Joshua 2

Joshua 2:1 Joshua son of Nun secretly sent two men as spies from the Acacia Grove, saying, “Go and the land, especially Jericho.” So they left, and they came to the house of a prostitute named Rahab, and stayed there.

Joshua 2:2 The king of Jericho was told, “Notice,[1] some of the Israelite men have come here tonight to investigate[2] the land.”

Joshua 2:3 Then the king of Jericho sent word to Rahab and said, “Bring out the men who came to you and entered your house, because they came to investigate the entire land.”

Joshua 2:4 But the woman had taken the two men and hidden them. So she said, “Yes, the men did come to me, but I didn’t know where they were from.

Joshua 2:5 At nightfall, when the city gate was about to close, the men went out, and I don’t know where they were going. Chase after them quickly, and you can catch up with them!”

Joshua 2:6 But she had taken them up to the roof and hidden them among the stalks of flax that she had arranged on the roof.

Joshua 2:7 The men pursued them along the road to the fords of the Jordan, and as soon as they left to pursue them, the city gate was shut.

Joshua 2:8 Before the men fell asleep, she went up on the roof

Joshua 2:9 and said to them, “I know that Yahveh has given you this land and that the terror of you has fallen on us, and everyone who lives in the land is panicking because of you.

Joshua 2:10 You see, we have heard how Yahveh dried up the water of the Red Sea before you when you came out of Egypt, and what you did to Sihon and Og, the two Amorite kings you set apart for destruction[3] across the Jordan.

Joshua 2:11 When we heard this, our heart melted, and everyone’s breath[4] continually[5] failed because of you, because Yahveh your God is God in the sky above and on land below.

Joshua 2:12 Now please swear to me by Yahveh that you will also show kindness to my father’s family, because I showed kindness to you. Give me a sure sign

Joshua 2:13 that you will spare the lives of my father, mother, brothers, sisters, and all who belong to them, and save us from death.”

Joshua 2:14 The men answered her, “We will give our lives for yours. If you don’t report our mission, we will show kindness and faithfulness to you when Yahveh gives us the land.”

Joshua 2:15 Then she let them down by a rope through the window, because she lived in a house that was built into the wall of the city.

Joshua 2:16 “Go to the hill country so that the men pursuing you won’t find you,” she said to them. “Hide there for three days until they return; afterward, go on your way.”

Joshua 2:17 The men said to her, “We will be free from this oath you made us swear,

Joshua 2:18 unless, when we enter the land, you tie this scarlet cord to the window through which you let us down. Bring your father, mother, brothers, and all your father’s family into your house.

Joshua 2:19 If anyone goes out the doors of your house, his death will be on his own head, and we will be innocent. But if anyone with you in the house should be harmed, his death will be on our head.

Joshua 2:20 And if you report our mission, we are free from the oath you made us swear.”

Joshua 2:21 “Let it be as you say,” she replied, and she sent them away. After they had gone, she tied the scarlet cord to the window.

Joshua 2:22 So the two men went into the hill country and stayed there three days until the pursuers had come back. They searched all along the way, but did not find them.

Joshua 2:23 Then the men came back, came down from the hill country, and crossed the Jordan. They went to Joshua son of Nun and reported everything that had happened to them.

Joshua 2:24 They told Joshua, “Yahveh has handed over the entire land to us. Everyone who lives in the land is also panicking because of us.”

[1] הִנֵּה = notice. Joshua 2:2, 18; 3:11; 5:13; 7:21, 22; 8:20; 9:12, 13, 25; 14:10; 22:11; 23:14; 24:27.

[2] חָפַר = investigate. Joshua 2:2, 3.

[3] חָרָם = set apart for destruction. Joshua 2:10; 6:18, 21; 8:26; 10:1, 28, 35, 37, 39, 40; 11:11, 12, 20, 21.

[4]רוּחַ= breath. Joshua 2:11; 5:1.

[5]עוֹד = continually. Joshua 1:11; 2:11; 5:1, 12; 14:11.

Joshua 2 quotes:

“The Bible gives a mixed picture of the importance of spies for warfare. In the wilderness of Sinai, Moses sent spies to gather intelligence on Canaan, but fearfulness spread when the majority brought back a negative recommendation (Num. 21:32, Jazer; Num. 13; Deut. 1:22—23). At other times skillful reconnaissance provided opportunities for surprise in warfare and ensured victory (Judg. 7:10-11; 1 Sam. 26:6-7). Faulty reconnaissance (Josh. 7:3; 8:1) cost Joshua and the people the element of surprise, and disobedience cost them a victory at Ai (Josh. 7:1, 2-5, 10-12). Ultimately the support of the Lord, not clever reconnaissance, enabled the people to possess the land of Canaan. In the book of Joshua, intelligence gathering was a dangerous enterprise that produced mixed results.”

Harris J. Gordon et al. Joshua Judges Ruth. Hendrickson Publishers ; Paternoster Press 2000. p. 27.

“Joshua’s instructions concerning the total destruction included a reminder about the need to spare Rahab and her family (6:17). When the city fell, the Israelites obeyed those instructions. It is logical that Joshua assigned the responsibility for the actual deliverance of Rahab to the two spies who had made an oath to her (6:22). Rahab and her family were placed “outside the camp of Israel” (6:23) due to principles of ceremonial uncleanness (see, for example, Leviticus 13:46; Deut. 23:3).”

Lyles, Ron, et al. Joshua and Judges. 1st ed, Baptistway Press, 2005. p. 27.

“The first part of the book of Joshua (1.1—12.24) narrates the conquest of Canaan, that is, the land west of the Jordan River. The first chapter is an introduction to the narrative, and it divides into three parts: (1) Joshua is ordered to cross the Jordan and occupy the land (1.1-9); (2) preparations are made to cross (1.10-11); and (3) the two and one-half tribes east of the Jordan promise to help (1.12-18).”

Bratcher Robert G and Barclay Moon Newman. A Handbook on the Book of Joshua. United Bible Societies 1992. p.