This research paper by Trip Smith, submitted to Dr. William Ross for OT5200 – Joshua to Esther at Reformed Theological Seminary – Charlotte, examines Joshua 5:13–6:5 as a unified narrative that bridges Israel’s consecration and its conquest of Jericho. Smith argues that Joshua’s encounter with the mysterious “commander of the Lord’s army” is not a separate episode but a continuation into chapter 6, portraying the Lord’s direct commissioning of Joshua as Israel’s divinely ordained leader. The passage, he contends, parallels Moses’ encounter at the burning bush, establishing Joshua as his legitimate successor.
Through close textual analysis of the Hebrew narrative, Smith identifies thematic and linguistic links between the two accounts—especially the command to remove sandals on holy ground—and demonstrates that the Commander’s identity aligns with the “angel of the Lord,” a recurring theophanic figure in the Old Testament. He further argues that this encounter functions theologically to affirm Yahweh’s sovereignty, the continuity of covenant leadership, and Israel’s dependence on divine command rather than military might.
Smith concludes that Joshua’s meeting with the divine warrior underscores the central themes of the book—Yahweh, leadership, law, and land—by showing that victory comes through obedience and divine presence. The figure of the Commander, both distinct from and identified with the Lord, points forward to the ultimate leader who fulfills the divine mission perfectly.
Course and semester: OT5200 Joshua to Esther — Spring 2020
