Yehoshua 2:7

7 So the anashim pursued after them the derech (road) to Yarden unto the fords; and as soon as they which pursued after them were gone out, they closed the sha’ar.

Yehoshua 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.

Yehoshua 2:7 In-Context

5 And it came to pass about the time of the shutting of the sha’ar, when it was choshech, that the anashim went out; where the anashim went I know not; pursue after them quickly; for ye may overtake them.

6 But she had brought them up to the gag (roof), and hid them with the pishtei haetz (stalks of flax), which she had laid out upon the gag.

7 So the anashim pursued after them the derech (road) to Yarden unto the fords; and as soon as they which pursued after them were gone out, they closed the sha’ar.

8 And before they [the two spies] lay down, she went up unto them upon the gag;

9 And she said unto the anashim, I know that Hashem hath given you HaAretz, and that your terror is fallen upon us, and that all the inhabitants of HaAretz faint because of you.