H1121

a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or

יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל3 of 14

“of Israel”

H3478

he will rule as god; jisral, a symbolical name of jacob; also (typically) of his posterity

בַּגִּלְגָּ֑ל4 of 14

“in Gilgal”

H1537

gilgal, the name of three places in palestine

וַיַּֽעֲשׂ֣וּ5 of 14

“and kept”

H6213

to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application

אֶת6 of 14
H853

properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)

הַפֶּ֡סַח7 of 14

“the passover”

H6453

a pretermission, i.e., exemption; used only techically of the jewish passover (the festival or the victim)

בְּאַרְבָּעָה֩8 of 14

“on the fourteenth”

H702

four

עָשָׂ֨ר9 of 14
H6240

ten (only in combination), i.e., -teen; also (ordinal) -teenth

י֥וֹם10 of 14

“day”

H3117

a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an asso

לַחֹ֛דֶשׁ11 of 14

“of the month”

H2320

the new moon; by implication, a month

בָּעֶ֖רֶב12 of 14

“at even”

H6153

dusk

בְּעַֽרְב֥וֹת13 of 14

“in the plains”

H6160

a desert; especially (with the article prefix) the (generally) sterile valley of the jordan and its continuation to the red sea

יְרִיחֽוֹ׃14 of 14

“of Jericho”

H3405

jericho or jerecho, a place in palestine

Study Guide

Historical Context

This verse is found in the book of Joshua. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.

Theological Significance

Joshua 5:10 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.

Cross-References

Verses related to Joshua 5:10 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Exodus 12:6Numbers 9:1-5Ezekiel 12:3Ezekiel 12:6-16

Places in This Verse

Gilgal 1Settlement · Modern: Khirbet el Mefjir · 31.88°N, 35.46°E33 verses across 7 books
Jericho 1Settlement · Modern: Tell es Sultan · 31.87°N, 35.44°E63 verses across 13 books
View all places in Joshua 5 →

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