The Captain of the Lord's Army

Click here to read Joshua 5.

Chapter 5 deals with their first days in the Promise Land. Great changes took place in their lives.

For 40 years the people had eaten "manna". In this chapter, the manna ceases and the people eat corn and other produce of the land.
The other nations no longer consider them to be a disorganized bunch of wanderers. With the parting of the waters of Jordan, the nations of Canaan grew "faint of heart" and their spirit to resist the Israelites was gone.
The statutes and feasts took on new meaning. The rite of circumcision was renewed and the Feast of the Passover was celebrated.

The chapter ends with the "Captain of the Lord's Army" appearing to Joshua. Joshua took off his shoes for the ground were he stood was Holy Ground.
The Captain of the Lord's Army, who was he? In Genesis Chapter 32, Jacob was on his way home from Haran. He had been in Haran about 20 years where he had obtained two wives. Jacob left Haran without telling his father-in-law Laban, and when Laban hears about, he takes off after Jacob. He catches up with him in the hill country of Gilead. After some haggling, they resolve their differences and Laban goes home and Jacob continues on his journey. Chapter 32:1 & 2 says, "Jacob went on his way and the Angels of God met him." When Jacob saw them he said, "This is God's Army." (Guardian Angels) Now we have here in Chapter 5 of Joshua, the "Commander" or "Captain" of God's Army. So, who was he? In Genesis, Jacob recognized the Angels as being the Lord's Army. Here, we have a host of Angels under the leadership of a "Commander". Most scholars believe He was the Christ, He was to be Joshua's "salvation" just as He is ours.

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