1Then JoShua (the son of NaWeh) sent two young men from SatTin as spies in the land, saying, ‘Go there and look at the land… and [specifically] at Jericho.’ So the two young men went and entered Jericho and stayed at the house of a prostitute named RaHab. 2However, [someone] reported this to the king of Jericho, saying, ‘Men of the sons of Israel have come here as spies!’ 3Then the king of Jericho sent for RaHab and said, ‘Bring out the men who entered your house this evening, for they have come to spy in our land.’ 4But the woman had hidden the two men, and she told [the king’s] messengers, ‘The men came here, 5but before the [city] gate was closed this evening, they left, and I don’t know where they went; so you’d better chase after them to see if you can catch them’ 6(however, she had taken them up on the [roof] and hidden them under some hay that she spread [over them] there). 7So the [king’s] men left and traveled toward the fords in the Jordan, and the [city] gate was closed again. 8Then, after the men who were chasing them had left, and before the spies had fallen asleep, she went up to them on the roof of her house 9and said, ‘I know that Jehovah has given you this land, for we’re all afraid [of you]. 10We’ve heard how your God Jehovah dried up the Red Sea before you when you left the land of Egypt, and of the things He did to the two Amorite kings across the Jordan… to Seon and Og whom you destroyed. 11And when we heard this, our hearts were stunned and we were barely able to breathe because of you, for Jehovah your God is truly the God of the heavens above and the earth below. 12So now; Swear to me by Jehovah God, that since I’ve been merciful with you, you’ll be merciful to the house of my father, 13and that you’ll allow the house of my father – my mother, my brothers, everyone in my home, everything that we own, and me – to be saved from death.’ 14And the men replied, ‘[We will offer] our lives for yours, even to death.’ And she said, ‘When Jehovah gives this city to you, you must be merciful and true to me!’ 15Then she lowered them down through her window 16and told them to head toward the hill country and to hide there for three days before returning, for fear that they would run into the men who were chasing them. 17And the [spies] said, ‘We promise to do what you asked. 18Look; we’re going to [destroy] the city, so you must give us a sign. Tie this scarlet cord in the window that you let us down from, then bring everyone – your father, mother, brothers, and your father’s entire family – into your house. 19And if anyone leaves the door of your house, they will be guilty and no part of our promise. But we will be responsible for all those who are found inside your house. 20However, if anyone harms us or betrays us, the promise is broken.’ 21And she said, ‘May it be as you said.’ Then she sent them away 22and they headed toward the hill country, where they remained for three days. And although the people who were chasing them searched all the roads, they couldn’t find them. 23Thereafter, the two young men left the mountains and returned to JoShua (the son of NaWeh), and told him everything that had happened to them. 24And they said, ‘Jehovah has put the entire land under our power, because everyone who lives there is shaking because of us.’
Jamieson Fausset Brown Bible Commentary 1 RAHAB RECEIVES AND CONCEALS THE TWO SPIES. (
Josh 2:1-
Josh 2:7)
Joshua . . . sent . . . two men to spy secretly--Faith is manifested by an active, persevering use of means (
Jas 2:22); and accordingly Joshua, while confident in the accomplishment of the divine promise (
Josh 1:3), adopted every precaution which a skilful general could think of to render his first attempt in the invasion of Canaan successful. Two spies were despatched to reconnoitre the country, particularly in the neighborhood of Jericho; for in the prospect of investing that place, it was desirable to obtain full information as to its site, its approaches, the character, and resources of its inhabitants. This mission required the strictest privacy, and it seems to have been studiously concealed from the knowledge of the Israelites themselves, test any unfavorable or exaggerated report, publicly circulated, might have dispirited the people, as that of the spies did in the days of Moses.
