How close were the Israelites to their first battle after crossing the Jordan?
After crossing the Jordan, the Israelites were only a mile or two from the first city they would have to conquer. They were already in enemy territory, at the doorstep of battle, when God halted them for a national circumcision because it had been neglected for forty years.
Les explains that after Israel crossed the Jordan, they were now in enemy territory and only a mile or two away from the first city they were going to have to conquer. At that exact point, God stopped the nation of Israel in its tracks. Instead of immediately going into battle, they had a tremendous national right of circumcision at the doorstep of the enemy. Les notes this was because they had neglected circumcision for forty years, illustrating that when it comes to dealing with God, it is first things first.