Joshua 8:13

8:13 The army was in position – the main army north of the city and the rear guard west of the city. That night Joshua went into ¹  the middle of the valley.

Joshua 5:13

Israel Conquers Jericho

5:13 When Joshua was near ²  Jericho, ³  he looked up and saw a man standing in front of him holding a drawn sword. ⁴  Joshua approached him and asked him, “Are you on our side or allied with our enemies?” ⁵ 

[8:13]  ¹ tn Some Hebrew mss read, “spent the night in.”

[5:13]  ² tn Heb “in.”

[5:13]  ³ map For location see Map5 B2; Map6 E1; Map7 E1; Map8 E3; Map10 A2; Map11 A1.

[5:13]  ⁴ tn Heb “he lifted up his eyes and looked. And look, a man was standing in front of him, and his sword was drawn in his hand.” The verb הִנֵּה (hinneh, “look”) invites the reader to view the scene through Joshua’s eyes. By calling the stranger “a man,” the author reflects Joshua’s perspective. The text shortly reveals his true identity (vv. 14-15).

[5:13]  ⁵ tn Heb “Are you for us or for our enemies?”