Joshua led the people over the Jordan River into the land of Canaan. The Lord caused the waters of the river to separate, giving dry ground for the Israelites to cross over (Joshua 3). Then, Joshua gathered the people in a great camp at a place called Gilgal, where they circumcised all the men and entered into a spiritual cleansing. During the 40 years in the desert after leaving Egypt, the people of Israel had rebelled against Moses and against the Lord several times. Because of this, God did not allow the adult people that came out of Egypt to enter the Promised Land. He caused the people to wander around for 40 years until all that generation died. However, two men— Joshua and Caleb—had been faithful to the Lord, and he let them enter Canaan. As they prepared to enter the land, Joshua had to renew the covenant of circumcision which had not been done for 40 years:
The Israelites had moved about in the desert forty years until all the men who were of military age when they left Egypt had died, since they had not obeyed the LORD. For the LORD had sworn to them that they would not see the land that he had solemnly promised their fathers to give us, a land flowing with milk and honey. So he raised up their sons in their place, and these were the ones Joshua circumcised. They were still uncircumcised because they had not been circumcised on the way.… Then the LORD said to Joshua, “Today I have rolled away the reproach of Egypt from you.” Joshua 5.6-9