Joshua 5:15

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Joshua 5:13-15

We have hitherto found God often speaking to Joshua, but we read not till now of any appearance of God's glory to him; now that his difficulties increased his encouragements were increased in proportion. Observe, I. The time when he was favoured with this vision. It was immediately after he had performed the great solemnities of circumcision and the passover; then God made himself known to him. Note, We may then expect the discoveries of the divine grace when we are found in the way of our... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Joshua 5:15

And the Captain of the Lord's host said unto Joshua ,.... As a trial and proof of his obedience to him: loose thy shoe from off thy foot ; which is to be understood literally, as when the like was commanded Moses at Horeb, Exodus 3:5 ; though some interpret it figuratively; as Abarbinel,"remove from thee such thoughts that thou shall take this city by strength:" for the place whereon thou standest is holy ; because of the presence of this Person, and as long as he was there,... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Joshua 5:15

Loose thy shoe from off thy foot , etc. - These were the same words which the angel, on Mount Sinai, spoke to Moses; (see Exodus 3:5-8 ;); and from this it seems likely that it was the same person that appeared in both places: in the first, to encourage Moses to deliver the oppressed Israelites, and bring them to the promised land; in the second, to encourage Joshua in his arduous labor in expelling the ancient inhabitants, and establishing the people in the inheritance... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Joshua 5:15

Verse 15 15.Loose thy shoe from off thy foot, etc To give additional sanctity to the vision, the great Angel requires as a sign of reverence and fear that Joshua put off his shoes. Moses relates, (Exodus 3:5) that the same command was given to him on Mount Sinai, and for no other reason than that the Lord there manifested his glory. For one place cannot have a greater sanctity than another, except God deigns specially to make it so. Thus Jacob exclaims, (Genesis 28:17 (60)) that the place where... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Joshua 5:13-15

The captain of the host. As Moses, on entering on his mission, was favoured with a marvellous Divine manifestation ( Exodus 3:1-6 ), so with Joshua, now that he is about to make his first onslaught on the strongholds of the Canaanites. The angel of the Lord appeared to Moses in a flame of fire. God spoke to him from the midst of the bush that burned but was not consumed. The supernatural radiance was the vehicle of the Divine Presence. God clothed Himself with light as with a garment.... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Joshua 5:13-15

A soldier's interview with his captain. It adds much to the general power of the Bible as an ethical handbook, that great part of its instruction is conveyed in the pleasing form of history, political and individual. I. JOSHUA 'S ANXIETY . Gilgal, where the ceremonies related in preceding verses were celebrated, was not far from Jericho, the great stronghold which protected the eastern district of Palestine and which it was necessary for the Israelites to capture before they could... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Joshua 5:13-15

The Captain of the Church. At the very time when the battle of Israel against the idolators of the land of Canaan was about to commence, Joshua saw a mysterious warrior stand before him sword in hand. "Art thou for us or for our enemies?" he cried. "I am come," is the answer, as Captain of the Lord's host. I. THIS DIVINE CAPTAIN HAS NEVER LEFT THE ARMY OF THE HOLY , though He may NOT AT ALL TIMES have made Himself VISIBLE . He was with the Church when it... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Joshua 5:15

Loose thy shoe from off thy feet. Cf. Exodus 3:6 . We have here a clear proof (see also Joshua 6:2 ) that He who now spoke to Joshua was a Divine Person. The loosing the shoe from the feet is regarded by Origen and other patristic commentators as emblematic of the removal of worldly engagements and pollutions from the soul. Now Jericho was straitly shut up. HOMILETICS Verses 13-6:21 The vision and the command. Three points demand our special attention in this passage.... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Joshua 5:15

Joshua 5:15. From off thy foot In token of reverence and subjection. Holy Consecrated by my presence. The very same order which God gave to Moses at the bush, when he was sending him to bring Israel out of Egypt, he here gives to Joshua for the confirming his faith, that as he had been with Moses, so he would be with him. read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Joshua 5:2-15

Camp at Gilgal (5:2-15)Israel’s camp at Gilgal became the centre for the battle campaign that was to follow. But before the people could receive the land God promised them in the covenant, they had to renew their covenant relation with him.During the previous forty years, the people of Israel had brought shame upon themselves through consistently being disobedient and unbelieving. They had even neglected the first requirement of the covenant, which was the circumcision of all newborn male... read more

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