JESUS IN THE BOOK OF JOSHUA

The clearest indication of Jesus in Joshua appears after Israel had crossed the Jordan River into the Promised Land and encamped on the Plains of Jericho, where they faced a great fortified city:

• When Joshua was by Jericho, he lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, a man was standing before him with his drawn sword in his hand. And Joshua went to him and said to him, “Are you for us, or for our adversaries?” And he said, “No; but I am the commander of the army of the LORD. Now I have come.” And Joshua fell on his face to the earth and worshiped and said to him, “What does my lord say to his servant?” And the commander of the LORD’s army said to Joshua, “Take off your sandals from your feet, for the place where you are standing is holy.” And Joshua did so. (Joshua 5:13-15)

Although this visitor is not identified as the “Angel of the Lord,” as He often is in the Pentateuch, it is clear that He is divine:

1. Joshua worshipped Him, and He received this worship without objecting.
2. Joshua had been instructed to take off His sandals because the presence of God made this place holy.
3. The next two verses reveal that Joshua had been talking with Yahweh:

• Now Jericho was shut up inside and outside because of the people of Israel. None went out, and none came in. And the LORD [“Yahweh”] said to Joshua, “See, I have given Jericho into your hand, with its king and mighty men of valor. (Joshua 6:1-2)

The “Commander of the LORD’s army” is here referred to as “Yahweh.” This indicates that He is both God and as the “Commander of the LORD’s army,” He is also distinct from “Yahweh.” This gives us a glimpse of the NT doctrine of the Trinity, which we had been observing in the Pentateuch and will again observe in the next book of the Bible – Judges.