Scriptural text: Joshua 5:13-6:27
Joshua Meets the Captain of the Lord’s Host (Joshua 5:13-15).
Joshua was favored with a vision. It was immediately after he had performed the great solemnities of circumcision and the Passover; then God made himself known to him. The place where he had the vision was in Jericho. Joshua, as it is usual with those that are full of thought and care, was looking downwards, his eyes fixed on the ground, when of a sudden he was surprised with the appearance of a man who stood before him at some little distance, which obliged to him to lift up his eyes. He appeared to him a man, but a considerable man, and one fit to be taken notice of. Now, 1. There is reason to think that this man was the Son of God, the eternal Word. 2. He here appeared as a soldier, with his sword drawn in his hand. Joshua gave him divine honours, and he received them, which a created angel would not have done, and he is called Jehovah, Joshua 6:2. Christ had his sword drawn, which served (1.) To justify the war that Joshua was engaging in, and to show him that he was God, who gave him commission to kill and slay. (2.) To encourage him to carry it with vigour; for Christ’s sword drawn in his hand denotes how ready he is for the defense and salvation of his, who through him shall do valiantly. In verse 13, Joshua asked the angel, “Are you with us or for our enemies?” His answer was not that Joshua would have expected. The response was “Nay.” The angel told Joshua that he had come as captain of the host of the Lord.
In verse 15, the angel tells Joshua to remove his shoes-for he was standing on holy ground. This verse reinforces that Joshua was in the very presence of the Lord.
God’s Plan of Attack (Joshua 6:1-5).
The Lord instructed Joshua how the city of Jericho should be taken. The plan of attack was peculiar indeed. The Lord wanted all the soldiers of Israel to march around the city once each day for six days. The priests bearing the ark of the covenant would march with them, and ahead of the ark would go seven priests carrying so-called “trumpets of rams’ horns. These were the instruments known in Hebrew as the shofar. The Lord instructed Joshua to follow a different plan on the seventh day. Instead of going around once, the whole force should continue marching until it had compassed the city seven times. Then, at the conclusion of the march, the players on the shofar should sound a long blast and all the people should raise their voices in a great shout. The consequence, the Lord promised, would be that the walls would immediately fall down flat, allowing every soldier to rush straight into the city and engage the enemy.
In verse 15, on the seventh day, Joshua and the people rose up early, probably before daybreak. It was going to be a long day, and it was necessary to begin early. For six consecutive days, the people, the priests carrying the ark of the covenant, and armed men of war marched the city of Jericho. Joshua instructed the Israelites to execute the plan of God. In verse 16, Joshua told the people that the Lord had given them the city. Israel showed up for the battle, ready to fight, but God Himself gave them the victory. At that very moment, with the sounds of the shofar and the people’s shouts, the wall of the city fell flat. This was the signal to rush forward and seize the city. It was a miracle of great proportions, equivalent to all the other mighty demonstrations of God’s power.