The Angel of Joshua 5:13-15

FR. CHARLES GRONDIN

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QUESTION:
WHO IS THE ANGEL OF JOSHUA 5:13-15? I THOUGHT IS WAS JESUS
AT FIRST, BECAUSE JOSHUA FALLS DOWN TO WORSHIP, BUT IN KARL
KEATING’S BOOK "CATHOLICISM AND FUNDAMENTALISM" HE GIVES
JOSHUA 5:14 AS AN EXAMPLE OF VENERATION GIVEN TO ANGELS.
ANSWER:
WHILE JOSHUA WAS NEAR JERICHO, HE RAISED HIS EYES AND
SAW ONE WHO STOOD FACING HIM, DRAWN SWORD IN
HAND.JOSHUA WENT UP TO HIM AND ASKED, “ARE YOU ONE OF
US OR ONE OF OUR ENEMIES?” HE REPLIED, “NEITHER. I AM THE
COMMANDER OF THE ARMY OF THE LORD: NOW I HAVE COME.”
THEN JOSHUA FELL DOWN TO THE GROUND IN WORSHIP, AND
SAID TO HIM, “WHAT HAS MY LORD TO SAY TO HIS
SERVANT?” THE COMMANDER OF THE ARMY OF THE LORD
REPLIED TO JOSHUA, “REMOVE YOUR SANDALS FROM YOUR FEET,
FOR THE PLACE ON WHICH YOU ARE STANDING IS HOLY.”AND
JOSHUA DID SO. (JOS 5:13-16)
WHO IS THIS “COMMANDER OF THE ARMY OF THE LORD” IS AN OPEN
QUESTION.  SOME HAVE CLAIMED IT IS ST. MICHAEL THE
ARCHANGEL AND OTHERS HAVE CLAIMED IT IS THE LORD HIMSELF.
THE IDENTIFICATION IS UNIQUE BECAUSE ELSEWHERE IN THE
SCRIPTURES THE ONE GIVING THE MESSAGE IDENTIFIES HIMSELF AS
EITHER A MESSENGER OF THE LORD OR AS THE LORD HIMSELF, IN
THIS CASE IT IS RATHER AMBIGUOUS.