Single lesson
Joshua Meets the Commander of the Lord's Army
Joshua 5:13–15
This lesson helps children follow a brief meeting in Joshua 5:13–15. They will notice what Joshua saw, what he asked, how the commander answered, and what Joshua did next.
Before you teach
In these verses, Joshua is by Jericho when he sees a man standing in front of him with a drawn sword. Joshua asks whether the man is for them or for their enemies. The man says he has come as commander of Yahweh’s army. Joshua falls to the ground, worships, asks what his lord would say to his servant, and is told to remove his sandals because the place is holy.
Students will be able to retell the account in order and identify Joshua’s responses of asking, falling on his face, worshipping, asking what his lord would say, and obeying.
Welcome: Notice the first details
5 minTell the children they will hear a very short passage and need to spot the first things Joshua notices. Read Joshua 5:13 aloud. Ask them to listen for place, person, and object. Then list the details in order: Joshua was by Jericho, he saw a man standing in front of him, and the man had a drawn sword in his hand.
Joshua 5:13
Read and explain: Joshua asks a direct question
7 minRead Joshua 5:13 again, then Joshua 5:14. Joshua walks up to the man and asks, “Are you for us, or for our enemies?” Help children see that Joshua speaks directly and the reply is unexpected. The answer does not choose either of Joshua’s two options and instead identifies the speaker as commander of Yahweh’s army.
Joshua 5:13, Joshua 5:14
Discuss: Joshua’s response to the answer
6 minFocus on Joshua 5:14. After hearing who the speaker is, Joshua falls on his face to the earth and worships. Then he asks, “What does my lord say to his servant?” Invite children to name each response from the verse itself. This keeps the discussion close to the words that are actually written.
Joshua 5:14
Make and respond: Three-step sequence cards
8 minChildren make three simple picture cards for the events in order. Card 1 shows Joshua seeing the man with the drawn sword. Card 2 shows Joshua on his face before the commander. Card 3 shows Joshua removing his sandals. After drawing, children place the cards in order and retell the account using words from the verses.
Joshua 5:13, Joshua 5:14, Joshua 5:15
Closing: The command and Joshua’s obedience
4 minRead Joshua 5:15 slowly. Point out exactly what the commander said: “Take off your sandals, for the place on which you stand is holy.” Then notice the final words: “Joshua did so.” Finish by reviewing the whole passage in order and asking children to name one response of Joshua that the text records.
Joshua 5:15, Joshua 5:14
Questions to explore
What did Joshua notice about the man before he spoke to him?
Look at the details in the verse: Joshua saw a man standing in front of him with a sword drawn in his hand.
Joshua 5:13
How did the commander answer Joshua’s question about sides?
The answer begins with “No,” and then the speaker says he has come as commander of Yahweh’s army.
Joshua 5:14
What did Joshua do when he was told the place was holy?
Read the end of the verse carefully. Joshua was told to take off his sandals, and the text says he did so.
Joshua 5:15
Make, think or respond
Joshua Sequence Cards
What you’ll need
- paper or card
- pencils or crayons
- Bible
Try it together
- Read Joshua 5:13–15 aloud once.
- Help children divide a page into three boxes or use three separate cards.
- In box 1, draw Joshua seeing the man with the drawn sword. In box 2, draw Joshua falling to the ground. In box 3, draw Joshua removing his sandals.
- Place the pictures in order and let children retell the account from the verses.
- Finish by asking which action in the story shows Joshua obeyed the command in Joshua 5:15.
The cards help children sequence Joshua 5:13–15 and notice Joshua’s responses in the order the passage gives them.
Adapt for your group
- For younger children, give the three scenes one at a time and let them point to picture prompts for see, bow, and remove sandals, without asking them to take shoes off in class.
- For older children, ask them to add one key phrase from each verse to their cards so they connect the sequence to the exact wording of the passage.
An optional closing prayer
You could pray: “Lord God, thank you for your word. Please help us pay careful attention to what it says and respond to you with respect and obedience.”
Read the Bible passage World English Bible Classic
Joshua 5
13 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?”
14 He said, “No; but I have come now as commander of Yahweh’s army.” Joshua fell on his face to the earth, and worshiped, and asked him, “What does my lord say to his servant?”
15 The prince of Yahweh’s army said to Joshua, “Take off your sandals, for the place on which you stand is holy.” Joshua did so.
World English Bible Classic. Public domain.