Joshua 5:14-15

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 5:14

And he said, nay ,.... Not for or on the side of their adversaries was he come, as Joshua suspected at the first sight of him; the Septuagint version is, "he said unto him", taking לא for לו , as it sometimes is: but as Captain of the host of the Lord am I now come ; of the host of the Lord both in heaven and in earth, angels and men, and particularly of the people of Israel, called the armies and host of the Lord, Exodus 7:4 ; so that though Joshua was general, Christ was... 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 5:14

But as captain of the host of the Lord am I now come - By this saying Joshua was both encouraged and instructed. As if he had said, "Fear not; Jehovah hath sent from heaven to save thee and thy people from the reproach of them that would swallow thee up. Israel is the Lord's host; and the Lord of hosts is Israel's Captain. Thou thyself shalt only be captain under me, and I am now about to instruct thee relative to thy conduct in this war." And Joshua - did ... 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 5:14

Verse 14 14.And he said, Nay; but as captain, etc Although the denial applies equally to both parts of the question, namely, that he was neither an Israelite nor a Canaanite, and was thus equivalent to a denial of his being a mortal man, yet it seems to be more properly applicable to the second, or to that part of the question in which Joshua asked if he were one of the enemy. This, however, is a matter of little moment; the essential thing is to understand that he had come to preside over the... 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

Group of Brands