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?
When Joshua was near Jericho, he looked up and saw a man standing in front of him holding a drawn sword. Joshua went up to him and asked, 'Are you on our side, or are you with our enemies?'
Joshua encounters a mysterious armed man near Jericho and boldly asks whether he's a friend or enemy.
📚 Historical Context
In the book of Joshua, the Israelites had recently crossed the Jordan River into the Promised Land after their 40 years of wandering in the wilderness, marking the beginning of their conquest under Joshua's leadership. As they prepared to face the fortified city of Jericho, their first major obstacle, Joshua was scouting the area when he encountered a mysterious armed figure. This event highlights the theme of divine intervention in Israel's battles, as the figure is revealed to be the commander of the Lord's army.
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