Joshua 5:13 describes Joshua, the new leader of Israel, meeting a mysterious man with a drawn sword near the city of Jericho, and asking him directly whose side he is on. The verse shows Joshua approaching a frightening moment with a clear question rather than a blind assumption. The one asking is Joshua himself, Moses’ successor, and the one he addresses is a figure who has appeared to him unexpectedly on the edge of the battlefield.
When Joshua was by Jericho, he lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, a man stood in front of him with his sword drawn in his hand. Joshua went to him and said to him, “Are you for us, or for our enemies?”
Joshua 5:13 (WEB)
What Joshua 5:13 Means
The phrase “when Joshua was by Jericho” places us at the city that stood as the first major obstacle for Israel after crossing the Jordan River. Joshua “lifted up his eyes and looked,” which is the ordinary action of a commander scanning the horizon, and what he sees is a man standing before him with a sword already drawn. In everyday terms, a stranger is standing in the open, weapon ready, and Joshua has to decide quickly whether he is a friend or a threat.
The question “Are you for us, or for our enemies?” is the center of the verse. Joshua is not asking for a description of the man’s appearance or background. He wants to know where the man stands in the conflict that is about to unfold. The verse does not promise that God will always take Israel’s side in a simple way, and it does not tell us the answer yet. It shows a leader asking a serious, honest question about allegiance, which is itself a good model for anyone facing a conflict they did not start.
The Context of Joshua 5:13
The book of Joshua is traditionally attributed to Joshua himself, with later editing, and it tells the story of Israel’s entry into the land of Canaan after forty years of wilderness wandering. Its first audience would have been the Israelite people who were settling into the land and needed to understand that their conquest rested on God’s promise and presence. Just before this verse, the people celebrate Passover at Gilgal and the manna stops, marking a clear turn from dependence on daily bread from heaven to life in a land with its own harvest.
The verses that follow reveal who the man is: “the prince of the LORD’s army,” and Joshua is told to take off his shoes because the ground is holy. This changes how we read the question. The man’s answer, given in the verse after, is “No; but I have come now as commander of the LORD’s army,” which means that the question about sides is answered by a shift in perspective. The point is not simply whose army Israel is in, but that the Lord’s army is the one that matters most.
Key Phrases in Joshua 5:13
Joshua 1:9
Haven’t I commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Don’t be afraid. Don’t be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.”
(WEB)
This verse comes from God’s charge to Joshua at the start of his leadership, reminding him to be strong and courageous because the Lord is with him wherever he goes. It helps explain the confidence Joshua carries into the battle near Jericho, and it shows that his question about allegiance rests on a relationship with God already established.
Psalm 46:10
“Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations. I will be exalted in the earth.”
(WEB)
This psalm invites stillness in the face of turmoil and calls people to recognize God’s sovereignty over the nations. It complements Joshua 5:13 by encouraging a posture of trust and reverence when conflicts seem overwhelming, rather than rushing into action out of fear or pride.
A Short Prayer From Joshua 5:13
Lord, I come to you with questions I cannot answer on my own, and sometimes with conflicts where I am not sure whose side I should be on. Help me to be honest before you, to ask where your purposes lie instead of assuming my own plans are right. Give me the humility of Joshua, who was willing to ask a hard question, and the reverence to remove my shoes when I realize I am standing on holy ground. Guide my steps and my words today, and let my life be shaped by your presence rather than my pride. Amen.
