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Joshua Chapter
Two
New King James Version (NKJV)
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
Joshua 2:1; of the
relation she gave them of the fear and dread of Israel
which were fallen upon
the Canaanites
Joshua 2:8; 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
Joshua 2:12; which
the spies solemnly promised
and gave her a sign of it
with a charge not to
discover the matter to any
Joshua 2:14; 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
Joshua 2:21.
Joshua 2:1 2 Now Joshua the son of Nun
sent out two men from Acacia Grove[a] to spy
secretly
saying
“Go
view the land
especially Jericho.” So they went
and
came to the house of a harlot named Rahab
and lodged there.
YLT
1And Joshua son of Nun
sendeth from Shittim
two men
spies
silently
saying
`Go
see the land --
and Jericho;' and they go and come into the house of a woman
a harlot
and her
name [is] Rahab
and they lie down there.
And Joshua the son of Nun sent out of Shittim two men
.... Or
"had sent"F16וישלח
"miserat"
Vatablus
Masius
Drusius. ; for this was done before the
above order to depart: it is a tradition of the JewsF17Shalshalet
Hakabala
fol. 7. 2.
that they were Caleb and Phinehas; but they were not
young men
as in Joshua 6:23;
especially the former; nor is it probable that men of such rank and figure
should be sent
but rather meaner persons; yet such as were men of good sense
and abilities
and capable of conducting such an affair they were sent about
as well as men of probity and faithfulness; two good men
Kimchi says they
were
and not as they that went on the mission of Moses; these were sent from
Shittim
the same with Abelshittim
in the plains of Moab
where Israel now lay
encamped
Numbers 33:49
which JosephusF18Antiqu. l. 5. c. 1. De Bello Jud. l. 4. c. 8. sect.
2. calls Abila
and says it was sixty furlongs
or seven miles and better
from
Jordan:
to spy secretly; or "silently"F19חרש "silentio"
Montanus
Munster; so Kimchi and
Ben Melech. ; not so much with respect to the inhabitants of the land
for it
is supposed in all spies
that they do their business in the most private and
secret manner
so as not to be discovered by the inhabitants
whose land they
are sent to spy; but with respect to the children of Israel
that they might
know nothing of it
lest they should be discouraged
thinking that Joshua was
in some fear of the Canaanites
and under some distrust of the promise of God
to give the land to them: the word for "smiths"
and also for persons
deaf and dumb
coming from the same root
have furnished the Jewish writers
with various conceits
as that these spies went in the habit of smiths with the
instruments of their business in their hands; or acted as deaf and dumb
persons
and so as incapable of giving an account of themselves
or of
answering to any questions put to them
should they be taken up and examined;
their commentators in general take notice of this:
saying
go view the land
even Jericho; especially
Jericho
so NoldiusF20P. 277. ; the land in general
and Jericho in
particular
because it was a great city
as Kimchi notes; of this city; see
Gill on Luke 19:4. Whether
it had its name from the sweetsmelling balsam which grew in plenty about it
or
from the form of it
being that of an half moon
is not certain
StraboF21Geograph.
l. 16. p. 525. says of it
that here was a paradise of balsam
an aromatic
and
that it was surrounded with hills in a plain
which bent to it like an
amphitheatre. They were not sent to spy the land
as the spies in the times of
Moses
to see what sort of land it was
and what sort of people dwelt in it;
but to reconnoitre it
to know where it was best to lead the people at first
and encamp; and particularly to observe the passes and avenues leading to
Jericho
the first city in it
nearest to them
of importance. Ben Gersom
thinks it was to spy or pick out the thoughts of the inhabitants of the land
what apprehensions they had of the people of Israel
whether disheartened and
dispirited at their near approach
and what were their intentions
resolutions
and preparations to act against them
offensively
or defensively; and which
seems not amiss
since this was the chief information they got
and which they
reported to Joshua upon their return; though Abarbinel objects to it as a thing
impossible:
and they went
and came into a harlot's house
named Rahab; they went
from Shittim
and crossed the river Jordan
by swimming or fording
and came to
Jericho; which
as JosephusF23 says
was fifty furlongs
or seven
miles and a half
from Jordan; and they went into a harlot's house
not
purposely for that reason
because it was such an one
but so it proved
eventually; though the Targum of Jonathan says it was the house of a woman
an
innkeeper or victualler; for Jarchi
Kimchi
and Ben Melech
interpret the word
it uses of a seller of foodF24And so R. Sol. Urbin. Obel Moed
fol.
