Joshua 2:13

13 that you will spare my father and mother, my brothers and sisters, and all who belong to them, and deliver our lives from death."

Joshua 2:13 Meaning and Commentary

Joshua 2:13

And [that] ye will save alive my father, and my mother, and
my brethren, and my sisters
She makes no mention of any husband or children she had, as harlots seldom have, and which seems to confirm her character as such; and so Abarbinel observes, that her father's house is only mentioned to tell us that she had no husband, for she was an harlot and had no children, and puts her father and mother in the room of an husband, and her brethren and sisters in the room of children:

and all that they have;
not their substance only, but their children more especially, the children of her brethren and sisters:

and deliver our lives from death;
here she manifestly includes herself, and requests the saving of her life, and the lives of all her relations, when she knew the inhabitants of the city would be all put to death upon the taking of it: thus she provided for the safety of her family, as Noah in another case and manner did, ( Hebrews 11:7 ) ; and indeed seemed more concerned for them than for herself; and thus souls sensible of their own estate and condition, by nature and grace, are very solicitous for the salvation of their relations and friends, ( Romans 9:3 ) .

Joshua 2:13 In-Context

11 As soon as we heard it, our hearts melted, and there was no courage left in any of us because of you. The Lord your God is indeed God in heaven above and on earth below.
12 Now then, since I have dealt kindly with you, swear to me by the Lord that you in turn will deal kindly with my family. Give me a sign of good faith
13 that you will spare my father and mother, my brothers and sisters, and all who belong to them, and deliver our lives from death."
14 The men said to her, "Our life for yours! If you do not tell this business of ours, then we will deal kindly and faithfully with you when the Lord gives us the land."
15 Then she let them down by a rope through the window, for her house was on the outer side of the city wall and she resided within the wall itself.
New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.