He said, “No; but I have come now as commander of the LORD’s army.” Joshua fell on his face to the earth, and worshiped, and asked him, “What does my lord say to his servant?”
ExplanationCommentary
Verse 14. Prince of the host of the Lord, and so forth S. Michael, who is called prince of the people of Israel. Daniel 10:21. Challoner.—Some of the Fathers explain it of the son of God. Orig. hom. 6. But Saint Augustine Calmet. D. xi. 13. S. Jerom in Gal. iii. and interpreters in general agree, that the person who here appeared to Josue, was the archangel Michael. He came, in the name of God, to assure Josue of success, as the angel had appeared to Moses in the burning bush, as if to denote the distress of the Hebrews, and to encourage Moses to undertake their liberation. Calmet.—Chal. “I am the angel sent by God.” In that character he is called the Lord. Bible.