Joshua 5:13-15

Joshua 6:1-5. Appearance of the Prince of the Host of Jehovah

13. when Joshua was by Jericho having as yet received no special instructions as to the mode in which he was to attack Jericho, though the people, whom he led, were altogether untrained for such a work,

he lift up his eyes and looked Compare the expression used in Genesis 18:2 of Abraham as "he sat in the tent door in the heat of the day" under the terebinth of Mamre, and "he lift up his eyesand looked and lo."

a man Some have supposed He was a created being, others, with far greater reason, that He was none other than HE, Who had already "manifested Himself" to Abraham (Genesis 12:7; Genesis 18:2), and to Moses in the "Burning Bush" (Exodus 3:2; Exodus 3:6), "the Word of God," Who "alone hath ever declared" or revealed the Father (John 1:18).

with his sword drawn in his hand Compare the appearance of the Cherub at the Gate of Paradise (Genesis 3:24), and of the Angel who meets Balaam in the way (Numbers 22:31).

and Joshua went unto him This shews that the appearance was not a mere waking vision. Joshua goes up to the mysterious Warrior and addresses him.