The nation of Israel had consecrated themselves to God via the reaffirming of the covenant sign of circumcision. It was now time to begin to take the land. Yet, before they followed their leader into what would become seven years of warfare, Joshua needed to understand an important lesson to be learned. He was not the primary leader of the people. Before he could lead the people into battle, Goddard ensured that Joshua was reminded that he would need to remain a follower of the Captain of God’s Army.