 the son of Lamech, taught craftsmen how to work with metal. Lamech proudly announced that he had killed a man for wounding him (Genesis 4:23)–with what weapon we do not know, but it may have been a metal melee or trauma weapon based on his son’s expertise. People were healthy and strong for most of the almost thousand years they lived in those times, so that’s plenty of time to develop an expertise in using many types of weapons.
The First Swords
Interestingly, the first sword mentioned in the Bible was made by God.
“So He drove out the man; and He placed cherubim at the east of the garden of Eden, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to guard the way to the tree of life.” Genesis 3:24
God created angels and everything they wear and use in their service to Him. That includes their swords. The first sword was a “flaming sword.” Have you ever wondered what materials God used in making a flaming sword? Was it made of materials from the earth or from Heaven? What kind of flame? How devastating would the injury be to a human being cut with an angel’s flaming sword? What chance of success would a human have in fighting against an angel? I think the answers are obvious. The injury would be death and the chance is none.
Here are other mentions of angels and swords in the Bible. Notice how they used them.
“Now the donkey saw the Angel of the Lord standing in the way with His drawn sword in His hand, and the donkey turned aside out of the way and went into the field. So Balaam struck the donkey to turn her back onto the road.” Numbers 22:23
“Then the Lord opened Balaam’s eyes, and he saw the Angel of the Lord standing in the way with His drawn sword in His hand; and he bowed his head and fell flat on his face.” Numbers 22:31
“Then David lifted his eyes and saw the angel of the Lord standing between earth and heaven, having in his hand a drawn sword stretched out over Jerusalem. So David and the elders, clothed in sackcloth, fell on their faces.” 1 Chronicles 21:16
“So the Lord commanded the angel, and he returned his sword to its sheath.” 1 Chronicles 21:27
“But David could not go before it to inquire of God, for he was afraid of the sword of the angel of the Lord.” 1 Chronicles 21:30
How well do you think an angel can use a supernatural sword? Think about Who taught them.
“And it came to pass, when Joshua was by Jericho, that he lifted his eyes and looked, and behold, a Man stood opposite him with His sword drawn in His hand. And Joshua went to Him and said to Him, ‘Are You for us or for our adversaries?’ So He said, ‘No, but as Commander of the army of the Lord I have now come.’ And Joshua fell on his face to the earth and worshiped, and said to Him, ‘What does my Lord say to His servant?’ Then the Commander of the Lord’s army said to Joshua, ‘Take your sandal off your foot, for the place where you stand is holy.’ And Joshua did so.” Joshua 5:13-15
The “Man” with His sword drawn in His hand is the Son of God. Notice that Joshua “worshiped” Him and the “Commander of the Lord’s army” told Joshua to take off his sandals “for the place where you stand is holy.” Only God deserves worship. Christ “appeared” to many people during Old Testament times. His appearances were known as a Theophany (Greek – theophaneia, “appearance of God”). Christ is Eternal and has always had an Appearance that some people could see. He was “born” of a virgin so He would have a “body of flesh” to offer as a Sacrifice for sin (Hebrews 10).
The Theophany of Joshua 5 is fascinating in light of how the Apostle John described Christ 1,500 years later in the Book of Revelation.
“I, John, both your brother and companion in the tribulation and kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was on the island that is called Patmos for the word of God and for the testimony of Jesus Christ. I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s Day, and I heard behind me a loud voice, as of a trumpet, saying, ‘I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last,’ and, ‘What you see, write in a book and send it to the seven churches which are in Asia: to Ephesus, to Smyrna, to Pergamos, to 