18 Behold, when we come H935 into the land, H776 thou shalt bind H7194 this line H8615 of scarlet H8144 thread H2339 in the window H2474 which thou didst let us down by: H3381 and thou shalt bring H622 thy father, H1 and thy mother, H517 and thy brethren, H251 and all thy father's H1 household, H1004 home H1004 unto thee.
And the young men H5288 that were spies H7270 went in, H935 and brought out H3318 Rahab, H7343 and her father, H1 and her mother, H517 and her brethren, H251 and all that she had; and they brought out H3318 all her kindred, H4940 and left H3240 them without H2351 the camp H4264 of Israel. H3478
And the LORD H3068 said H559 unto Noah, H5146 Come H935 thou and all thy house H1004 into the ark; H8392 for thee have I seen H7200 righteous H6662 before me H6440 in this H2088 generation. H1755
And the men H582 said H559 unto Lot, H3876 Hast thou here H6311 any H4310 besides? son in law, H2860 and thy sons, H1121 and thy daughters, H1323 and whatsoever H834 thou hast in the city, H5892 bring them out H3318 of this place: H4725 For we H587 will destroy H7843 H853 this place, H4725 because the cry of them H6818 is waxen great H1431 before H854 the face H6440 of the LORD; H3068 and the LORD H3068 hath sent H7971 us to destroy H7843 it. And Lot H3876 went out, H3318 and spake H1696 unto his sons in law, H2860 which married H3947 his daughters, H1323 and said, H559 Up, H6965 get you out H3318 of this place; H4725 for the LORD H3068 will destroy H7843 this city. H5892 But he seemed as one that mocked H6711 unto H5869 his sons in law. H2860 And when H3644 the morning H7837 arose, H5927 then the angels H4397 hastened H213 Lot, H3876 saying, H559 Arise, H6965 take H3947 thy wife, H802 and thy two H8147 daughters, H1323 which are here; H4672 lest thou be consumed H5595 in the iniquity H5771 of the city. H5892 And while he lingered, H4102 the men H582 laid hold H2388 upon his hand, H3027 and upon the hand H3027 of his wife, H802 and upon the hand H3027 of his two H8147 daughters; H1323 the LORD H3068 being merciful H2551 unto him: and they brought him forth, H3318 and set him H3240 without H2351 the city. H5892 And it came to pass, when they had brought them forth H3318 abroad, H2351 that he said, H559 Escape H4422 for H5921 thy life; H5315 look H5027 not behind thee, H310 neither stay H5975 thou in all the plain; H3603 escape H4422 to the mountain, H2022 lest thou be consumed. H5595
Now therefore, I pray you, swear H7650 unto me by the LORD, H3068 since H3588 I have shewed H6213 you kindness, H2617 that ye will also shew H6213 kindness H2617 unto my father's H1 house, H1004 and give H5414 me a true H571 token: H226 And that ye will save alive H2421 my father, H1 and my mother, H517 and my brethren, H251 and my sisters, H269 and all that they have, and deliver H5337 our lives H5315 from death. H4194
Then shall the priest H3548 command H6680 to take H3947 for him that is to be cleansed H2891 two H8147 birds H6833 alive H2416 and clean, H2889 and cedar H730 wood, H6086 and scarlet, H8144 H8438 and hyssop: H231
For how H349 can I endure H3201 to see H7200 the evil H7451 that shall come H4672 unto my people? H5971 or how H349 can I endure H3201 to see H7200 the destruction H13 of my kindred? H4138
Immediately G1824 therefore G3767 I sent G3992 to G4314 thee; G4571 and G5037 thou G4771 hast well G2573 done G4160 that thou art come. G3854 Now G3568 therefore G3767 are G3918 we G2249 all G3956 here present G3918 before G1799 God, G2316 to hear G191 all things G3956 that are commanded G4367 thee G4671 of G5259 God. G2316
For G1063 when G5259 Moses G3475 had spoken G2980 every G3956 precept G1785 to all G3956 the people G2992 according G2596 to the law, G3551 he took G2983 the blood G129 of calves G3448 and G2532 of goats, G5131 with G3326 water, G5204 and G2532 scarlet G2847 wool, G2053 and G2532 hyssop, G5301 and sprinkled G4472 both G5037 the book, G975 G846 and G2532 all G3956 the people, G2992
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on Joshua 2
Commentary on Joshua 2 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
CHAPTER 2
Jos 2:1-7. Rahab Receives and Conceals the Two Spies.
1. 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 (Jos 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 (Mt 1:5), have called her a hostess or tavern keeper. But Scriptural usage (Le 21:7-14; De 23:18; Jud 11:1; 1Ki 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, 3. 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.
4-6. 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.
Jos 2:8-21. The Covenant between Her and Them.
8-13. 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 (Jos 24:11; De 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.
16-21. 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.