5:14 No. The commander of the Lord’s army encourages Joshua, but He is not under Joshua’s command. God is bound neither to destroy all Canaanites nor to deliver all Israelites, as is powerfully illustrated in the subsequent chapters in the experiences of Rahab (6:25) and Achan (ch. 7). See note 6:17, 18.

commander of the army of the Lord. The commander is evidently an appearance of the pre-incarnate Son of God (1:5 and note; Gen. 16:7). The Divine Warrior and His army are prepared for war.