Joshua 2:7

7 The men pursued them all the way to the fords at the Yarden; as soon as the pursuit party had left, the gate was shut.

Joshua 2:7 Meaning and Commentary

Joshua 2:7

And the men pursued after them
As they thought:

the way to Jordan;
on the other side of which the people of Israel lay encamped, to which they supposed, according to Rahab's account, these two men directed their course:

unto the fords;
the fords of Jordan, the passages through it; for in some places, and at some times, it was fordable; which accounts for the way in which these spies could get over Jordan, see ( Genesis 32:10 ) ; it was most reasonable to conclude they would return the same way; and so far the king's messengers went, but further they did not choose to go, because it would be to no purpose, and they might expose themselves to the camp of Israel, which lay on the other side:

and as soon as they which pursued after them were gone out, they shut
the gate;
that is, either as soon as the king's messengers were gone out of Rahab's house, either the spies, or rather the men of the house, Rahab's servants, shut the door of it to prevent their return, or others coming in; or rather, when they were got out of the city, the watchmen of the city, the porters of the city gates, shut them, that if they were not got out of the city, to prevent their escape, or however to keep out others from entering, that might be on some such design, or worse.

Joshua 2:7 In-Context

5 The men left around the time when they shut the gate, when it was dark. Where they went I don't know; but if you chase after them quickly, you will overtake them."

6 Actually she had brought them up to the roof and hidden them under some stalks of flax she had spread out there.

7 The men pursued them all the way to the fords at the Yarden; as soon as the pursuit party had left, the gate was shut.

8 The two men had not yet lain down when she returned to the roof

9 and said to them, "I know that ADONAI has given you the land. Fear of you has fallen on us; everyone in the land is terrified at the thought of you.