As circumcision was a sign or seal of the everlasting covenant God made with Abraham, and evidently referred to Him in whom the law was to be completed: it is not very easy to account for the long neglect of this rite, while the church was in the wilderness state. Might it not be omitted, from the frequent unbelief, which so many times broke out in the camp? And, as the Lord had sworn in his wrath, that the generation which came out of Egypt, should not enter the land of promise; which, as a type of the great promise of redemption, was referred to in circumcision; probably the Israelites concluded the rite to be no longer their privilege, when the blessing folded up in it they were no longer entitled to. Be this as it may; the Lord commands the rite to be renewed. The people have now entered upon the promised land. This seal reminds them once more of the covenant. It distinguisheth them from their idolatrous neighbours; takes away the reproach of Egypt, who had said, that for mischief the Lord had brought them out to destroy them in the wilderness. The slander is now done away. They are proved to be God's people, and the Lord their God. But, Reader, let not you and I stop here. Circumcision had an eye to Jesus. In the Old Testament it was appointed with reference to Him, with whom the everlasting covenant is made, and in whom it is completed. And from our Father's entrance into Canaan, until the coming of Jesus in the flesh, it is plain that it was appointed as a standing ordinance. But when the Son of God came in substance of our flesh, and submitted to this Jewish rite, by way of taking upon him the obligation to fulfil the whole law, from that time it ceased to be necessary, or even proper. The substance being come, the shadow is forever done away. Believers in Jesus are included, as the Holy Ghost taught the church by the apostle, in that circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ. Galatians 5:2; Colossians 2:11; Galatians 6:15.
Joshua 5:2-9
2 At that time the LORD said unto Joshua, Make thee sharpa knives, and circumcise again the children of Israel the second time.
3 And Joshua made him sharpb knives, and circumcised the children of Israel at the hill of the foreskins.
4 And this is the cause why Joshua did circumcise: All the people that came out of Egypt, that were males, even all the men of war, died in the wilderness by the way, after they came out of Egypt.
5 Now all the people that came out were circumcised: but all the people that were born in the wilderness by the way as they came forth out of Egypt, them they had not circumcised.
6 For the children of Israel walked forty years in the wilderness, till all the people that were men of war, which came out of Egypt, were consumed, because they obeyed not the voice of the LORD: unto whom the LORD sware that he would not shew them the land, which the LORD sware unto their fathers that he would give us, a land that floweth with milk and honey.
7 And their children, whom he raised up in their stead, them Joshua circumcised: for they were uncircumcised, because they had not circumcised them by the way.
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.
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 Gilgalc unto this day.