God’s Angel to Prepare the Way

²⁰ “See, I am sending an angel^(A) ahead of you to guard you along the way and to bring you to the place I have prepared.^(B)

¹⁹ Then the angel of God,^(A) who had been traveling in front of Israel’s army, withdrew and went behind them. The pillar of cloud^(B) also moved from in front and stood behind^(C) them,

² I will send an angel^(A) before you and drive out the Canaanites, Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites.^(B)

¹⁴ The Lord replied, “My Presence^(A) will go with you, and I will give you rest.”^(B)

The Fall of Jericho

¹³ Now when Joshua was near Jericho, he looked up and saw a man^(A) standing in front of him with a drawn sword^(B) in his hand. Joshua went up to him and asked, “Are you for us or for our enemies?”

¹⁴ “Neither,” he replied, “but as commander of the army of the Lord I have now come.” Then Joshua fell facedown^(C) to the ground^(D) in reverence, and asked him, “What message does my Lord^[a] have for his servant?”

² Then the Lord said to Joshua, “See, I have delivered^(A) Jericho into your hands, along with its king and its fighting men.