Jos 5:13-15 | KingComments | STEP | It seems that Joshua went to Jericho to measure the resistance. He has not yet been commanded to attack the city. He may have discussed how this extremely strong city should be captured. He is a military man, but he has never moved up against a fortified city. Absorbed in thoughts he lifts up his eyes and to his surprise discovers the Man with the drawn sword. He does not recognize Him, as is later the case with Gideon ( ) and Manoah ( ), but not with Abraham who does recognize Him ( ). Once we have taken in the previous events, we can, after using the flint knife ( ), meet the Man with the sword. So we see Him with Balaam. There He is ready to kill him if he should drive on ( ). Also at Jerusalem He is ready with the sword to destroy the city ( ). Here He goes out ahead of the army. He has come “now” and not a moment earlier. His coming is announced ( ) and now He has come and takes over the guidance. His presence makes every place where He stands a holy place (cf. ). This is how He says it to Moses when it comes to a people in misery about to be delivered ( ). Here it is about a liberated people that is about to conquer the land. The presence of the LORD as “the captain of the LORD’s hosts” requires as much holiness and reverence as in His coming down to redeem His people. As He is when He comes down to participate in the oppression of His people – He appears in the burning bush which is a picture of it – so He is also when He stands among His people to bless them and lead them in battle. The hosts of the LORD are his earthly people, but it is also the angelic hosts which He commands ( ; ; ; ). We too need spiritual preparation to be able to fight the spiritual struggle. The spiritual preparation we have in Ephesians 1-5. This also includes that the relationships between man and wife, parents and children, employer and employee mentioned in Ephesians 5, are in order. Then the struggle according to the directions of Ephesians 6 can be fought effectively. The struggle fought in the heavenly battle is a holy struggle. Joshua’s mind is that of submission and obedience. He asks respectfully what the LORD has to say to him. When the LORD does so, Joshua obeys immediately. This is the right attitude to receive further communications about the struggle to be fought.

‏ Joshua 5:13-15

The Captain

It seems that Joshua went to Jericho to measure the resistance. He has not yet been commanded to attack the city. He may have discussed how this extremely strong city should be captured. He is a military man, but he has never moved up against a fortified city. Absorbed in thoughts he lifts up his eyes and to his surprise discovers the Man with the drawn sword. He does not recognize Him, as is later the case with Gideon (Jdg 6:11-22) and Manoah (Jdg 13:11-21), but not with Abraham who does recognize Him (Gen 18:1-3).

Once we have taken in the previous events, we can, after using the flint knife (Jos 5:2), meet the Man with the sword. So we see Him with Balaam. There He is ready to kill him if he should drive on (Num 22:23). Also at Jerusalem He is ready with the sword to destroy the city (1Chr 21:16). Here He goes out ahead of the army. He has come “now” and not a moment earlier. His coming is announced (Exo 23:23) and now He has come and takes over the guidance.

His presence makes every place where He stands a holy place (cf. Gen 28:16-17). This is how He says it to Moses when it comes to a people in misery about to be delivered (Exo 3:5). Here it is about a liberated people that is about to conquer the land.

The presence of the LORD as “the captain of the LORD’s hosts” requires as much holiness and reverence as in His coming down to redeem His people. As He is when He comes down to participate in the oppression of His people – He appears in the burning bush which is a picture of it – so He is also when He stands among His people to bless them and lead them in battle. The hosts of the LORD are his earthly people, but it is also the angelic hosts which He commands (Gen 32:1-2; 2Kgs 6:17; Mt 26:53; Heb 1:7 ; 14).

We too need spiritual preparation to be able to fight the spiritual struggle. The spiritual preparation we have in Ephesians 1-5. This also includes that the relationships between man and wife, parents and children, employer and employee mentioned in Ephesians 5, are in order. Then the struggle according to the directions of Ephesians 6 can be fought effectively. The struggle fought in the heavenly battle is a holy struggle.

Joshua’s mind is that of submission and obedience. He asks respectfully what the LORD has to say to him. When the LORD does so, Joshua obeys immediately. This is the right attitude to receive further communications about the struggle to be fought.