Joshua had to circumcise them because all the men who were old enough to fight in battle when they left Egypt had died in the wilderness.

The Israelites had traveled in the wilderness for forty years until all the men who were old enough to fight in battle when they left Egypt had died. For they had disobeyed the Lord, and the Lord vowed he would not let them enter the land he had sworn to give us—a land flowing with milk and honey.

They completely destroyed everything in it with their swords—men and women, young and old, cattle, sheep, goats, and donkeys.

they resorted to deception to save themselves. They sent ambassadors to Joshua, loading their donkeys with weathered saddlebags and old, patched wineskins.

These wineskins were new when we filled them, but now they are old and split open. And our clothing and sandals are worn out from our very long journey.”

The Land Yet to Be Conquered

When Joshua was an old man, the Lord said to him, “You are growing old, and much land remains to be conquered.

I was forty years old when Moses, the servant of the Lord, sent me from Kadesh-barnea to explore the land of Canaan. I returned and gave an honest report,

“Now, as you can see, the Lord has kept me alive and well as he promised for all these forty-five years since Moses made this promise—even while Israel wandered in the wilderness. Today I am eighty-five years old.

The Land Given to West Manasseh

The next allotment of land was given to the half-tribe of Manasseh, the descendants of Joseph’s older son. Makir, the firstborn son of Manasseh, was the father of Gilead. Because his descendants were experienced soldiers, the regions of Gilead and Bashan on the east side of the Jordan had already been given to them.

Joshua’s Final Words to Israel

The years passed, and the Lord had given the people of Israel rest from all their enemies. Joshua, who was now very old,

called together all the elders, leaders, judges, and officers of Israel. He said to them, “I am now a very old man.