The Commander Comes

Having completed their acts of devotion to God, the Israelites now turn to military matters. Thus, in Joshua 5:13 we find Joshua “by Jericho.” Why has he come, apparently alone, to the vicinity of his first military objective? “There he was (some think) meditating and praying,” Matthew Henry writes. “Or perhaps there he was to take a view of the city, to observe its fortifications, and contrive how to attack it.” If that is the case, he needn’t have bothered, for any need to strategize is abruptly taken out of his hand.

Joshua, we are told, looks up to see “a Man … with His sword drawn in His hand.” Joshua may well be surprised not to have marked the approach of this obviously powerful warrior, who stands as if ready to do battle. But in a demonstration of his remarkable personal courage, Joshua steps forward to speak to the Man and learn whether He is a friend or foe. The answer, however, is completely unexpected. “ ‘No,’ ” the Man declares, “ ‘but as Commander of the army of the LORD I have now come.’ ” With that, Joshua realizes this is no anonymous soldier from the tribes of Israel and no would-be Goliath of the Canaanites come to mock the people of God. Rather, this is Joshua’s own superior, the one who truly commands the armies of Israel and all the hosts of heaven. And Joshua falls on his face and worships.

But precisely who is this? Joshua’s worship gives us one clue. And the Man’s command that Joshua remove his shoes because he is standing on holy ground is another. No angel appearing to a human being in Scripture ever demands that shoes be removed or accepts worship. Thus, this is God in some form. But is it the Father or the pre-incarnate Christ? Some commentators see parallels between this figure and the warrior Christ of Revelation 19. But others, including Henry, see the first few verses of Joshua 6 as a continuation of this episode and point to 6:2a, where “the LORD,” or Yahweh, speaks to Joshua. They say this Commander is almighty God Himself.

The Commander has unsheathed His sword, indicating His readiness to launch the conquest of Canaan. Thus, when Joshua asks what the Commander would have him do, God gives detailed instructions for the capture of Jericho. These instructions may be the most unusual military strategy ever employed, as we will see in our next study.