The big picture
Joshua, the new leader of Israel, the people preparing to cross into their promised land, sends two spies ahead. Their destination is Jericho, a defended city near Jordan, the river Israel must cross. Rahab, a prostitute living in the city wall, shelters them. The king hears that they have arrived and demands their capture. Her decision places her between the city's ruler and the God whose actions have frightened its residents.
In this chapter
- Rahab Hides Men Wanted by the King Joshua 2:1-7
The spies leave Israel's camp secretly and enter Rahab's house in Jericho.
- Rahab Asks That Her Family Be Spared Joshua 2:8-14
Before the spies sleep, Rahab speaks with them on the roof.
- A Scarlet Cord Marks the Safe House Joshua 2:15-21
Rahab lowers the spies through a window by a rope because her house is part of the city wall.
- The Spies Report Fear in the Land Joshua 2:22-24
Following Rahab's advice, the two men hide in the hills until the searchers return without finding them.
Central truth
Rahab protects Israel's spies because she recognises God's rule, and they promise to protect her household when the city falls.
Scripture beside the summary
Joshua · King James Version · 24Joshua 2:1-7
Rahab Hides Men Wanted by the King
The spies leave Israel's camp secretly and enter Rahab's house in Jericho. The king learns that men from Israel have come to examine the land and sends an order to bring them out. Rahab has already hidden them. She tells the king's men that visitors came but left before the gate closed. She directs the search outside the city, although the spies remain under flax stalks on her roof. The pursuers leave and the gate shuts. Her protection of the spies includes a deliberate false account of their departure.
In everyday life
A boarding-house keeper hears guards asking for two threatened guests. She guides the guests into a storage loft, then sends the searchers down the road with a false claim that they left. Her choice puts her own safety at risk. Rahab acts because of what she has come to believe about Israel's God.
Notice
Joshua 2:6 The account states where the men actually are while Rahab says they have left. Her rescue of them depends on concealing their presence from the authorities.
Joshua 2:1-7
King James Version1And Joshua the son of Nun sent out of Shittim two men to spy secretly, saying, Go view the land, even Jericho. And they went, and came into an harlot’s house, named Rahab, and lodged there.
2And it was told the king of Jericho, saying, Behold, there came men in hither to night of the children of Israel to search out the country.
3And the king of Jericho sent unto Rahab, saying, Bring forth the men that are come to thee, which are entered into thine house: for they be come to search out all the country.
4And the woman took the two men, and hid them, and said thus, There came men unto me, but I wist not whence they were:
5And it came to pass about the time of shutting of the gate, when it was dark, that the men went out: whither the men went I wot not: pursue after them quickly; for ye shall overtake them.
6But she had brought them up to the roof of the house, and hid them with the stalks of flax, which she had laid in order upon the roof.
7And the men pursued after them the way to Jordan unto the fords: and as soon as they which pursued after them were gone out, they shut the gate.
Joshua 2:8-14
Rahab Asks That Her Family Be Spared
Before the spies sleep, Rahab speaks with them on the roof. She says the whole land is terrified because God has given it to Israel. People have heard about the sea crossing after Egypt and the defeat of two kings east of Jordan. She declares that Israel's God rules heaven and earth. Because she has protected the men, she asks them to spare her parents, siblings, and their households. They pledge their own lives for hers if she keeps their mission secret. Her request looks toward the coming attack.
In everyday life
An interpreter brings a list of relatives to the evacuation officer whose stranded crew she sheltered. She asks that the names be included when transport arrives, not only her own. The officer accepts responsibility for bringing them out if the plan remains secret. Rahab's request rests on recognising God's rule over the coming conquest.
Notice
Joshua 2:13 Rahab names several parts of her family rather than asking only for herself. Her appeal seeks a household's survival in the danger she expects.
Joshua 2:8-14
King James Version8And before they were laid down, she came up unto them upon the roof;
9And she said unto the men, I know that the LORD hath given you the land, and that your terror is fallen upon us, and that all the inhabitants of the land faint because of you.
10For we have heard how the LORD dried up the water of the Red sea for you, when ye came out of Egypt; and what ye did unto the two kings of the Amorites, that were on the other side Jordan, Sihon and Og, whom ye utterly destroyed.
11And as soon as we had heard these things, our hearts did melt, neither did there remain any more courage in any man, because of you: for the LORD your God, he is God in heaven above, and in earth beneath.
