Joshua 2

Rahab Hides the Spies

2 And Joshua the son of Nun sent two men secretly from Shittim as spies, saying, “Go, view the land, especially Jericho.” And they went and came into the house of a prostitute whose name was Rahab and lodged there. And it was told to the king of Jericho, “Behold, men of Israel have come here tonight to search out the land.” Then the king of Jericho sent to Rahab, saying, “Bring out the men who have come to you, who entered your house, for they have come to search out all the land.” But the woman had taken the two men and hidden them. And she said, “True, the men came to me, but I did not know where they were from. And when the gate was about to be closed at dark, the men went out. I do not know where the men went. Pursue them quickly, for you will overtake them.” But she had brought them up to the roof and hid them with the stalks of flax that she had laid in order on the roof. So the men pursued after them on the way to the Jordan as far as the fords. And the gate was shut as soon as the pursuers had gone out.

Before the men lay down, she came up to them on the roof and said to the men, “I know that the LORD has given you the land, and that the fear of you has fallen upon us, and that all the inhabitants of the land melt away before you. For we have heard how the LORD dried up the water of the Red Sea before you when you came out of Egypt, and what you did to the two kings of the Amorites who were beyond the Jordan, to Sihon and Og, whom you devoted to destruction. And as soon as we heard it, our hearts melted, and there was no spirit left in any man because of you, for the LORD your God, he is God in the heavens above and on the earth beneath. Now then, please swear to me by the LORD that, as I have dealt kindly with you, you also will deal kindly with my father’s house, and give me a sure sign that you will save alive my father and mother, my brothers and sisters, and all who belong to them, and deliver our lives from death.” And the men said to her, “Our life for yours even to death! If you do not tell this business of ours, then when the LORD gives us the land we will deal kindly and faithfully with you.”

Then she let them down by a rope through the window, for her house was built into the city wall, so that she lived in the wall. And she said to them, “Go into the hills, or the pursuers will encounter you, and hide there three days until the pursuers have returned. Then afterward you may go your way.” The men said to her, “We will be guiltless with respect to this oath of yours that you have made us swear. Behold, when we come into the land, you shall tie this scarlet cord in the window through which you let us down, and you shall gather into your house your father and mother, your brothers, and all your father’s household. Then if anyone goes out of the doors of your house into the street, his blood shall be on his own head, and we shall be guiltless. But if a hand is laid on anyone who is with you in the house, his blood shall be on our head. But if you tell this business of ours, then we shall be guiltless with respect to your oath that you have made us swear.” And she said, “According to your words, so be it.” Then she sent them away, and they departed. And she tied the scarlet cord in the window.

They departed and went into the hills and remained there three days until the pursuers returned, and the pursuers searched all along the way and found nothing. Then the two men returned. They came down from the hills and passed over and came to Joshua the son of Nun, and they told him all that had happened to them. And they said to Joshua, “Truly the LORD has given all the land into our hands. And also, all the inhabitants of the land melt away because of us.”

(ESV)

Joshua 2 Commentary

In Joshua 2, Rahab hides two Israelite spies sent by Joshua to scout Jericho. The king of Jericho learns of the spies and orders Rahab to bring them out, but she conceals them on her roof. Rahab expresses her belief that the Israelite God is the one and only true and living God, acknowledging the terror He has caused in the land due to their victories. She recounts the parting of the Red Sea and the defeat of the Amorite kings as evidence of God’s power.

Rahab requests that the spies spare her family in return for her help. The spies agree, instructing her to tie a scarlet cord in her window as a sign to spare her household. After hiding the spies for three days, Rahab sends them away, and they return to report to Joshua that the LORD has given them victory over Jericho. The people of the land are filled with fear because of the Israelites’ power.

Jericho

The ancient city of Jericho holds a lot of history. It is known as the city of palms. Archeologists maintain that Jericho is one of the oldest cities in the world today with 20 different successive settlements discovered beneath the earth! New digs continue to find remarkable artifacts that confirm the Biblical accounts of this famous city.

Referenced 59 times in Scripture, it appears in the story of Zacchaeus climbing a sycamore-fig tree to see Jesus and is also featured in the parable of the Good Samaritan who is nearly beaten to death on his way to Jericho. But the most legendary story of Jericho is found right here in Joshua where Israel is on the brink of finally claiming their Promised Land.

This was a piecemeal process for Israel. What’s the definition of piecemeal? “In an unsystematic way, partial measures taken over a period of time.” I want to focus on that last part – partial measures taken over a period of time. God has promised the land, but the process of receiving it will require Israel to go back to God at every turn.

Rahab

Why did these spies go into the home of a prostitute? There are a lot of theories on this. She may have been an innkeeper as well, but ultimately, I believe the Holy Spirit led them there. Just as He always is, the Spirit was at work in the most unpredictable way. It’s important to note that this home was on the back wall of the city. So, if they needed a quick escape, it was there. Though the writer does not commend Rahab’s lifestyle and past choices, she is favored because of her faith in God. Rahab makes an unbelievable statement of faith for a Gentile.

“and said to them, “I know that the LORD has given you this land and that the terror of you has fallen on us, and everyone who lives in the land is panicking because of you. [10] For we have heard how the LORD dried up the water of the Red Sea before you when you came out of Egypt, and what you did to Sihon and Og, the two Amorite kings you completely destroyed across the Jordan.”

Joshua 2:9-10 CSB

But the reason why Rahab is elevated high in Scripture isn’t just because of what she says. She backs up her words with actions. The scarlet cord she ties to her window places Rahab in the midst of God’s grace. She had faith in the Passover story of Exodus and now, by faith, she has the opportunity to experience much of the same. She will trust that God will now pass over her house when His people raid the land.

“By faith Rahab the prostitute did not perish with those who were disobedient, because she had given a friendly welcome to the spies.”
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Hebrews‬ ‭11‬:‭31‬ ‭ESV

Rahab’s story also reminds us of the story of Tamar in Genesis 38 when she had a scarlet thread tied to the wrist of her first son.

Genealogy To Jesus

“and Salmon the father of Boaz by Rahab, and Boaz the father of Obed by Ruth, and Obed the father of Jesse,”
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Matthew‬ ‭1‬:‭5‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Through this non-Israelite woman’s faith, her and her family were saved. It doesn’t stop there, in Hebrews, it is declared that because she welcomed the spies by faith, her and her family were “passed over.” They were all saved by God. By faith, Rahab seized the moment in front of her and put it all on the line. Her neighbors didn’t recognize it. Her friends didn’t recognize it.

By her occupation and social status alone she was considered automatically outside of God’s nature and presence. She was a prostitute, a woman, and a Gentile. But God’s ultimate goal was to reclaim the nations. And now, we even have her in Matthew – the genealogy to Jesus. God can mend and mold anyone who has faith in Him.

Some might read this story and become offended or confused as to why a prostitute is the focal point. God has never taken an interest in the works of humans as a means to Salvation. Status, popularity, titles, and works do not justify us in the sight of God. The significance of this story is not who Rahab is, but who God is. God saw Rahab. He knew her shame. He heard her cries for help. He saw her little faith. God came and rescued Rahab from her own pit of destruction, and He did the same for us. We cannot miss this!

Rahab had to step out and trust a God she had only heard of in stories! She literally risked her life by choosing to trust God. The lesson we can learn here is that God sometimes chooses the most unlikely and unqualified to accomplish His purpose. He is always working.