Why did the commander of the LORD's army ask Joshua to remove his sandals in Joshua 5:15? Text of Joshua 5:15 “The Commander of the LORD’s army replied, ‘Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy.’ And Joshua did so.” Immediate Narrative Setting Israel has just crossed the Jordan, celebrated Passover, and is poised before Jericho. The sudden appearance of the Commander confronts Joshua with the unseen reality that the forthcoming conquest is God’s battle, waged on sacred turf already claimed by Him. Identification of the Commander Context, worship received (5:14), and the title “Commander of the LORD’s army” point to a theophany—more precisely a Christophany, a pre-incarnate manifestation of the Second Person of the Trinity. Unlike angels (Revelation 22:8-9), this figure accepts Joshua’s prostration, indicating deity. Holy Ground and Divine Presence “Holy” (Heb. qōdesh) marks space set apart by God’s immediate presence. Where God manifests, ordinary ground becomes sacred (Exodus 3:5). The command therefore alerts Joshua that strategic planning must yield to worshipful awe. Symbolism of Removing Sandals 1. Humility—bare feet lower one’s physical posture, acknowledging God’s supremacy (Ecclesiastes 5:1). 2. Purity—sandals accumulated dust and defilement; removing them depicts leaving impurity outside (cf. Exodus 30:19-20). 3. Ownership—Ruth 4:7 links sandal removal to surrendering claim to property. Joshua tacitly concedes Canaan’s true Owner and accepts his role as tenant-steward. 4. Readiness—soldiers often unshod before entering a sanctuary. Joshua’s act signals spiritual preparedness before military engagement. Parallel with Moses at the Burning Bush The verbal echo of Exodus 3:5 ties Joshua’s commission to Moses’. The same God authenticates the new leader, reinforcing continuity of covenant leadership and assuring the people that God’s power has not diminished. Covenant Overtones Joshua 5 has just recorded mass circumcision and Passover—signs of covenant restoration. Bare feet before God complete this triad: covenant sign (circumcision), covenant meal (Passover), covenant posture (sandals off). Preparation for Holy War Israel’s battles are “the LORD’s wars” (Numbers 21:14). Sanctification precedes victory (Joshua 3:5; 7:13). Joshua’s obedience models consecration for the nation, grounding military success in spiritual submission, not martial strength. Ancient Near Eastern Customary Insight Hittite and Egyptian texts show priests and petitioners removing footwear in temples to prevent ritual pollution. The biblical command fits contemporaneous practice while uniquely rooting holiness in YHWH’s person rather than temple architecture. Christological Significance The Commander prefigures Christ who will later announce, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me” (Matthew 28:18). His sword-drawn stance (Joshua 5:13) foreshadows Revelation 19:11-16, where the risen Christ leads heavenly armies. The removal of sandals anticipates the intimacy believers now experience, approaching God through Christ’s righteousness rather than ritual footwear. Spiritual Application for Believers • Worship precedes warfare: disciples confront cultural Jerichos only after bowing to Christ’s lordship. • Holiness is positional and practical: God declares ground holy, yet Joshua must act. • Leadership demands submission: true authority flows from surrender to the Commander. Archaeological Corroboration Excavations at Tell es-Sultan (ancient Jericho) reveal collapsed walls dated to the Late Bronze Age, consistent with a short-chronology conquest. The abrupt grain-filled destruction layer aligns with Joshua 3–6’s springtime Passover setting, lending historical weight to the narrative that frames the Commander’s appearance. Conclusion The order to remove sandals is a multifaceted call: acknowledge God’s holiness, relinquish personal claims, prepare spiritually for divine mission, and recognize the cruciform Commander who leads His people. Joshua’s compliance becomes the pattern for every believer summoned to follow the risen Christ in reverent, surrendered obedience. |
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