The Captain of God
By Harisankar
@Harisankar (59)
India
January 20, 2009 11:40am CST
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? And he said, Nay; but as captain of the host of the LORD 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? And the captain of the LORD's host said unto Joshua, Loose thy shoe from off thy foot; for the place whereon thou standest is holy. And Joshua did so.
Who was this Captain of the host of the Lord?
1 response
@1hopefulman (45123)
• Canada
21 Jan 09
Doing some research on the verse, I see that not all transalations use the word "captain", for example:
Joshua 5:13-15 (New International Version)
14 "Neither," he replied, "but as commander of the army of the LORD I have now come." Then Joshua fell facedown to the ground in reverence, and asked him, "What message does my Lord [a] have for his servant?"
Joshua 5:13-15 (Young's Literal Translation)
14And He saith, `No, for I [am] Prince of Jehovah's host; now I have come;' and Joshua falleth on his face to the earth, and doth obeisance, and saith to Him, `What is my Lord speaking unto His servant?'
In all probability, it was one of God's angels that serves as a leader of God's army of angels. So it could even be Jesus Christ in his role and position in heaven.
@shivram123 (656)
• India
21 Jan 09
He was holier than a mere angel, since Joshua worshipped him and did not receive the same rebuke St. John recieved from an angel he tried to worship in Revelation 19:10, "See thou do it not: I am thy fellowservant,and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy."At the same time he was not the Lord of Hosts Himself, for what sovereign calls himself his own subordinate officer?
Jesus, however, accepted the worship of his followers, yet put himself in submission to the authority of his own heavenly Father.Call this short theophany (manifestation of deity) at the battle of Jericho a dry run by the preincarnate Christ for the ultimate theophany, when the eternal Word became flesh not by putting on a body like you put on a suit, but in the words of Harry Chapin, "My child arrived just the other day/He came into the world in the usual way."
so i think its not jesus or a angel who was the captain,then who may be tht??
@1hopefulman (45123)
• Canada
22 Jan 09
Sorry, but I will stand my ground:
Joshua 5:14 (New International Version) "Then Joshua fell facedown to the ground in reverence'
Joshua 5:14 (Young's Literal Translation) "Joshua falleth on his face to the earth, and doth obeisance,"
Joshua 5:14 (New American Standard Bible) "And Joshua (A)fell on his face to the earth, and bowed down,"
Here are three different translations that translate the word translated as "worship" differently. Joshua merely showed respect which was proper. He did not do an act of worship which would have been corrected as in the situation you state. Please do a little more research on that word and come back with what you find. I appreciate your comment and input.
