JOSHUA—NOTE ON Joshua 5:13 a man was standing before him. Joshua seems to wonder if this man is an Israelite or an enemy solider. The commander of the army of the LORD answers “No,” that is, “Neither.” Joshua’s reaction to the man shows that Joshua believes this being possesses divine authority. The expression with his drawn sword in his hand appears in Numbers 22:23, Numbers 22:31 and 1 Chronicles 21:16, where it refers to the angel of the Lord. The “army of the LORD” is the force God commands when judging (Isaiah 13:4) or protecting (1 Kings 22:19). Worshiped could be translated “bowed down.” Joshua possibly believed he was in God’s presence. In Exodus 23:20 God promises his angel to guide Israel to victory.

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