יהושע, פרק ה׳, פסוק ט״ו

A miraculous encounter between the leader of the Israelites and a heavenly messenger marks a profound shift in leadership and divine communication as the nation enters their new land. The figure appearing to Joshua is the angel Michael, the guardian appointed over the Israelites, who are considered God's army [רש"י]. He instructs Joshua to remove his shoe [מצודת ציון, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. The immediate reason provided for this command is the inherent holiness of the location, making it proper to stand barefoot [מצודת דוד].

Beyond a practical display of respect, removing the shoe carries deep spiritual significance. It serves as a call for Joshua to strip away his physical and material limitations. By doing so, he prepares himself to become a worthy vessel for the prophetic vision and the word of God about to be revealed [מלבי"ם]. At the same time, this angelic encounter highlights a clear distinction between Joshua's spiritual standing and that of his teacher, Moses. Joshua relies on an angel as an intermediary, whereas Moses reached a level where he neither wanted nor needed any messenger to receive his prophecies or perform his miracles [מלבי"ם].

Alongside the holiness of the ground, an additional perspective suggests that the command to remove the shoe contains a hidden layer related to mourning. Following the recent cessation of the heavenly manna, Joshua is told to remove his shoe as a sign of sadness over a shift in the Torah, which was originally given specifically to those sustained by the manna. However, this raises a complication, as the angelic visit occurs on the Sabbath, a day when public mourning is strictly forbidden. The solution lies in the dual nature of the command. The angel deliberately provides the public justification of the location's holiness so that Joshua can remove his shoe without appearing to violate Sabbath laws. Meanwhile, the inner, hidden reason for the act remains a private expression of mourning over the departure of the manna [חנוכת התורה].