Joshua 2

CHAPTER 2

Rahab and the Spies (2:1–24)

1 The Lord had assured the Israelites many times that He would go before them and drive out their enemies (Exodus 34:11; Deuteronomy 7:1–2). But this didn’t mean that the Israelites could just sit back and do nothing; they needed to work with the Lord and follow His lead (see Exodus 17:10–13 and comment). Therefore, in preparation for battle, Joshua sent spies from Shittim¹⁰ across the Jordan to the city of Jericho,¹¹ the first city to be attacked. The spies stayed at the house of a prostitute named Rahab. The spies chose Rahab’s house to avoid raising suspicion; undoubtedly Rahab had many male visitors coming and going all the time.

2–7 However, the king¹² of Jericho learned about the spies anyway and sent a message ordering Rahab to bring the spies out (verse 2). But Rahab lied and said they had already gone; but, in fact, she had hidden them on the roof of her house (verses 4–6). The king’s men then set out in pursuit of the spies, heading along the road to the fords of the Jordan—probably the very place where the spies had initially crossed over.

8–11 In these verses we are told of Rahab’s amazing confession of faith and her conversion to the God of Israel. She and all the citizens of Jericho had heard how God dried up a pathway through the Red Sea (Exodus 14:21–31) and helped the Israelites destroy Sihon and Og and capture their land (Numbers 21:21–35). But whereas all the other people of Jericho were melting in fear (verse 9), Rahab had placed her faith in the Lord of Israel—“for the LORD your God is God” (verse 11).

Forty years earlier, Moses had foretold that the people of Canaan [would] melt away; terror and dread [would] fall upon them (Exodus 15:15–16). Moses’ prediction had indeed come true. News of God’s mighty works had spread far and wide; the Canaanites had lost their courage and were ripe for conquest.

12–14 Knowing that Jericho would fall to the Israelites, Rahab asked the spies to show her and her family kindness in return for the kindness she had shown them. She had risked her life to save their lives. She asked for a sure sign that the spies would spare the lives of her family.

The spies granted her request. It was a fair exchange: “Our lives for your lives” (verse 14). The “sure sign” Rahab asked for was their oath (verse 17). When Jericho fell, not only were Rahab and her family spared, but they were also accepted into the community of Israel as converts (Joshua 6:2223,25).

15–16 Rahab’s house was part of the city wall (verse 15). In the ancient Middle East, houses were often built into the city walls; thus Rahab’s window would have provided a safe exit from the city. Rahab knew that the king’s men had headed east toward the Jordan, so she sent the spies west toward the hills.

17–21 In making their oath to Rahab, the spies laid down three conditions: first, Rahab was to tie a scarlet cord¹³ to her window so that her house could be recognized; second, she was to keep all of her family members inside her house; and third, she was not to tell anyone what the spies had been doing. If Rahab fulfilled these conditions, then the spies would honor their oath—even to giving up their own lives if any of Rahab’s family were killed. “That family member’s blood will be on our head,” they told Rahab (verse 19); “we will take responsibility for that person’s death.” Taking responsibility for someone’s death could mean facing the death penalty oneself: life for life (Exodus 21:23).

22–24 The spies successfully completed their mission and reported the good news to Joshua: “. . . all the people are melting in fear” (verse 24). And a formerly pagan prostitute had been essential to the success of their mission.

It is important to think about Rahab, and about her role in God’s ongoing history of Israel. She was not only an ungodly Canaanite, but she was also a sinner (a prostitute) by profession. Furthermore, she was a liar: she’d lied to the king’s men about the spies.¹⁴ She betrayed her own people; she was guilty of treason. How low, how wretched could a person be!

Yet God looks on people differently. This low, wretched woman looked to God in fear and in faith, and He was pleased to honor her faith and accept her as His own. All the other citizens of Jericho looked to God in fear but not in faith, and their end was death.

Notice that all the people of Jericho had the same knowledge that Rahab had; they all knew that the God of Israel was God in heaven above and on earth below (verse 11). But knowledge of God is not enough. One may have knowledge that a bridge is strong; but if one is afraid to cross it, that knowledge does no good. The people of Jericho had the knowledge of God but didn’t act on it; Rahab acted. She believed, and committed herself to God in faith.

Rahab is one of the greatest illustrations of God’s GRACE in all of Scripture. God had originally commanded that the cities of Canaan should be totally destroyed (Deuteronomy 7:2)—including every man, woman and child. But God, who wants all men to be saved (1 Timothy 2:4), saw the faith of Rahab and by His grace reached down and saved her. . . .everyone who calls on the name of the LORD will be saved (Joel 2:32; Romans 10:13). No one is too low or too wretched for the Lord to save if one will but look to Him in faith.

Rahab was not only saved; she was also highly honored. In the New Testament she is honored both for her faith (Hebrews 11:31) and also for her good works (James 2:25). And above all, she is one of only four women mentioned in the genealogy of Christ—she was the mother of Boaz and thus was a direct ancestor of Jesus (Matthew 1:5). God has chosen the lowly things of this world and the despised things to build His kingdom (1 Corinthians 1:28), and He continues to do so up to this very time.