Joshua 2
In Joshua 2, we see the beginning of Israel's military strategy to take the Promised Land, starting with the city of Jericho. Joshua sends two spies to scout the city, and they meet Rahab, a prostitute who helps them hide from the king's soldiers. This chapter also highlights Rahab's faith in Israel's God and sets up her eventual inclusion in the lineage of Jesus.
Joshua 2:1 (NKJV)
"Now Joshua the son of Nun sent out two men from Acacia Grove to spy secretly, saying, 'Go, view the land, especially Jericho.' So they went, and came to the house of a harlot named Rahab, and lodged there."
Joshua secretly sends two spies to gather intelligence on Jericho. Their mission is vital, as Jericho is a fortified city. Rahab, a prostitute, becomes their host, offering them shelter. The fact that they chose her house may have been strategic, as her home would likely attract little suspicion. This encounter sets up Rahab’s crucial role in protecting the spies and ultimately aiding Israel's conquest.
Joshua 2:2-3 (NKJV)
"And it was told the king of Jericho, saying, 'Behold, men have come here tonight from the children of Israel to search out the country.' So the king of Jericho sent to Rahab, saying, 'Bring out the men who have come to you, who have entered your house, for they have come to search out all the country.'"
The spies’ presence is quickly discovered, and the king of Jericho receives word of their mission. Jericho's security is on high alert, as the city knows the Israelites are near. The king sends a direct order to Rahab, believing she is harboring the spies. The urgency of the king’s command highlights the city’s fear of the Israelites and their God.
Joshua 2:4-5 (NKJV)
"Then the woman took the two men and hid them. So she said, 'Yes, the men came to me, but I did not know where they were from. And it happened as the gate was being shut, when it was dark, that the men went out; where the men went I do not know; pursue them quickly, for you may overtake them.'"
Rahab demonstrates quick thinking and courage. She hides the spies and deceives the king’s men by sending them on a false trail. Her actions reveal her loyalty to the Israelites and her belief in their God. Rahab’s lie, though ethically questionable, is part of her strategy to protect the spies, reflecting the tension between her new allegiance to Israel and her existing ties to Jericho.
Joshua 2:6-7 (NKJV)
"But she had brought them up to the roof and hidden them with the stalks of flax, which she had laid in order on the roof. Then the men pursued them by the road to the Jordan, to the fords. And as soon as those who pursued them had gone out, they shut the gate."
Rahab cleverly hides the spies among the flax stalks on her roof, ensuring their safety while the king’s men search for them. Her actions suggest a well-prepared plan, showing her resourcefulness. The closing of the city gate after the pursuers leave underscores the danger for the spies—they are now trapped within Jericho, relying completely on Rahab's help for survival.
Joshua 2:8-11 (NKJV)
"Now before they lay down, she came up to them on the roof, and said to the men: 'I know that the Lord has given you the land, that the terror of you has fallen on us, and that all the inhabitants of the land are fainthearted because of you. For we have heard how the Lord dried up the water of the Red Sea for you when you came out of Egypt, and what you did to the two kings of the Amorites who were on the other side of the Jordan, Sihon and Og, whom you utterly destroyed. And as soon as we heard these things, our hearts melted; neither did there remain any more courage in anyone because of you, for the Lord your God, He is God in heaven above and on earth beneath.'"
Rahab reveals her faith in the God of Israel, acknowledging that she and her people have heard of His mighty works. Her confession shows that fear has gripped Jericho because of God's power. By recounting the miracles and victories of Israel, Rahab acknowledges God’s sovereignty over heaven and earth. This marks a turning point in her faith, aligning herself with Israel's God over her own people’s gods.
Joshua 2:12-13 (NKJV)
"Now therefore, I beg you, swear to me by the Lord, since I have shown you kindness, that you also will show kindness to my father's house, and give me a true token, and spare my father, my mother, my brothers, my sisters, and all that they have, and deliver our lives from death."
Rahab negotiates with the spies, asking for protection for her family in return for her assistance. Her plea shows her desire for mercy and safety in the face of Jericho’s impending destruction. This agreement symbolizes the beginning of her integration into Israel and the deliverance of her family, based on her faith and bold actions.
Joshua 2:14 (NKJV)
"So the men answered her, 'Our lives for yours, if none of you tell this business of ours. And it shall be, when the Lord has given us the land, that we will deal kindly and truly with you.'"
The spies agree to Rahab’s terms, promising to spare her family if she keeps their mission secret. Their confidence in the Lord’s victory over Jericho reflects their faith in God’s promise to give Israel the land. This covenant of mutual protection illustrates the importance of trust and faith in God’s plan, as both Rahab and the spies depend on each other for survival.
Joshua 2:15-16 (NKJV)
"Then she let them down by a rope through the window, for her house was on the city wall; she dwelt on the wall. And she said to them, 'Get to the mountain, lest the pursuers meet you. Hide there three days, until the pursuers have returned. Afterward you may go your way.'"
Rahab helps the spies escape by lowering them from her house, which was part of the city wall. Her detailed instructions about hiding in the mountains show her awareness of the situation and her commitment to ensuring the spies' safety. This act of courage solidifies her role as a key ally to Israel, putting her life at risk to protect them.
Joshua 2:17-21 (NKJV)
"So the men said to her: 'We will be blameless of this oath of yours which you have made us swear, unless, when we come into the land, you bind this line of scarlet cord in the window through which you let us down, and unless you bring your father, your mother, your brothers, and all your father’s household to your own home. So it shall be that whoever goes outside the doors of your house into the street, his blood shall be on his own head, and we will be guiltless. And whoever is with you in the house, his blood shall be on our head if a hand is laid on him. And if you tell this business of ours, then we will be free from your oath which you made us swear.' Then she said, 'According to your words, so be it.' And she sent them away, and they departed. And she bound the scarlet cord in the window."
The spies give Rahab specific instructions: her family must stay inside her house, marked by the scarlet cord, for their protection. The scarlet cord becomes a symbol of salvation for Rahab’s family, much like the blood on the doorposts during the first Passover in Egypt. Rahab’s immediate obedience in binding the cord to her window signifies her faith in their promise and in God's deliverance.
Joshua 2:22-24 (NKJV)
"They departed and went to the mountain, and stayed there three days until the pursuers returned. The pursuers sought them all along the way, but did not find them. So the two men returned, descended from the mountain, and crossed over; and they came to Joshua the son of Nun, and told him all that had befallen them. And they said to Joshua, 'Truly the Lord has delivered all the land into our hands, for indeed all the inhabitants of the country are fainthearted because of us.'"
The spies follow Rahab's advice and successfully evade capture by hiding in the mountains. After three days, they return to Joshua with their report. Their message confirms God’s promise: the inhabitants of the land are terrified, and Jericho’s fall seems inevitable. This report strengthens Joshua’s resolve and sets the stage for the coming conquest of Jericho.