According to Ginzberg's retelling in Legends of the Jews, all sorts of momentous events piled up on a single day. This was the very day the Israelites crossed the Jordan River. Can you picture it? After forty years of wandering, they finally stepped onto the soil promised to their ancestors. And then, they immediately held an assembly on Mount Gerizim and Mount Ebal, re-affirming their covenant with God. It was also the day they arrived at Gilgal, where they left the stones from the altar they had built earlier. A day of immense, symbolic action.
But wait, there's more! At Gilgal, Joshua performed the rite of circumcision on those born in the desert. You see, because of the harsh conditions, and "other reasons," as Ginzberg delicately puts it, these men hadn't been circumcised as infants. It was a critical act of renewal and commitment to the covenant.
And, as if all that wasn't enough, it was also the day the manna gave out. Manna, that miraculous food that had sustained them in the wilderness for forty years. Now, the manna hadn't actually stopped falling the moment Moses died. The stores they had gathered lasted a little longer. But now, they were truly on their own, responsible for their own sustenance.
Now, here's where the story takes a fascinating turn. Ginzberg tells us that once the people had to worry about their daily bread, they started to get a little…lax in their study of the Torah. They became "negligent," as Ginzberg puts it. This is where an angel appears to Joshua.
The angel tells Joshua to remove his shoes. Why? As a sign of mourning. But not for a death. No, the mourning was for the decline in the study of Torah. The angel even reproached Joshua himself. Apparently, allowing the preparations for war to interfere with Torah study and ritual service was a serious offense. Neglecting the details of ritual is one thing, but neglecting Torah? That's worthy of punishment, the angel implied.
But the angel wasn't just there to scold. He also assured Joshua of his aid. He told Joshua not to reject his help, as Moses had supposedly done with another angel. Who was this powerful being? None other than the archangel Michael. A powerful ally to have on your side!
So, what does this all mean? It's a reminder that even in the midst of momentous events, of battles and conquests, the spiritual life, the study of Torah, must not be neglected. It’s a delicate balance – action and reflection, the physical and the spiritual. And sometimes, we all need an angel to remind us of that.