Joshua 5:14

Captain of the host of the Lord -i. e. of the angelic host, the host of heaven (compare1 Kings 22:19;1 Samuel 1:3, etc.). The armed people of Israel are never called “the host of the Lord,” though once spoken of inExodus 12:41as “all the hosts of the Lord.” The Divine Person intimates that He, the Prince (see the marginal references) of the Angels had come to lead Israel in the coming strife, and to overthrow by heavenly might the armies and the strongholds of God’s and Israel’s enemies. Accordingly, the capture of Jericho and the destruction of the Canaanites generally form a fit type of a grander and more complete conquest and excision of the powers of evil which yet waits accomplishment.