KJV ORIGINAL
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?
Close to the original. Clear modern English.
✦ MADE SIMPLE
And he said, 'No; I have come as the commander of the LORD's army.' Then Joshua fell face down on the ground and worshiped him, saying, 'What does my lord want to tell his servant?'
⚡ THE BOTTOM LINE
The mysterious figure reveals he is the commander of God's army, and Joshua immediately falls down in worship, ready to receive divine instructions.
📚 Historical Context
This occurs just before the battle of Jericho, when Joshua encounters a man with a drawn sword near the city. When Joshua asks if he's friend or foe, the figure reveals his divine identity as commander of the LORD's heavenly army. This divine encounter parallels Moses' burning bush experience, confirming Joshua's leadership role.
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