Joshua 5:13-14
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?”
14 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?”

1 Samuel 1:3

This man went up from his city yearly to worship and sacrifice to the Lord of hosts in Shiloh. Also, the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, the priests of the Lord, were there.

1 Samuel 1:11

Then she made a vow and said, “O Lord of hosts, if You will indeed look on the affliction of Your maidservant and remember me, and not forget Your maidservant, but will give Your maidservant a male child, then I will give him to the Lord all the days of his life, and no razor shall come upon his head.”

Psalms 24:9-10

Lift up your heads, O you gates!
Lift up, you everlasting doors!
And the King of glory shall come in.
10 Who is this King of glory?
The Lord of hosts,
He is the King of glory

Psalms 46:1-7

God is our refuge and strength,
A very ready help in trouble.
2 Therefore we will not fear, though the earth shakes
And the mountains slip into the heart of the sea;
3 Though its waters roar and foam,
Though the mountains quake at its swelling pride.

4 There is a river whose streams make the city of God happy,
The holy dwelling places of the Most High.
5 God is in the midst of her, she will not be moved;
God will help her when morning dawns.
6 The nations made an uproar, the kingdoms tottered;
He raised His voice, the earth quaked.
7 The Lord of armies is with us;
The God of Jacob is our stronghold. 

Isaiah 44:6

Thus says the Lord, the King of Israel,
And his Redeemer, the Lord of hosts:
I am the First and I am the Last;
Besides Me, there is no God.

Amos 4:13

For behold, He who forms mountains and creates the wind,
And declares to a person what are His thoughts,
He who makes dawn into darkness
And treads on the high places of the earth,
The Lord God of armies is His name.

Zechariah 4:6-9

So he answered and said to me:

“This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel:
‘Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’
Says the Lord of hosts.
7 ‘Who are you, O great mountain?
Before Zerubbabel you shall become a plain!
And he shall bring forth the capstone
With shouts of “Grace, grace to it!” ’

8 Moreover the word of the Lord came to me, saying:

9 “The hands of Zerubbabel
Have laid the foundation of this temple;
His hands shall also finish it.
Then you will know
That the Lord of hosts has sent Me to you.

As different Bible expositors have revealed, Sabaoth is mentioned in several books of the Bible. Joshua mentions the name in a connotative way and not directly. The man Joshua saw was described as Lord, and Commander in other versions. Joshua fell and worshipped, and he was not rebuked. If it were an angel, Joshua would have been asked not to worship (as angels refuse worship in Scriptures). Thus, we are safe to think that Joshua met with Jesus. The Lord of hosts is seen many times in these books of the Bible- 1 Samuel, Psalms, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Amos, Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi.

In some Bible translations, JEHOVAH SABAOTH is LORD OF HOSTS or LORD OF HEAVEN’S ARMIES or LORD GOD OF HOSTS (when combined with the name Elohim).

Human context of hosts:

Having a crowd of people is phenomenal. I find that human beings feel invincible when they have an army around them, be that the support system of family or friends, or loyalists based on earthly positions of authority or influence. It feels powerful to have resources at one’s beck and call. The futility of it all is, that no matter how formidable a person is, he or she is still at the mercy of God for all human assets have limitations of use.

Hannah, the first person to address Him as THE LORD OF HOSTS:

Hannah was a lonely woman. Fortunately for her, she had one man on her team who was Elkanah, her husband. He loved and adored her even though Hannah could not bear children. Regardless, I would like to think her husband’s affection towards her could not fill the void of childlessness as Peninnah was a thorn in her flesh. She prayed so intently that the prophet Eli assumed she was drunk. Hannah did not let her pain steer her away from God.

Hannah calls Him the Lord of hosts, which shows her understanding of Him as the Ruler of heaven and earth, able to do His will without hindrance. She asks for mercy from Him and calls herself a maidservant reverencing His authority and majesty. Hannah is certain that her biggest problem in life is settled if He answers her. Surely, God heard her cry.

The Majestic Splendor of our God:

Unlike man, God is limitless. His influence transcends space and time. Our Father is the Commander of the armies of heaven. He binds the cluster of the Pleiades and looses the belt of Orion. He brings out Mazzaroth in its season. He guides the Great Bear with its cubs. He knows the ordinances of the heavens and set their dominion over the earth. Heaven is his throne, and the earth is His footstool. Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb! Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of His glory.

He was in the beginning; all things were made by Him and without Him was not anything made that was made. In Him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in darkness and the darkness comprehended it not. In that day, the Lord of hosts will be a crown of glory and a diadem of beauty to the remnant of His people; for a spirit of justice to him who sits in judgment, and strength to those who turn back the battle at the gate. ‘The silver is Mine, and the gold is Mine,’ says the Lord of hosts. ‘The glory of this latter temple shall be greater than the former,’ says the Lord of hosts. ‘And in this place, I will give peace,’ says the Lord of hosts.

The name ‘Jehovah Sabaoth’:

Jehovah Sabaoth is the name we call on when we hit rock bottom, when there is no one to turn to for assistance, when a record-breaking-tested-and-trusted fortified adversary like Goliath combats us, or we feel disadvantaged in life seeing others have easily what we struggle to achieve. This name of God is a revelation of God as our defense, our warrior-God, deliverer, captain, matchless source of power, the Mighty One who never loses physical or spiritual warfare, our anchor, and help in times of trouble!