Now therefore, I pray you, swear unto me by the
Lord
Which being a religious action, and done by men that feared the
Lord, she knew it would be binding upon them: the Targum is,
``swear to me by the Word of the Lord:''since I have showed you kindness;
by receiving them with peace into her house, and hiding them when inquired for and demanded of her; in doing which she risked her own, life, had this treachery to her country, as it would have been deemed, been discovered;
that you will also show kindness unto my father's
house;
she mentions not herself and household, for if this was granted
that would be implied and included; and this she presses for by
the law of retaliation and friendship, for since she had shown
kindness to them, it was but reasonable it should be returned:
and give me a true token;
that she and her father's house would be saved by them when the
city should be taken and the inhabitants destroyed; a token that
would not deceive her, on which she might depend, and would be
firm and sure.
