Joshua 5:15

15 The commander of the LORD's army said to Joshua, "Take off your sandals because this place where you are standing is holy." So Joshua did as he was told.

Joshua 5:15 Meaning and Commentary

Joshua 5:15

And the Captain of the Lord's host said unto Joshua
As a trial and proof of his obedience to him:

loose thy shoe from off thy foot;
which is to be understood literally, as when the like was commanded Moses at Horeb, ( Exodus 3:5 ) ; though some interpret it figuratively; as Abarbinel,

``remove from thee such thoughts that thou shall take this city by strength:''

for the place whereon thou standest [is] holy;
because of the presence of this Person, and as long as he was there, though afterwards was as another place; the Jewish commentator, last mentioned, thinks this intimates that the city, and all in it (and all round about it), should be "cherem", devoted, and so be holy to the Lord:

and Joshua did so;
loosed his shoe from his foot, in obedience to the Captain of the Lord's host, thereby giving proof of his readiness, willingness, and alacrity to serve under him.

Joshua 5:15 In-Context

13 When Joshua was near Jericho, he looked up and saw a man standing in front of him with a sword in his hand. Joshua went up to him and asked, "Are you one of us or one of our enemies?"

14 He answered, "Neither one! I am here as the commander of the LORD's army." Immediately, Joshua bowed with his face touching the ground and worshiped. He asked, "Sir, what do you want to tell me?"

15 The commander of the LORD's army said to Joshua, "Take off your sandals because this place where you are standing is holy." So Joshua did as he was told.