John Calvin Commentary Joshua 5:14

"And he said, Nay; but [as] prince of the host of Jehovah am I now come. And Joshua fell on his face to the earth, and did worship, and said unto him, What saith my lord unto his servant?" — Joshua 5:14 (ASV)

And he said, Nay; but as captain, etc. Although the denial applies equally to both parts of the question—namely, that he was neither an Israelite nor a Canaanite, and was thus equivalent to a denial of his being a mortal man—it seems more properly applicable to the second part, where Joshua asked if he were one of the enemy. This, however, is a matter of little importance; the essential thing is to understand that he had come to preside over the chosen people, whom he honorably calls the Lord’s host. In his representing himself as different from God, a personal distinction is indicated, but unity of essence is not destroyed.

We have said that in the books of Moses the name of Jehovah is often attributed to the presiding Angel, who was undoubtedly the only-begotten Son of God. He is indeed very God, and yet in the person of Mediator, by dispensation, he is inferior to God. I willingly receive what ancient writers teach on this subject: that when Christ appeared in human form in ancient times, it was a prelude to the mystery that was afterwards revealed when God was manifested in the flesh.

We must be careful, however, not to imagine that Christ became incarnate at that time, since, first, we do not read anywhere that God sent his Son in the flesh before the fullness of the times; and, secondly, Christ, insofar as he was a man, needed to be the Son of David. But as is said in Ezekiel (Ezekiel 1), it was only a likeness of man. Whether it was a substantial body or an outward form, it is unnecessary to discuss, as it seems wrong to insist on any particular view of the subject.

The only remaining question is how the Captain of the Lord’s host can speak of having now come, since he had not deserted the people committed to his trust and had recently given an unparalleled display of his presence in the passage of the Jordan. But according to the common usage of Scripture, God is said to come to us when we are actually made to perceive his assistance, which can seem distant when not manifested by experience. It is therefore just as if he were offering his assistance in the battles that were about to be fought, and promising by his arrival that the war would have a successful outcome.

It cannot be inferred with certainty from the worship Joshua offered whether he paid divine honor to Christ, distinctly recognized as such. However, by asking, What command does my Lord give to his servant? he attributes to him a power and authority that belong to God alone.