Joshua 2:1-7

1 Yehoshua the son of Nun sent out of Shittim two men as spies secretly, saying, Go, view the land, and Yericho. They went and came into the house of a prostitute whose name was Rachav, and lay there.

2 It was told the king of Yericho, saying, Behold, there came men in here tonight of the children of Yisra'el to search out the land.

3 The king of Yericho sent to Rachav, saying, Bring forth the men who are come to you, who have entered into your house; for they have come to search out all the land.

4 The woman took the two men, and hid them; and she said, Yes, the men came to me, but I didn't know whence they were:

5 and it happened about the time of the shutting of the gate, when it was dark, that the men went out; where the men went I don't know: pursue after them quickly; for you will overtake them.

6 But she had brought them up to the roof, and hid them with the stalks of flax, which she had laid in order on the roof.

7 The men pursued after them the way to the Yarden to the fords: and as soon as those who pursued after them were gone out, they shut the gate.

Joshua 2:1-7 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO JOSHUA 2

This chapter gives an account of the spies sent by Joshua to Jericho, and of their entrance into the house of Rahab, who hid them from the king's messengers, Jos 2:1-7; of the relation she gave them of the fear and dread of Israel, which were fallen upon the Canaanites, Jos 2:8-11; and of the request she made to them, to save her and her father's house, when the city should be taken, and to have a sure sign of it given her, Jos 2:12,13; which the spies solemnly promised, and gave her a sign of it, with a charge not to discover the matter to any, Jos 2:14-20; and being let down by a cord through the window of her house, they made their escape to a mountain, where they lay three days, and then returned to Joshua, and made their report, Jos 2:21-24.