Joshua 5:9

the reproach of Egypt This may be explained as (i) the reproach, which had attached to the people all the way from Egypt, where the nation had been a people of slaves; comp. Gen 34:14; 1 Samuel 17:26; as (ii) referring to the taunts and reproaches actually levelled by the Egyptians against the Israelites, because of their long wanderings in the desert, and the disappointment of their hopes to obtain a "rest" in Canaan. (Comp. Exodus 32:12; Numbers 14:13-16; Deuteronomy 9:28.)

Gilgal i.e. the Rolling. "And þe name of þat place is clepid Galgala," Wyclif. It would seem that this was the name of the place before the Exodus, for the Canaanites are described as living "over against Gilgal" in Deuteronomy 11:30. Its site is fixed by Josephus 50 furlongs from the Jordan and 10 from Jericho (Antiq. 5:i. 4), which would be at or near the modern village of er-Riha. It does not seem that a new name was given to the place now; but rather that a new meaning and significancy were attached to the old name, the word Gilgaldenoting a "circle," and also a "rolling away."