Joshua 2 - ESV - Bible Reading / Study Notes

Joshua 2

Rahab Hides the Spies

2:1 And Joshua the son of Nun sent¹ two men secretly from Shittim as spies, saying, “Go, view the land, especially Jericho.” And they went and came into the house of a prostitute whose name was Rahab and lodged there. 2 And it was told to the king of Jericho, “Behold, men of Israel have come here tonight to search out the land.” 3 Then the king of Jericho sent to Rahab, saying, “Bring out the men who have come to you, who entered your house, for they have come to search out all the land.” 4 But the woman had taken the two men and hidden them. And she said, “True, the men came to me, but I did not know where they were from. 5 And when the gate was about to be closed at dark, the men went out. I do not know where the men went. Pursue them quickly, for you will overtake them.” 6 But she had brought them up to the roof and hid them with the stalks of flax that she had laid in order on the roof. 7 So the men pursued after them on the way to the Jordan as far as the fords. And the gate was shut as soon as the pursuers had gone out.

8 Before the men² lay down, she came up to them on the roof 9 and said to the men, “I know that the LORD has given you the land, and that the fear of you has fallen upon us, and that all the inhabitants of the land melt away before you. 10 For we have heard how the LORD dried up the water of the Red Sea before you when you came out of Egypt, and what you did to the two kings of the Amorites who were beyond the Jordan, to Sihon and Og, whom you devoted to destruction.³ 11 And as soon as we heard it, our hearts melted, and there was no spirit left in any man because of you, for the LORD your God, he is God in the heavens above and on the earth beneath. 12 Now then, please swear to me by the LORD that, as I have dealt kindly with you, you also will deal kindly with my father’s house, and give me a sure sign 13 that you will save alive my father and mother, my brothers and sisters, and all who belong to them, and deliver our lives from death.” 14 And the men said to her, “Our life for yours even to death! If you do not tell this business of ours, then when the LORD gives us the land we will deal kindly and faithfully with you.”

15 Then she let them down by a rope through the window, for her house was built into the city wall, so that she lived in the wall. 16 And she said⁴ to them, “Go into the hills, or the pursuers will encounter you, and hide there three days until the pursuers have returned. Then afterward you may go your way.” 17 The men said to her, “We will be guiltless with respect to this oath of yours that you have made us swear. 18 Behold, when we come into the land, you shall tie this scarlet cord in the window through which you let us down, and you shall gather into your house your father and mother, your brothers, and all your father’s household. 19 Then if anyone goes out of the doors of your house into the street, his blood shall be on his own head, and we shall be guiltless. But if a hand is laid on anyone who is with you in the house, his blood shall be on our head. 20 But if you tell this business of ours, then we shall be guiltless with respect to your oath that you have made us swear.” 21 And she said, “According to your words, so be it.” Then she sent them away, and they departed. And she tied the scarlet cord in the window.

22 They departed and went into the hills and remained there three days until the pursuers returned, and the pursuers searched all along the way and found nothing. 23 Then the two men returned. They came down from the hills and passed over and came to Joshua the son of Nun, and they told him all that had happened to them. 24 And they said to Joshua, “Truly the LORD has given all the land into our hands. And also, all the inhabitants of the land melt away because of us.”

Footnotes

[1] 2:1 Or had sent
[2] 2:8 Hebrew they
[3] 2:10 That is, set apart (devoted) as an offering to the Lord (for destruction)
[4] 2:16 Or had said

Commentary

v1: No doubt Rahab was despised by the people of Jericho; but the testimony of Scripture is that she believed God (v11; Heb 11.31). The label 'prostitute,' even if deserved, was no barrier to God's grace to forgive, and power to change her heart.

v2-3: The King of Jericho had word of the spies, and even that they had gone to Rahab's house.

v4-7: Rahab diverted those looking for the spies. Her explanation sent the pursuers away, giving the spies time to complete their mission.

Rahab is criticised by some for lying. But she identified with the people of God.

v8-11: There was fear amongst the people of Jericho; they recognised that God was with Israel (compare John 3.2). Rahab picked out the crossing of the Red Sea, and the defeat of the Amorite kings as evidence of God's power, and of His presence with Israel.

The same message is declared. Some respond with fear, and some respond in faith. This is a mystery to us. We think of the two thieves dying next to Jesus Christ; one rejected and one accepted Him as the Messiah.

v12-13: Rahab recognised that the only God, the Lord of Heaven and Earth, was the God of Israel. Her faith was evidenced by her concern for her family Although many of the people feared because of Israel’s victories, Rahab actually trusted in God. She repeatedly says 'Lord,' ie: Yahweh, indicating an understanding of the true God.

Rahab's faith was shown by her kindness to the spies. And it was clearly God's hand that led the spies to her house, the only one in the city with faith in God.

v14: The spies had learned from Moses and Joshua; the Lord would give them the land.

v15-17: The position of Rahab's house, on the wall of the city, was convenient; another sign of God's overruling. It was easy for the spies to escape; later it was easy for Rahab to leave the sign of the scarlet thread in the window so as to be found.

v18-21: The scarlet thread was the guarantee of Rahab's security, compare Ex 12.22, "Not one of you shall go out"; safety is guaranteed under the blood. The picture here is of security in Christ, and true faith in Him.

The midwife put a scarlet thread on the wrist of Zerah, the first born of Judah son of Jacob (Gen 38.30). It was a sign of the first born blessing.

v22-24: The confident report of the spies contrasted with the original report of the twelve spies (Num 13). Joshua rightly took courage from their report. Good news is 'sweet to the soul and healing to the bones' (Prov 16.24).