Neither is literally “No” (Revised Standard Version), an answer which is difficult to understand; does the “No” apply to the first part or to the second part of Joshua’s question?Instead of the Masoretic text loʾ “no,” some Hebrew manuscripts, Septuagint, and Syriac have lō “to him,” which New English Bible prefers. It hardly seems possible that the meaning is “I’m neither a friend nor a foe,” as New American Bible, Good News Translation interpret it.Soggin suggests that it may an emphatic, “Indeed!” and that it applies to the first part of Joshua’s question; but this isn’t of much help. It is inconceivable that the commander of the LORD’s army should have been on the side of Israel’s adversaries. But however difficult the answer Neither may be, it is the clear meaning of the Hebrew text and should be followed in translation. The Septuagint and some Hebrew manuscripts have “to him,” which sounds like “no” in Hebrew. However, this probably represents an attempt on the part of some scribes to resolve this difficulty.

I am here as the commander of the LORD’s army may perhaps be rendered more forcefully as two sentences: “I am the commander of the LORD’s army. And now I am here.” The noun commander may be shifted to a verb phrase: “I am the one who commands” or “I command.”

The Hebrew word for army is the same word which in the plural form is sometimes used with the divine name in the construction “Yahweh of armies” (the traditional translation in English being “the LORD of hosts”)

Joshua threw himself on the ground in worship is more literally rendered as “Joshua fell down before him, face to the ground.” The phrase in worship interprets for English readers the meaning of Joshua’s actions. In many cultures this act of prostrating himself on the ground would be easily understood, but for many modern readers of the western world its significance may be lost without making explicit the meaning of the action. But it may be that in worship implies too much. There are places in the Old Testament where the angel of the Lord is quickly identified as the Lord himself. But up to this point in the passage the person is not even explicitly referred to as an angel, but only as a man (verse 13). And it may be that even in verse 15 this person stands only as the representative of the Lord and not as the Lord himself. A more accurate rendering may therefore be “in awe,” or “in reverence,” or “with great respect.” One may translate “Joshua threw himself face down on the ground in order to show his respect for the man. Then he said….”

I am your servant may be translated “I am here to serve you” or “I will do whatever you command.” The question What do you want me to do? may be altered to a statement, “Tell me what you want me to do” or “Give a command, and I will obey it.”

Quoted with permission from Bratcher, Robert G. and Newman, Barclay M. A Handbook on Joshua. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1983. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .