And the captain of the LORD’s host said unto Joshua, Loose thy shoe from off thy foot; for the place whereon thou standest is holy. And Joshua did so.
God sanctifies a place by His presence alone, not by anything inherent in the ground itself. The shoe-removal is no act of worship in itself, but a ceremony that helps weak men stir themselves to reverence when He appears. Canaan, chosen as His dwelling and the seat of pure worship, is exalted above all other lands by this command.
AI summary
After Joshua had kept the great ordinances faithfully, God revealed His glory to him, for God reveals Himself to those diligent in duty and sincere in worship. Joshua stood alone by Jericho, meditating perhaps on how to assault the city, when his Generalissimo came to direct him.
AI summary
Commenting on Joshua 5:13-15
Joshua obeyed literally, as Moses had done at Horeb. The ground became holy only because this Person stood there; once He departed, it was ordinary earth again. His obedience in loosing his shoe proved his readiness and alacrity to serve under the Captain of the Lord's host.
AI summary