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The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

Joshua 5:13,14

JOSHUA—NOTE ON Joshua 5:13 a man was standing before him. Joshua seems to wonder if this man is an Israelite or an enemy solider. The commander of the army of the LORD answers “No,” that is, “Neither.” Joshua’s reaction to the man shows that Joshua believes this being possesses divine authority. The expression with his drawn sword in his hand appears in Numbers 22:23, Numbers 22:31 and 1 Chronicles 21:16, where it refers to the angel of the Lord. The “army of the LORD” is the force God commands when judging (Isaiah 13:4) or protecting (1 Kings 22:19). Worshiped could be translated “bowed down.” Joshua possibly believed he was in God’s presence. In Exodus 23:20 God promises his angel to guide Israel to victory.

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See also Joshua 5:13,14 in other biblical comments:

  • Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

    Verse Joshua 5:13. _WHEN JOSHUA WAS BY JERICHO_] The sixth chapter should have commenced here, as this is an entirely new relation; or these two chapters should have made but one, as the present divi...

  • Albert Barnes' Bible Commentary

    A MAN - See Genesis 12:7, note; Genesis 18:2, note. The appearance was that of God manifested in the Person of His Word. Hence, the command of Joshua 5:15. That the appearance was not in a vision mere...

  • Annotated Bible by A.C. Gaebelein

    5. AT GILGAL CHAPTER 5 _ 1. The terrified enemies (Joshua 5:1)_ 2. Circumcision commanded and executed (Joshua 5:2) 3. The Passover kept (Joshua 5:10) 4. The old corn of the land ...

  • Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible

    JOSHUA 5:13 TO JOSHUA 6:27. THE CAPTURE OF JERICHO. The narrative begins at Joshua 5:13; Joshua 6:1 is an insertion (observe that RV places it in brackets), so that

  • Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes

    WHEN. Between 16th and 21st Abib. A MAN. Hebrew. _'ish._ App-14....

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    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...

  • Charles Simeon's Horae Homileticae

    DISCOURSE: 247 CHRIST THE CAPTAIN OF THE LORD’S HOST Joshua 5:13. 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 wi...

  • Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

    _VER._ 13. _AND IT CAME TO PASS, WHEN JOSHUA WAS BY JERICHO_— The solemnities of the passover being ended, and Joshua being come nigh to Jericho to reconnoitre the city, and judge of the dispositions...

  • College Press Bible Study Textbook Series

    _The Appearance of the Captain of the Lord's Host Joshua 5:13-15_ 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...

  • Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

    _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,...

  • Darby's translation notes (1890)

    5:13 for (e-45) for (e-48) Or 'with.'...

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    A MAN] clearly, as elsewhere in Holy Scripture (cp. e.g. Genesis 18:2; Genesis 32:24; Daniel 9:21; Zechariah 1:8;...

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    RENEWAL OF CIRCUMCISION AND CELEBRATION OF THE PASSOVER The two incidents recorded in Joshua 5:2;—Circumcision and the Passover—represent the final stage in the preparation of the people for the Holy...

  • EasyEnglish Bible Commentaries

    COME IN, AND RECEIVE GOD’S PROMISES! JOSHUA _BRIAN ROWLANDS_ Maps to help you to study this book are on the Internet at www.easyenglish.info. CHAPTER 5 *CIRCUMCISION AND *PASSOVER – JOSHUA 5:1-...

  • Ellicott's Commentary On The Whole Bible

    THE CONQUEST OF CANAAN. (13) At this point commences the second great division of the book. The Passage of Jordan was the great event of the first portion; and for that Joshua received special direct...

  • ETCBC data on Hebrew bible

    וַ יְהִ֗י בִּֽ הְיֹ֣ות יְהֹושֻׁעַ֮ בִּ ירִיחֹ

  • Expositor's Bible Commentary (Nicoll)

    CHAPTER XI. THE CAPTAIN OF THE LORD'S HOST. Joshua 5:13; Joshua 6:1. THE process of circumcision is over, and the men are well; the feast of unleavened bread has come to an end; all honour has been...

  • Frederick Brotherton Meyer's Commentary

    THE COMMANDER AND HIS PLAN OF CAMPAIGN Joshua 5:13; Joshua 6:1 When the heart is perfect with God we may count on His presence and help. It is to the separated and obedient servant that the vision of...

  • G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible

    The effect on the people of this crossing of the Jordan is revealed in the words, "Their heart melted, neither was there any spirit in them any more." Therefore time must again be taken for matters di...

  • Gary Hampton Commentaries

    Five events of interest are recorded in Joshua 5:1-15. First, we learn that the kings of the Canaanites by the sea lost heart when they learned how the Lord had caused Israel to pass through Jordan on...

  • George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary

    _Adversaries? Dost thou bear arms for or against us? (Calmet)_...

  • Hawker's Poor man's commentary

    I bring the whole of these verses into one view because they are connected. And I desire the Reader to attend to the very precious things contained in them. A more interesting portion, perhaps, in ref...

  • Introductory Lectures - Commentary by William Kelly

    The passing of the Jordan was a wondrous and significant event; but it was not everything. It sank deep into the consciences of the Canaanites on all sides; but there was more that was needed, and mor...

  • James Nisbet's Church Pulpit Commentary

    _THE CAPTAIN OF THE LORD’S HOST_ ‘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 h...

  • James Nisbet's Church Pulpit Commentary

    _FOR OR AGAINST?_ ‘Art thou for us, or for our adversaries?’ Joshua 5:13 I. THE FAITHFUL FIGHTER. (_a_) _ Called_, or ordained (Numbers 27:18), as we are by Baptism, or Confirmation. (_b_) _ Inst...

  • John Calvin's Bible Commentary

    13._And it came to pass when Joshua, etc _Here we have the narrative of a remarkable vision, by which Joshua was greatly encouraged and emboldened. For though he was strenuously discharging his office...

  • John Darby's Synopsis

    The power of resurrection-life takes all strength from Satan: "He who is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not." In our earthly life, the flesh being in us, we are expo...

  • John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible

    AND IT CAME TO PASS, WHEN JOSHUA WAS BY JERICHO,.... Or "in Jericho" i; not in the city itself, but in the border of it, as Kimchi and Ben Melech; or on the side of it, as Jarchi; on one side of which...

  • John Trapp Complete Commentary

    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...

  • Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    _When Joshua was by Jericho_ Hebrew, _in Jericho;_ that is, in the territory adjoining to it; whither he went to view those parts, and discern the fittest places for his attempt upon Jericho. _A man_...

  • KJV Original Language Details

    1 The Canaanites are afraid. 2 Ioshua renueth Circumcision. 10 The Passeouer is kept at Gilgal. 12 Manna ceaseth. 13 An Angel appeareth to Ioshua. 1 AND it came to passe when all the Kings of the...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    And it came to pass, when Joshua was by Jericho, while the children of Israel were in camp at Gilgal, Joshua, apparently, being engaged in deep meditation and prayer to Jehovah, THAT HE LIFTED UP HIS...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    THE PASSOVER CELEBRATED...

  • Leslie M. Grant's Commentary on the Bible

    CIRCUMCISION IN GILGAL (vs.1-9) The miraculous crossing of the Jordan awakened great fear in the hearts of the Canaanitish people, so that their hearts melted (v.1). This was God's work. It was He w...

  • Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible

    13-15 We read not of any appearance of God's glory to Joshua till now. There appeared to him one as a man to be noticed. This Man was the Son of God, the eternal Word. Joshua gave him Divine honours:...

  • Matthew Poole's Concise Commentary On The Bible

    BY JERICHO, Heb. _in Jericho_, i.e. in the country or territory adjoining to Jericho, whither he went to view those parts, and discern the fittest places for his attempt upon Jericho, as generals usua...

  • Patchworkid's Personal Study Bible Notes

    Joshua 5:13 Joshua H3091 Jericho H3405 lifted H5375 (H8799) eyes H5869 looked H7200 (H8799) Man H376 stood...

  • Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

    ‘ And so it was that when Joshua was by Jericho, he lifted up his eyes and looked, and, behold, there stood a man opposite him, with his sword drawn in his hand, and Joshua went to him, and said to hi...

  • Sermon Bible Commentary

    Joshua 5:13 I. There is a lesson here, not inappropriate to the present times, in the fact that Christ appeared to Joshua as a "man of war." Would that image have been used, would Christ have assumed...

  • Summarized Bible Commentary

    CONTENTS: Reproach of Egypt rolled away. New food for the new place. The unseen captain. CHARACTERS: God, Joshua, Christ. CONCLUSION: (Circumcision, the seal of the covenant in their flesh, was negl...

  • Sutcliffe's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    Joshua 5:1. _The Amorites on the side of Jordan westward._ This agrees with Numbers 13:29. The Amorites dwell in the mountains. Joshua 5:2. _Make thee sharp knives._ Whet them, if of steel; but often...

  • The Biblical Illustrator

    _Nay; but as Captain of the host of the Lord._ THE WARRIOR CHRISTIAN I. The special significance of this vision to Joshua. “The Lord’s host” does not primarily allude to those Israelite armies encamp...

  • The Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary

    CRITICAL NOTES.— Joshua 5:13. By Jericho] Lit., _in_ Jericho. Ewald gives the meaning, “the immediate neighbourhood, the closest connection with another thing, and, as it were, the act of entering int...

  • The Pulpit Commentaries

    EXPOSITION JOSHUA 5:13 WHEN JOSHUA WAS BY JERICHO. The preposition בְּ, the principal meaning of which is _"in" _signifies here "in the immediate neighbourhood of," as in 1 Samuel 29:1 (where, howeve...

  • Through The Bible C2000 Serie by Chuck Smith

    Now in chapter five we read where all of the adult males were at this point circumcised. It was a rite that they did not follow while they were in the wilderness. So that those who were born in the wi...

  • Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

    1 Chronicles 12:17; 1 Chronicles 12:18; 1 Chronicles 21:16; 1 Chronicles 21:17;...

  • Wesley's Explanatory Notes

    By Jericho — Heb. In Jericho, that is, in the territory adjoining to it; whither he went to view those parts, and discern the fittest places for his attempt upon Jericho. A man — One in the appearance...

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