12Now therefore, I pray you, swear unto me by the LORD, since I have shewed you kindness, that ye will also shew kindness unto my father’s house, and give me a true token:
13And that ye will save alive my father, and my mother, and my brethren, and my sisters, and all that they have, and deliver our lives from death.
14And the men answered her, Our life for yours, if ye utter not this our business. And it shall be, when the LORD hath given us the land, that we will deal kindly and truly with thee.
Joshua 2:15-21
A Scarlet Cord Marks the Safe House
Rahab lowers the spies through a window by a rope because her house is part of the city wall. She tells them to hide in the hills for three days before returning home. They explain the conditions of their promise: a scarlet cord must mark this window, and her family must gather inside. Anyone who leaves takes responsibility for that danger. The spies accept responsibility for anyone harmed within the house. Secrecy also remains necessary. Rahab agrees and ties the cord in place after sending them away.
In everyday life
The evacuation marshal gives a resident a bright cloth to hang from the balcony where her household will wait. He checks that everyone understands the meeting point and warns that he cannot search separate streets for people who leave. The cloth makes the agreed refuge visible. Jericho's promised safety comes amid deliberate military destruction, not a natural disaster.
Notice
Joshua 2:19 The promise distinguishes those inside the house from those outside. The cord alone does not cover every location where Rahab's relatives choose to go.
Joshua 2:15-21
King James Version15Then she let them down by a cord through the window: for her house was upon the town wall, and she dwelt upon the wall.
16And she said unto them, Get you to the mountain, lest the pursuers meet you; and hide yourselves there three days, until the pursuers be returned: and afterward may ye go your way.
17And the men said unto her, We will be blameless of this thine oath which thou hast made us swear.
18Behold, when we come into the land, thou shalt bind this line of scarlet thread in the window which thou didst let us down by: and thou shalt bring thy father, and thy mother, and thy brethren, and all thy father’s household, home unto thee.
19And it shall be, that whosoever shall go out of the doors of thy house into the street, his blood shall be upon his head, and we will be guiltless: and whosoever shall be with thee in the house, his blood shall be on our head, if any hand be upon him.
20And if thou utter this our business, then we will be quit of thine oath which thou hast made us to swear.
21And she said, According unto your words, so be it. And she sent them away, and they departed: and she bound the scarlet line in the window.
Joshua 2:22-24
The Spies Report Fear in the Land
Following Rahab's advice, the two men hide in the hills until the searchers return without finding them. They then descend, cross the river, and report everything to Joshua. Their conclusion is that God has given the land to Israel. They support that confidence by describing how frightened the inhabitants are. The mission began as an examination of the land, but a resident's words have given them insight into its people's state of mind. They return safely because the woman inside the enemy city helped them.
In everyday life
A survey crew leader returns from a threatened mountain road and reports more than the condition of the track. A local resident has shown him where the barriers stand and explained that the whole village is preparing to leave. Her help changes his assessment. The spies interpret Jericho's fear as confirmation of God's promised gift.
Notice
Joshua 2:24 The report repeats Rahab's description of the inhabitants' fear. Information received from her becomes part of the spies' confident message to Joshua.
Joshua 2:22-24
King James Version22And they went, and came unto the mountain, and abode there three days, until the pursuers were returned: and the pursuers sought them throughout all the way, but found them not.
23So the two men returned, and descended from the mountain, and passed over, and came to Joshua the son of Nun, and told him all things that befell them:
24And they said unto Joshua, Truly the LORD hath delivered into our hands all the land; for even all the inhabitants of the country do faint because of us.
Details worth noticing
The opening image
Joshua 2:1 begins with “And Joshua the son of Nun sent out of Shittim two men to spy secretly, saying, Go view the land, even Jericho. And they went, and came into an harlot’s…”
Where the chapter turns
Joshua 2:12 forms a natural hinge: “Now therefore, I pray you, swear unto me by the LORD, since I have shewed you kindness, that ye will also shew kindness unto my father’s house, and give me…”
The final note
Joshua 2:24 leaves the reader with “And they said unto Joshua, Truly the LORD hath delivered into our hands all the land; for even all the inhabitants of the country do faint because of us.”
A word trail through the chapter
The words house, land, LORD, pursuers, country, Jericho help reveal the chapter’s repeated concerns.
KJV words made clear
- wist
- Knew, an older past tense used when Rahab describes the visitors.
Music and video connected to the passage
Related media appears when its Scripture reference overlaps this study. Music and video can illuminate a theme while the biblical text remains the foundation.
