Recovery from adult circumcision typically takes two to three weeks. Men would be incapacitated (unable to run around or do much physical activity) for a number of days before slowly beginning to be more active. Modern doctors advise individuals to take at least a week off from work after the procedure and only to exercise again after four weeks. They also recommend that any sexual intercourse be postponed until at least six weeks after the operation.
We are not surprised therefore to read that the men remained in the camp of Gilgal until they were healed (Joshua 5:8). Elsewhere in the Bible (Genesis 34:1–31) there is another group of people who are circumcised as adults. As a result of the time it takes to recover from the operation, Simeon and Levi were able to kill a whole city of men with ease.
8 When the circumcising of the whole nation was finished, they remained in their places in the camp until they were healed.