Jericho--Some derive this name from a word signifying "new moon," in reference to the crescent-like plain in which it stood, formed by an amphitheater of hills; others from a word signifying "its scent," on account of the fragrance of the balsam and palm trees in which it was embosomed. Its site was long supposed to be represented by the small mud-walled hamlet Er-Riha; but recent researches have fixed on a spot about half an hour's journey westward, where large ruins exist about six or eight miles distant from the Jordan. It was for that age a strongly fortified town, the key of the eastern pass through the deep ravine, now called Wady-Kelt, into the interior of Palestine.
they . . . came into an harlot's house--Many expositors, desirous of removing the stigma of this name from an ancestress of the Saviour (
Matt 1:5), have called her a hostess or tavern keeper. But Scriptural usage (
Lev 21:7-
Lev 21:14;
Deut 23:18;
Judg 11:1;
1Kgs 3:16), the authority of the Septuagint, followed by the apostles (
Heb 11:31;
Jas 2:25), and the immemorial style of Eastern khans, which are never kept by women, establish the propriety of the term employed in our version. Her house was probably recommended to the spies by the convenience of its situation, without any knowledge of the character of the inmates. But a divine influence directed them in the choice of that lodging-place.
2 it was told the king--by the sentinels who at such a time of threatened invasion would be posted on the eastern frontier and whose duty required them to make a strict report to headquarters of the arrival of all strangers.
4 the woman took the two men, and hid them--literally, "him," that is, each of them in separate places, of course previous to the appearance of the royal messengers and in anticipation of a speedy search after her guests. According to Eastern manners, which pay an almost superstitious respect to a woman's apartment, the royal messengers did not demand admittance to search but asked her to bring the foreigners out.
5 the time of shutting of the gates--The gates of all Oriental cities are closed at sunset, after which there is no possibility either of admission or egress.
the men went out--This was a palpable deception. But, as lying is a common vice among heathen people, Rahab was probably unconscious of its moral guilt, especially as she resorted to it as a means for screening her guests; and she might deem herself bound to do it by the laws of Eastern hospitality, which make it a point of honor to preserve the greatest enemy, if he has once eaten one's salt. Judged by the divine law, her answer was a sinful expedient; but her infirmity being united with faith, she was graciously pardoned and her service accepted (
Jas 2:25).
6 she had brought them up to the roof of the house, and hid them with the stalks of flax--Flax, with other vegetable productions, is at a certain season spread out on the flat roofs of Eastern houses to be dried in the sun; and, after lying awhile, it is piled up in numerous little stacks, which, from the luxuriant growth of the flax, rise to a height of three or four feet. Behind some of these stacks Rahab concealed the spies.
7 the men pursued after them the way to Jordan unto the fords--That river is crossed at several well-known fords. The first and second immediately below the sea of Galilee; the third and fourth immediately above and below the pilgrims' bathing-place, opposite Jericho.
as soon as they which pursued after them were gone out, they shut the gate--This precaution was to ensure the capture of the spies, should they have been lurking in the city.
8 THE COVENANT BETWEEN HER AND THEM. (
Josh 2:8-
Josh 2:21)
she came up unto them upon the roof and said--Rahab's dialogue is full of interest, as showing the universal panic and consternation of the Canaanites on the one hand (
Josh 24:11;
Deut 2:25), and her strong convictions on the other, founded on a knowledge of the divine promise, and the stupendous miracles that had opened the way of the Israelites to the confines of the promised land. She was convinced of the supremacy of Jehovah, and her earnest stipulations for the preservation of her relatives amid the perils of the approaching invasion, attest the sincerity and strength of her faith.
14 the men answered her, Our life for yours, if ye utter not this our business--This was a solemn pledge--a virtual oath, though the name of God is not mentioned; and the words were added, not as a condition of their fidelity, but as necessary for her safety, which might be endangered if the private agreement was divulged.
15 her house was upon the town wall--In many Oriental cities houses are built on the walls with overhanging windows; in others the town wall forms the back wall of the house, so that the window opens into the country. Rahab's was probably of this latter description, and the cord or rope sufficiently strong to bear the weight of a man.
16 she said--rather "she had said," for what follows must have been part of the previous conversation.
Get you to the mountain--A range of white limestone hills extends on the north, called Quarantania (now Jebel Karantu), rising to a height of from twelve hundred to fifteen hundred feet, and the sides of which are perforated with caves. Some one peak adjoining was familiarly known to the inhabitants as "the mountain." The prudence and propriety of the advice to flee in that direction rather than to the ford, were made apparent by the sequel.
21 she bound the scarlet line in the window--probably soon after the departure of the spies. It was not formed, as some suppose, into network, as a lattice, but simply to hang down the wall. Its red color made it conspicuous, and it was thus a sign and pledge of safety to Rahab's house, as the bloody mark on the lintels of the houses of the Israelites in Egypt to that people.