13 Now it came about when Joshua was by Jericho , that he lifted up his eyes and looked , and behold , a man was standing opposite him with his sword drawn in his hand , and Joshua went to him and said to him, "Are you for us or for our adversaries ?" 14 He said , "No ; rather I indeed come now as captain of the host of the Lord ." And Joshua fell on his face to the earth , and bowed down , and said to him, "What has my lord to say to his servant ?" 15 The captain of the Lord'S host said to Joshua , " Remove your sandals from your feet , for the place where e you are standing is holy ." And Joshua did so .
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Joshua 5:13-15
Commentary on Joshua 5:13-15
(Read Joshua 5:13-15)
We read not of any appearance of God's glory to Joshua till now. There appeared to him one as a man to be noticed. This Man was the Son of God, the eternal Word. Joshua gave him Divine honours: he received them, which a created angel would not have done, and he is called Jehovah, Joshua 6:2. To Abraham he appeared as a traveller; to Joshua as a man of war. Christ will be to his people what their faith needs. Christ had his sword drawn, which encouraged Joshua to carry on the war with vigour. Christ's sword drawn in his hand, denotes how ready he is for the defence and salvation of his people. His sword turns every way. Joshua will know whether he is a friend or a foe. The cause between the Israelites and Canaanites, between Christ and Beelzebub, will not admit of any man's refusing to take one part or the other, as he may do in worldly contests. Joshua's inquiry shows an earnest desire to know the will of Christ, and a cheerful readiness and resolution to do it. All true Christians must fight under Christ's banner, and they will conquer by his presence and assistance.