Joshua 5:13–15: What evidence supports a divine “commander” appearing to Joshua, and how does this align with other biblical accounts of angelic encounters?

Historical and Textual Setting

Joshua 5:13–15 states:

“Now when Joshua was near Jericho, he looked up and saw a man standing in front of him with a drawn sword in his hand. Joshua approached him and asked, ‘Are you for us or for our enemies?’ ‘Neither,’ he replied. ‘I have now come as commander of the LORD’s army.’ Then Joshua fell facedown in reverence and asked him, ‘What does my Lord have to say to His servant?’ 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.”

In the broader narrative, Israel has crossed the Jordan River and awaits instruction for the conquest of Jericho. The sudden appearance of a “commander of the LORD’s army” leads to one of Scripture’s most significant pre-battle encounters. This account, placed just before the miraculous defeat of Jericho (Joshua 6), highlights an otherworldly figure who proclaims himself as the commander of the heavenly armies. Various evidences—such as his acceptance of reverence, the sanctity of the ground, and alignment with previous biblical “divine messenger” appearances—support the conclusion that this figure is no mere mortal.

Evidence from the Immediate Context: Reactions and Speech

1. Joshua’s Worshipful Response

Joshua instantly falls facedown before this figure in reverence (v. 14). Typically, in Scripture, faithful leaders refuse worship when they are not divine (Acts 14:13–15; Revelation 19:10). When true angels appear to humans and receive undue worship, they often correct the person (Revelation 22:8–9). However, the commander here does not forbid Joshua’s act of reverence. This acceptance of worship distinguishes a divine or God-representative appearance from a typical human or even regular angelic figure.

2. Holy Ground Declaration

The command to remove sandals closely echoes Exodus 3:5, where God speaks from the burning bush and declares the ground “holy.” The same language used in Joshua 5:15 links this presence to that of God. This consistent recognition of sacred space indicates a divine manifestation, commonly referred to by many interpreters as a theophany or Christophany (a pre-incarnate appearance of Christ).

3. Direct Commissioning Role

The “commander of the LORD’s army” does not merely bring a message but asserts an authoritative role in the upcoming battle. The figure’s alignment is with God’s plan, not solely with Israel or their enemies. This role as divine commander parallels other Old Testament accounts (e.g., Exodus 14:19 and 23:20–23) where the “angel of the LORD” goes before Israel in military operations, signifying God’s direct involvement.

Comparison with Other Angelic or Divine Appearances

1. Exodus 3:2–6 – The Angel of the LORD in the Burning Bush

The angel of the LORD appears to Moses, speaks as God, and Moses is instructed to remove his sandals. Here, the angel’s message and God’s voice merge: “I am the God of your father…” (Exodus 3:6). The same merging of identity is observed in Joshua’s encounter, suggesting a divine figure rather than a created being who is merely delivering a message.

2. Judges 6:11–24 – The Angel of the LORD to Gideon

Gideon experiences the “angel of the LORD,” who later is referenced as speaking for God in the first person (v. 14). After recognizing that he has seen the angel of the LORD, Gideon fears death, consistent with the belief that seeing God face-to-face would be lethal. In both Gideon’s and Joshua’s encounters, the figure carries authority and blurs the line between the messenger and God Himself.

3. 2 Kings 19:35 – Angelic Deliverance

An angel of the LORD destroys 185,000 Assyrian soldiers in a single night. While that passage shows the power of an angelic being, it also underscores the difference between a standard angel fulfilling a task and the “commander” who appears to Joshua—one who is uniquely associated with God’s direct presence and ultimate authority, akin to a bearing of divine prerogatives.

Accepting Worship as Evidence of Divine Identity

The acceptance of worship by this “commander” is a hallmark of biblical theophanies. In Scripture, faithful angels avoid being worshiped (Revelation 19:10; 22:8–9). The reverential posture Joshua assumes and the absence of rebuke (instead a pronouncement of holy ground) stand out as evidence that this figure is no ordinary angel. This is analogous to the “Angel of the LORD” references in Genesis 22:11–12, Exodus 3:2–6, and Judges 6:11–24, in which the messenger figure speaks directly as God, receiving the types of reverence only due to Him.

Linguistic and Manuscript Evidence

1. Consistent Terminology

The Hebrew text uses the phrase שַׂר־צְבָא־יְהוָה (sar-tzëvā-YHWH), commonly rendered “commander of the LORD’s army.” The consistent usage of “LORD” (YHWH) in combination with high authority underscores a role beyond a typical angelic soldier. Ancient manuscripts, whether Masoretic or represented in the Dead Sea Scrolls fragments, witness to the reliability of this phrase.

2. Early Transmission and Harmonization

Ancient Greek translations (Septuagint) align with the original Hebrew in naming this being an archēgos (ruler or commander) of the forces of the LORD. No significant textual variant alters the understanding that this figure holds uniquely divine authority and status.

Archaeological and Historical Corroboration

1. Jericho’s Location and the Timing of the Conquest

While debates remain about exact dating, excavations at Tell es-Sultan (commonly identified as Jericho) have unearthed evidence of massive city walls, which, according to some archaeologists like John Garstang, show signs of sudden collapse. Although scholarly opinions vary on precise chronology, these excavations lend general support to the biblical description of Jericho as a fortified city.

2. Presence of Divine Intervention in Israel’s History

Both biblical and extra-biblical historical sources highlight Israel’s unique identity as a people guided by their God (e.g., the Merneptah Stele references “Israel” in Canaan). While not all external records speak of angelic appearances, the consistency of the scriptural accounts—backed by manuscript reliability and partial archaeological discoveries—reinforces the biblical claim that God intervenes in extraordinary ways, including sending divine or angelic figures.

Alignment with New Testament Perspectives

1. Christ’s Authority and Pre-Incarnate Appearances

Some interpret the commander of the LORD’s army as a pre-incarnate manifestation of Christ, given the nature of receiving worship and the parallel with the “I AM” statements (see John 8:58). Although the New Testament does not directly reference this Joshua event, its affirmation of Christ’s eternal nature (John 1:1–3) and His eventual appearing to individuals in divinely authoritative forms (Revelation 1:12–18) aligns with this concept.

2. Worship of None but God Alone

The New Testament reaffirms that worship belongs exclusively to God (Matthew 4:10). At no point do genuine messengers of God voluntarily receive worship for themselves. The continuity of this principle from Old Testament to New Testament supports the conclusion that the “commander” who allows Joshua’s worship is divine.

Conclusion

Joshua’s encounter with the divine “commander of the LORD’s army” stands apart from ordinary angelic encounters by combining acceptance of reverence, a declaration of holy ground, and direct alignment with Yahweh’s sovereign plan. Other scriptural encounters where the “angel of the LORD” speaks as God, receives worship, or affirms divine authority share key elements with Joshua 5:13–15. These parallels suggest that Joshua meets not a mere messenger but a direct manifestation of God’s presence.

This conclusion is further supported by the careful consistency of ancient manuscripts, linguistic parallels to other theophany passages, and a broader biblical theology that upholds the holiness and uniqueness of divine visitations. From a historical vantage point, evidence from Jericho’s remains—though debated—generally complements the biblical narrative’s claim of miraculous intervention. Across Scripture, accounts of God (or His divine representative) meeting individuals at critical junctures consistently emphasize reverence, holiness, and the overarching truth that it is God Himself who leads His people to victory.