Near the end of Slihot every night, the evocative piyut “Mi She’Ana” (“He Who Answered”) is recited. It recounts Biblical personalities whom God answered and helped in their times of crisis or distress, and turns to God to answer us as well.
“He Who Answered Yehoshua in the Gilgal…”
What prayer of Yehoshua’s to God is this referring to, and how did God respond?
Yehoshua found himself in a daunting situation. He was to be the successor to Moshe and the one to lead the people into the Land of Israel. This was not an easy ask, and Yehoshua was repeatedly told “Be strong and courageous.” Did he have the authority he required? Would the people believe in him? God had promised to be with Yehoshua as He was with Moshe. But Moshe would be a tough act to follow.
Yet God miraculously split the Jordan River as Yehoshua led the people across, in a symbolic echo of the Splitting of the Sea when Moshe led the people out of Egypt. In another demonstration of continuity, Yehoshua set up the 12 stones - reminiscent of the Covenant at Sinai, organized a mass Brit Mila, and conducted Pesach commemorations - the first Pesach in the Land of Israel.
Now in the Land, encamped at Gilgal, the People of Israel needed to prepare to fight against hostile surrounding nations, but those other nations’ resolve had melted in fear of Bnei Yisrael.
Yehoshua had done a lot, but could only wait with bated breath: would God be with him? Would he succeed in maintaining courage and strength?
As Yehoshua looked toward Jericho, the effective gateway to the Land, he saw a figure approaching. Yehoshua asked: “Are you for us or for our enemies?” The figure was a messenger of God. And the Divine messenger answered, identifying himself as the “captain of God’s host” who has now arrived.
Yehoshua bowed, and asked: “What is my Lord’s word to his servant?” The answer: “Take of your shoe from your foot, because the place where you stand is holy ground.”
This statement, almost exactly the same as what Moshe was instructed at the Burning Bush, further emphasizes to Yehoshua that he really was Moshe’s successor. Moshe was the first leader of the People of Israel who took them out of Egypt, and Yehoshua was to be the pioneering leader who was the right one to be at the helm at the beginning of the nation’s foray into the Land.
Yehoshua had been Moshe’s faithful attendant throughout the desert journey and had led Bnei Yisrael in battle against Amalek, their first enemies after escaping Pharaoh. Yehoshua would be the right one to lead them in their first battles in the Land, to govern them in a just and stable society, to champion the following of God’s law and establishing the Torah as central in the People’s life in the Land.