When the Canaanites heard how the Israelites had crossed the Jordan, they
were afraid and shut themselves up in their city, Jericho. The Israelites
had to find some way to break into the city. One day when Joshua was
walking near the wall of Jericho, he saw a man with a drawn sword in his
hand. He at once asked the man whether he was a friend or an enemy. The
man answered: “As captain of the host of the Lord am I now come.” Then
Joshua knew it was an angel and fell down and worshiped him. The angel
said: “Loose thy shoe from off thy foot, for the place whereon thou
standest is holy.” Joshua did so.
[Illustration: THE CAPTAIN OF THE LORD’S HOST.]