Now when Joshua was near Jericho, he looked up and saw a man
Standing in front of him with a drawn sword in his hand
Joshua went up to him and asked
Are you for us or for our enemies?

Neither, he replied: But as commander of the army of the Lord I have now come
Then Joshua fell facedown to the ground in reverence, and asked him
What message does my Lord have for his servant?

The commander of the Lord’s army replied
Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy
And Joshua did so