Charles Ellicott Commentary Joshua 5:13

"And it came to pass, when Joshua was by Jericho, that he lifted up his eyes and looked, and, behold, there stood a man over against him with his sword drawn in his hand: and Joshua went unto him, and said unto him, Art thou for us, or for our adversaries?" — Joshua 5:13 (ASV)

There stood a man opposite him with his sword drawn in his hand. —This should be compared with the vision which Moses saw at Horeb (Exodus 3), when the angel of Jehovah appeared to him in a flame of fire from the middle of a bush. The equality of the two visions is proved by the use of the same command on both occasions: Loose your shoe from your foot, for the place on which you stand is holy ground (Exodus 3:5; Joshua 5:15).

But the actual appearances must be contrasted. The bush burning with fire, but not consumed, presents to us the figure of suffering Israel in the furnace; and in all their affliction He was afflicted, and the angel of His presence saved them. The man with the drawn sword is the sign of victory. Jehovah no longer suffers with and in His people, but He stands forth to lead them with the drawn sword. Regarding this and earlier theophanies, see Excursus on Genesis 16.

Are you for us, or for our adversaries? (Joshua 5:13). And he said, No; but as captain of the host of the LORD I have now come (Joshua 5:14). —That is, Jehovah will take part in this conflict, not as an ally or an adversary, but as commander-in-chief. It is not Israel’s quarrel, for which they are to ask for divine assistance. It is the LORD’s own quarrel, and Israel and Joshua are only a division in His host. The wars of Israel in Canaan are always presented by the Old Testament as the wars of the LORD. It would be well to remember this aspect of the story.

The conquest of Canaan is too often treated as an enterprise of the Israelites, carried out with great cruelties, for which they claimed divine sanction. The Old Testament presents the matter in an entirely different light. The war is a divine enterprise, in which human instruments are employed, but in such a way as to be entirely subordinate to the divine will. Jehovah is not for Israel, nor for Israel’s foes. He fights for His own right hand, and Israel is only a fragment of His army.

The sun stood still. The stars in their courses fought against His foes. The treasures of the hail were opened, which He had reserved against the time of trouble, against the day of battle and war.