Joshua 2
2
Joshua Sends Spies into Jericho
1Then Joshua son of Nun secretly sent out two spies # 2:1 Joshua was one of the twelve spies sent out publicly by Moses (see Deut. 1:22–23). Some scholars believe that one of the spies could have been Salmon, who married Rahab, and whose son was Boaz. See Matt. 1:5. from their camp at Acacia. # 2:1 Archaeologists identify the location of Acacia with Tell el-Kefrein in modern Jordan. The Hebrew word for “Acacia” is shittim, which means “piercing” or “thorny.” The acacia is a flowering hardwood tree. It was used to make the tabernacle furniture, including the ark of the covenant. He told them, “Go and explore the land of Canaan, especially Jericho.” # 2:1 The Hebrew word for “Jericho” is Yericho, which means “moon.” Jericho was known as “The City of the Moon” because of its occult worship of the moon god/goddess. The city, with its high double walls, was a capital of Canaanite worship. They considered their king to be a divine being. So when Yahweh gave the king over to be killed by Joshua and his men (see 6:2), they were, in effect, killing a “son of god.” The earliest object of worship in the Canaanite religion was that of the male moon god Yerach. (See W. F. Albright, Archaeology and the Religion of Israel, especially pp. 83 and 92; John Gray, The Canaanites, p. 125.) They went and arrived at Jericho and entered the house of Rahab the prostitute and lodged there. # 2:1 Although Josephus mentions that Rahab was an innkeeper (Ant. 5.1.2), the book of James clearly states she was a prostitute (see James 2:25). It may be that she was both. Rahab means “overcome” or “overcomer.” The Hebrew word rahab is also found in Song. 6:5. The Shulamite has “rahab” (overcome) the heart of the Beloved. The church fathers noted that Rahab possessed the spirit of prophecy, which the Jewish historian Josephus also mentions (see Josephus Ant. Jud. 5.1.13). She had a revelation that God was giving the land to Israel (see Josh. 2:9, 12). Rabbinical tradition states that Rahab was rewarded by having prophets and kings as her descendants. 2The king of Jericho was told: “Some Israelites have come into the city tonight to spy out the entire land. They’re in Rahab’s house.” 3So the king sent messengers to Rahab, who said to her: “Turn over the men who entered your house. They’re here to spy out our land.” 4But Rahab had already hidden the two men.
“Yes,” she said. “The men came to me, but I had no idea where they were from. 5They left at sundown, just before the city gates were closed at night. Who knows where they went. Quick! Go after them, and maybe you can catch them!” # 2:5 Rahab protected the spies at the risk of her own life. She was a woman of faith. See Heb. 11:31; James 2:25. 6(Rahab had hidden the men on her rooftop under stalks of flax # 2:6 Flax is a plant from whose stem a fiber was made that was woven into linen cloth. The valiant and virtuous woman (representing the radiant bride of Christ) also worked with flax. See footnote on Prov. 31:13. she had spread out to dry on the roof.) 7So the men of Jericho went out to search for the spies, and the city gates were shut behind them. They searched for them as far as where the path crosses the Jordan.
Rahab’s Pact with the Spies
8Before the spies had gone to sleep, Rahab went up to the rooftop 9and said to them, “I know that Yahweh has given you this land. Everyone is absolutely terrified, and we are all paralyzed with fear # 2:9 Or “everyone’s heart melts with fear.” because of you. 10We’ve heard of the miracles that accompany you and how Yahweh dried up the waters of the Red Sea # 2:10 Or “the Sea of Reeds.” for you when you left Egypt. We’ve heard how you utterly annihilated # 2:10 This is the Hebrew word cherem, meaning “totally devoted, consumed, dedicated and given over to Yahweh.” This term plays a significant role in the stories that follow concerning Jericho, Ai, and Achan. the two Amorite kings, Sihon # 2:10 Sihon means “to strike down.” Sihon was an Amorite king who ruled over the city-state of Heshbon. Heshbon means “intelligence”; this town represents the mind of man. In Num. 21:27–30, the ballad singers wrote songs about Heshbon and its king, which indicates how far the fame of Sihon has spread. The tribe of Gad eventually settled in the territory where Sihon once reigned. Jewish tradition states that Sihon and Og were both giants. The Jewish apocryphal book The Book of Giants, part of the Dead Sea Scrolls discovered at Qumran, states that Sihon and Og (Ogias) were brothers. and Og, # 2:10 Og means “long-necked,” “pride,” or “intimidation.” Og was the king of Bashan. Moses had fought and conquered his kingdom, which included over sixty fortified cities (see Deut. 3:1–7, 11). He was also a Rephaite giant or “terrible one.” His iron bed was “nine cubits long and four cubits wide” (thirteen and a half feet long and six feet wide). A man needing this size of bed was at least ten or eleven feet tall. See Deut. 2:20–21. One of the cities the Israelites took from Og was Golan, which later became a Levitical city and a city of asylum (see Josh. 21:27). and their kingdoms who were on the other side of the Jordan. # 2:10 See Num. 21:21–35. 11As soon as we heard it, our hearts melted with fear, and we were left with no courage among us # 2:11 Or “everyone’s spirit no longer rose up.” because of you. Yahweh, your God, is the true God who rules in heaven above and on earth below. # 2:11 Rahab was a pagan Canaanite woman, yet she declared her faith in Yahweh. She is commended as a woman of faith. See Heb. 11:31; James 2:25. 12Please, solemnly swear to me by the name of Yahweh that you will show kindness to my family because I have shown kindness to you. Give me a sure sign 13that you will spare the lives of my father and mother, my brothers and sisters, and all their families. Don’t let us be killed!”
14The men answered, “If you don’t disclose our mission to anyone, we’ll pledge our lives for yours. Then, when Yahweh gives us this land, we’ll honor our promise and treat you kindly.”
15Rahab’s house was built into the city wall, # 2:15 That is, a section of the city wall formed the outside wall of Rahab’s house. Since this clause is not found in the Septuagint, some scholars believe it was a later scribal addition to the text. so she let them down from the window by a rope. 16She told them, “Head for the hill country and hide. The men chasing you won’t find you there. Hide for three days until they have returned, then you’ll be safe to go your way.”
17But the men warned her, “You must do what we say, or we will not be bound to the oath you made us swear. 18When our invasion begins, bring all your family together in your house—your father and mother, your brothers and sisters, and all their families. And tie this crimson rope # 2:18 This crimson rope can be seen in the light of the New Testament as an emblem of the blood of Jesus. Faith in Christ’s blood brings us salvation. Rahab experienced a personal “Passover” because of the blood (crimson) applied to her house. Both Passover blood and the crimson rope were described in Hebrew as oth, “a sign.” See Ex. 12:13; Josh. 2:12. in the same window through which you let us down. 19Remember, if anyone ventures outside your house, his death will be his own fault, # 2:19 Literally “his blood will be on his own head.” not ours! But if anyone inside your house is harmed, then we will be held responsible. 20And if you disclose our mission, we will be released from the oath you made us swear.”
21Rahab replied in agreement, “Let it be as you say.” And she sent them away, and after they departed, she tied the crimson rope in her window.
22The spies went straight to the hill country and hid there for three days, until the pursuers turned back. The king’s men had scoured the countryside without finding them.
23Then the two men # 2:23 The two spies represent “two witnesses” to establish and confirm their report. See Num. 13–14; Rev. 11:3–12. came down from the hills and crossed back over the Jordan to their camp. They reported to Joshua son of Nun all that had happened to them: 24“Yahweh has certainly handed over the entire land into our hands! All the people of the land melt in fear before us!”
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Joshua 2: TPT
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