Gilgal was a significant place in Israel’s history. This was where the crossing of the Jordan was commemorated as the first major place of worship (Joshua 4:1–24; Joshua 5:9). It is the place where Israel built the monument of twelve stones taken from the Jordan River. It is where Israel celebrated the first Passover in the land. It is also the place where the previous encounter with the angel of the Lord happened (Joshua 5:13–15). So when the angel comes from Gilgal, it appears to be an attempt to remind Israel of how the campaign had started, to review how things have gone and to give his verdict on whether or not his orders have been followed. It’s a tense moment for Israel.
1 Now the angel of the LORD went up from Gilgal to Bochim. And he said, “I brought you up from Egypt and brought you into the land that I swore to give to your fathers. I said, ‘I will never break my covenant with you,