Jos 5:1 And it came to pass, when all 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, heard that the LORD had dried up the waters of Jordan from before the children of Israel, until we were passed over, that their heart melted, neither was there spirit in them any more, because of the children of Israel.

Jos 5:2 At that time the LORD said unto Joshua, Make thee sharp knives, and circumcise again the children of Israel the second time.

Jos 5:3 And Joshua made him sharp knives, and circumcised the children of Israel at the hill of the foreskins.

What is circumcision? It's the cutting off of excess flesh that is not needed on males. If you read on down into the next few verses, you might find yourself wondering as I did, why would God insist the people be circumcised, the men, who would be fighting the battle, knowing this would weaken them, and leave them sore, and not much use for battle? I mean, think about it-these people had just experienced the power of God, parting the Jordan river, so they walked through on dry ground. Before them is the towering city of Jericho. It's the last thing separating the people of God from the Promised Land. It's heavily fortified, totally shut up against them. The walls were some 24 feet high, twelve feet thick, with six acres separating the upper walls from the lower walls, which were also 12 feet thick. The tower, presumably the watchtower, dating back to between 8000 and 7000 BC was 24 feet in diameter, 24 feet tall, and 12 feet thick. The walls were thick enough homes were built in to and on top of them. I got this from Bibleplaces.com on the internet. Faced with such an impressive city, being told to go up against it, and take it, and destroy it, yet before they are allowed to do anything he has to circumcise them. God wants to cut off any hope we might have of being able to do it ourselves. It’s a painful process, and there is an even more painful process-spiritual circumcision. When you come to the place you know what he says, you want what he says, but you know in you, that is your flesh is no good thing, and you are completely helpless to make this happen, and you know if it does, it will have to be God making it happen. Not by might, not by power, but by my Spirit, saith the Lord, in Zech. 4:6.

Jos 5:13 And it came to pass, when Joshua was by Jericho, that he lifted up his eyes and looked, and, behold, there stood a man over against him with his sword drawn in his hand: and Joshua went unto him, and said unto him, Art thou for us, or for our adversaries?

Jos 5:14 And he said, Nay; but as captain of the host of the LORD am I now come. And Joshua fell on his face to the earth, and did worship, and said unto him, What saith my lord unto his servant?

Jos 5:15 And the captain of the LORD's host said unto Joshua, Loose thy shoe from off thy foot; for the place whereon thou standest is holy. And Joshua did so.