(2:1-4)
Joshua's spies visit and "came unto" a prostitute in Jericho. They weren't very discreet about it either, since
the King of Jericho soon found out about it. The king's officials ask Rahab to "bring forth the men
that are come to thee."
(2:1) "They went, and came into an harlot's house, named Rahab, and lodged there."
(2:3) "And the king of Jericho sent unto Rahab, saying, Bring forth the men that are come to thee."
(2:4-5) Rahab lies to those who were searching for
Joshua's spies. Lying is condemned several places in the Bible, but Rahab is
rewarded by God by being spared during the destruction of Jericho (Joshua 6:25). And in James (2:24),
Rahab is also praised for lying. So the Bible both condemns and approves of lying. Is it wrong to lie?
(2:4) "There came men unto me, but I wist not whence they were."
(2:5) "The men went out: whither the men went I wot not: pursue after them quickly; for ye shall overtake them."
2:1
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
house, named Rahab, and lodged there.
2:2
And 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.
2:3
And 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.
2:4
And the woman took the two men, and hid them, and said thus, There came men unto
me, but I wist not
whence they were:
2:5
And 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.
2:6
But 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.
2:7
And 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.
2:8
And before they were laid down, she came up unto them upon the roof;
2:9
And 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.
2:10
For 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.
2:11
And 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.
2:12
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 a true token:
2:13
And 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.
2:14
And 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.
2:15
Then she let them down by a cord through the window: for her house was
upon the town wall, and she dwelt upon the wall.
(2:15) "Her house was upon the town wall, and she dwelt upon the wall."
Since Rahab's house was built on the wall, how did she and her family survive when the wall fell down?
(See Joshua 6:20)
2:16
And 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.
2:17
And the men said unto her, We will be blameless of this thine oath which
thou hast made us swear.
2:18
Behold, 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.
2:19
And 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.
2:20
And if thou utter this our business, then we will be quit of thine oath
which thou hast made us to swear.
2:21
And 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.
2:22
And 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.
2:23
So 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:
2:24
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.
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