Joshua 5:13-6:27

Joshua 5:13-6:27

This final scene of Joshua 5 sets the stage for the Fall of Jericho in Joshua 6. This passage, however, is a very confusing passage and goes back to a paper I wrote back at Union. In a class on the doctrine of God, I wrote a paper on who this person that Joshua is speaking with actually is. There is this “angel” that appears to several people throughout the Old Testament: Abraham, Jacob, Moses, Joshua, and Samson’s parents. At times it is called an angel, and at other times it is referred to as a man. For Abraham, there were three men. Some believe that this is a pre-incarnate Jesus. Others believe that it was simply a messenger from God, such as an angel. I believe that all these instances cannot be summed up into one solid conclusion. Maybe all the theories are right in their own way. There could have been times that it was an angel, and there could have been times that it was some other messenger. I think each instance has to be taken separately, and in this case, this seems to be an angel.

What is interesting though is this person’s answer to Joshua’s question. He asks if this mysterious person is for them or for their enemies. The messenger’s answer is, no. He states that he is the commander of the Lord’s army. Now in this particular instance, he would have been on Joshua’s side because they were the nation obeying God at that point in history, and they were the nation that was about to go on a conquest, destroying God’s enemies (or those who were following after false gods). But just because he was on Joshua’s side in this instance did not mean that he would always be. This commander of the Lord’s army would be on the side that was following God, therefore his answer was quite appropriate. Another interesting aspect of this scene is how it parallels Moses’ encounter with God at the burning bush, where Moses was actually speaking with God. In both instances, the men were told to remove their sandals for they were standing on holy ground. Again, this helps show that God had indeed called Joshua to an important role as the leader of Israel, and he was God’s chosen man to replace Moses.

In Joshua 6, Israel begins their campaign to take the Promised Land. Although they had previously been involved in battles, already gaining land, this was their first battle inside the Promised Land. God gives Joshua the instructions for taking over Jericho, and I imagine it was not what Joshua expected. Instead of hearing about some great battle scheme that involved fighting and war, Joshua discovered that they were to walk around the walls for seven days. Now Scripture does not say that Joshua was shocked at this plan or that he questioned God. It is mute on this point, so we must assume that Joshua completely trusted God, no matter how crazy the plan might seem to us. He had been walking with God for quite some time, and we must assume that he did not question God in this plan. Instead, he went straight to his army and told them the plans. Again, Scripture does not say that the questioned the plan either. The people instead did exactly as Joshua instructed. They were at this time in complete obedience, and as a result, Jericho fell on the seventh day.

Rahab and her family were spared as a result of her help when the spies came into the land. God promised to protect her, and the two spies along with Joshua made sure that they found her and her family when the walls came down. She became a part of the nation of Israel and lived with Israel from then on out. Other than Rahab, nothing else but the gold, silver, bronze, and iron remained. This was put into the treasury of the Lord, and everything else was burned to the ground. The Israelites completely obeyed God’s instructions, and it seemed as if the conquest was going to go quickly and easily. Most importantly, God was exalted, and His name was becoming even more well known throughout the land as the other nations discovered that the nation of Israel had taken down Jericho.

Matt