THE COMMANDER OF THE LORD'S ARMY
Key verse: 5:14
NIV
The Fall of Jericho
13 Now when Joshua was near Jericho, he looked up and saw a man(A) standing in front of him with a drawn sword(B) in his hand. Joshua went up to him and asked, “Are you for us or for our enemies?”
14 “Neither,” he replied, “but as commander of the army of the Lord I have now come.” Then Joshua fell facedown(C) to the ground(D) in reverence, and asked him, “What message does my Lord[a] have for his servant?”
15 The commander of the Lord’s army replied, “Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy.”(E) And Joshua did so.
6 Now the gates of Jericho(F) were securely barred because of the Israelites. No one went out and no one came in.
2 Then the Lord said to Joshua, “See, I have delivered(G) Jericho into your hands, along with its king and its fighting men. 3 March around the city once with all the armed men. Do this for six days. 4 Have seven priests carry trumpets of rams’ horns(H) in front of the ark. On the seventh day, march around the city seven times, with the priests blowing the trumpets.(I) 5 When you hear them sound a long blast(J) on the trumpets, have the whole army give a loud shout;(K) then the wall of the city will collapse and the army will go up, everyone straight in.”
Footnotes
- Joshua 5:14 Or lord
Cross references
- Joshua 5:13 : S Ge 18:2
- Joshua 5:13 : Nu 22:23
- Joshua 5:14 : S Ge 17:3
- Joshua 5:14 : S Ge 19:1
- Joshua 5:15 : S Ge 28:17; Ex 3:5; Ac 7:33
- Joshua 6:1 : Jos 24:11
- Joshua 6:2 : ver 16; Dt 7:24; Jos 8:1
- Joshua 6:4 : S Ex 19:13
- Joshua 6:4 : S Lev 25:9
- Joshua 6:5 : Ex 19:13
- Joshua 6:5 : ver 20; 1Sa 4:5; 2Sa 6:15; Ezr 3:11; 10:12; Ps 42:4; 95:1; Isa 8:9; 42:13
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway
ESV
The Commander of the Lord's Army
13 When Joshua was by Jericho, he lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, (A)a man was standing before him (B)with his drawn sword in his hand. And Joshua went to him and said to him, “Are you for us, or for our adversaries?” 14 And he said, “No; but I am the commander of the army of the Lord. Now I have come.” And Joshua (C)fell on his face to the earth and worshiped[a] and said to him, “What does my lord say to his servant?” 15 And the commander of the Lord's army said to Joshua, (D)“Take off your sandals from your feet, for the place where you are standing is holy.” And Joshua did so.
The Fall of Jericho
6 Now Jericho was shut up inside and outside because of the people of Israel. None went out, and none came in. 2 And the Lord said to Joshua, “See, (E)I have given Jericho into your hand, with its king and mighty men of valor. 3 You shall march around the city, all the men of war going around the city once. Thus shall you do for six days. 4 Seven priests shall bear seven (F)trumpets of (G)rams' horns before the ark. On the seventh day you shall march around the city seven times, and (H)the priests shall blow the trumpets. 5 And when they make a long blast with the ram's horn, when you hear the sound of the trumpet, then all the people shall shout with a great shout, and the wall of the city will fall down flat,[b] and the people shall go up, everyone straight before him.”
Footnotes
- Joshua 5:14 Or and paid homage
- Joshua 6:5 Hebrew under itself; also verse 20
Cross references
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway
1. Holy ground (5:13-6:1)
As Joshua approached Jericho, he saw a man standing in front of him with a drawn sword. He asked him, 'Are you for us or for our enemies?' The Lord does not take sides. Joshua and we must choose to be on his side. Joshua fell facedown in reverence. He surrendered to the Lord. The place where we meet God is holy ground. Joshua awaited his orders. Jericho was tightly shut up, like a city under siege because of the fear of Israel.
2. The Lord's instructions (6:2-5)
The Lord promised Joshua victory before he even started fighting. God had already delivered Jericho into his hands. But the victory must be claimed by faith. And the faith must be expressed in obedience. Marching around the city looks dangerous and pointless, but the Lord promised victory. At the sound of the trumpet on the 7th day the walls would fall and the people must shout and go in and take the city.
Prayer: Lord, help me to find victory through surrender to you.
One Word: Surrender to God and win the victory
