Do any of you have any insight to share concerning these verses? I would have guessed the commander of the army of the Lord to be Michael (Dan 10:21, Rev 12:7), but here this person clearly indicates that He is God in repeating the words God spoke to Moses in the burning bush. So who did Joshua see? Was it Jesus? Was the army of the Lord consequently involved in the conquer of Jericho? But "the commander" told Joshua that he is neither for them nor for their enemies (the NIV translates V.14: No, but.. as Neither, but..)or is that not what it means? I wish there was some sort of "follow up" to this passage later in the text but there isn't. I'm interested to know what you think. Thanks. :)

Joshua 5:13-15 (English Standard Version)

13When Joshua was by Jericho, he lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, a man was standing before him with his drawn sword in his hand. And Joshua went to him and said to him, "Are you for us, or for our adversaries?" 14And he said, "No; but I am the commander of the army of the LORD. Now I have come." And Joshua fell on his face to the earth and worshiped and said to him, "What does my lord say to his servant?" 15And the commander of the LORD’s army said to Joshua,"Take off your sandals from your feet, for the place where you are standing is holy." And Joshua did so.

I think you'll find it's covered in this sermon by J Oswald Sanders.

Jericho Relationships
https://www.sermonindex.net/modules/mydownloads/visit.php?lid=11647

There is quite a long preamble, which in itself is instructive, and does fit with the core message, which is also quite challenging.

SolaVeritas: I am not sure that repeating words that God spoke makes the speaker God. He did repeat what God said to Moses. But the speaker repeating those words does not necessarily make the speaker God. My guess is an angel of the Lord.

_________________
Travis

Just a thought though, He also did not rebuke Joshua for worshiping Him. Angels of the Lord always point glory back to God. THE Angel of the Lord did receive worship however.

Thank you for the link, I'm looking forward to listening to that sermon!
Twayne, I know what you mean but I was thinking that if it wasn't God standing there then the ground wouldn't be holy ground, no? And the brother has a good point too.

If you ignore the big "6" chapter break, who is it that is speaking in 6:2?

_________________
Jeremiah Dusenberry

Albert Barnes, Matthew Henry, John Wesley, Jameson Faucet and Brown, Keil and Delitszch, Adam Clark, many Ancients and every other commentator I have ever heard unanimously agree that this is none other than Jesus Christ himself.

_________________
Jeremiah Dusenberry

I should have clarified a bit in my last post. THE Angel of the Lord I believe to be a Christophany of Christ Himself.

Please explain what a Christophany is?

Is it the same as a theophanie, or One who appeared to Adam in the garden, to Moses in the burning bush, to Abraham at Mamre, to Jacob at Peniel and to others.

Is it a what or a who, surely not a incarnation, for Christ had not been born.

In Christ: Phillip

_________________
Phillip

Certainly it was not an incarnation, at least not in the gospel sense. The terms "Theophany" or "Christophany" are simply man-made terms intended to describe such events.

The significance of this event is not in the terminology but should be, rather, in its implications. If this is indeed Jesus Christ as many claim, how should this passage affect you? What are its implications into our lives and into the lives of those to whom he appeared, namely Joshua and the children whom he lead? How does this fit into what the rest of scripture says about him? Does this in any way validate the notion of scripture being inspired and God-Breathed? If so how is it good for our correction? Even more importantly, how should this affect your affections?

_________________
Jeremiah Dusenberry