24. 1. ; and if so
it furnishes out a reason why they turned in thither
where
they might expect to have food and lodging; though the Jews commonly take her
to be a harlot; and generally speaking
in those times and countries
such as
kept public houses were prostitutes; and there are some circumstances which
seem to confirm this in the context; and so the Greek version calls her
and is
the character given of her in the New Testament: her name was Rahab
of whom
the Jews have this traditionF25
that she was ten years of age when
Israel came out of Egypt; that she played the harlot the forty years they were
in the wilderness
became the wife of Joshua
who had daughters by her
from
whom came eight prophets
Jeremiah
Hilkiah
Maasia
Hanameel
Shallum
Baruch
the son of Neriah
Ezekiel
the son of Buzi
and some say Huldah the
prophetess; but the truth is
she married Salmon
a prince of the tribe of
Judah; see Gill on Matthew 1:5
and lodged there; that is
they went thither in order to
lodge.
Joshua 2:2 2 And it was told the king
of Jericho
saying
“Behold
men have come here tonight from the children of
Israel to search out the country.”
YLT
2And it is told to the king
of Jericho
saying
`Lo
men have come in hither to-night
from the sons of
Israel
to search the land.
And it was told the king of Jericho
saying
.... Who being
alarmed at the near approach of the Israelites
and knowing their claim to the
land of Canaan
and their design upon it
employed men to watch and observe
what passed in the city
and parts adjacent
and inform him of it; or some
persons of themselves
and for their own safety
and the good of their fellow citizens
gave notice to the king of it:
behold
there came men hither tonight of the children of Israel; who were
known by their habit and language; or at least
being strangers
were suspected
to be of that people
the terror of whom had fallen on all the inhabitants
so
that every strange man they took for an Israelite; from hence it appears
that
the spies came to Jericho at night
that they might not be observed: but with
all their precaution they were taken notice of
and their design suspected
namely:
to search out the country; which were the proper
places to attack first
and where there was the greatest probability of
succeeding
as well as to find out the disposition of the inhabitants
whether
fearful or fearless of them.
Joshua 2:3 3 So the king of Jericho
sent to Rahab
saying
“Bring out the men who have come to you
who have
entered your house
for they have come to search out all the country.”
YLT
3And the king of Jericho
sendeth unto Rahab
saying
`Bring out the men who are coming in unto thee
who
have come into thy house
for to search the whole of the land they have come
in.
And the king of Jericho sent unto Rahab
.... Not
merely because she kept a public house
or being a prostitute had often
strangers in it
and so conjectured that the men he had notice of might be
there; but he sent upon certain information that they were seen to go in there
as it follows:
saying
bring forth the men that are come to thee; not to commit
lewdness with her
though this is the sense some Jewish commentators give; but
this neither agrees with the character of the men Joshua had chosen for this
purpose
nor answers any end of the king to suggest; nor can it be thought that
Rahab would so openly and freely own this
as in Joshua 2:4
but
what is meant by the phrase is explained in the following clause:
which are entered into thine house: in order to lodge there
that night:
for they be come to search out all the country; so it was
suspected
nor was the suspicion groundless.
Joshua 2:4 4 Then the woman took the
two men and hid them. So she said
“Yes
the men came to me
but I did not know
where they were from.
YLT
4And the woman taketh the
two men
and hideth them
and saith thus: `The men came in unto me
and I have
not known whence they [are];
And the woman took the two men
.... Or "she had
taken" themF26ותפח "duxerat
tulerat"; so Syr. Ar. Kimchi
& Ben Melech. before the messengers
came
upon a rumour she understood was gone abroad
that she had got
Israelitish spies in her house
and so might expect to be visited and searched
by the king's officers
and therefore took this precaution:
and hid them; the Hebrew word is singular
"him"F1ותצפנו "et abscondit
eum"
Montanus; "abdiderat eum"
Vatablus. : hence the Jews
who
take these two spies to be Caleb and Phinehas
say
that only Caleb was hid
and Phinehas
though he was before them
was not seen
being an angel
Malachi 2:7; but
the sense is
that she hid each of them
and very probably singly and apart
that if one was found
the other might escape
as Ben Gersom observes; and
Abarbinel is of opinion that she hid them twice
now in the middle of her
house
one in one place
and the other in another
for the reason before given
and after this hid them in the roof of her house
as afterwards related:
and said thus
there came men unto me; that is
into
her house
this she owned:
but I wist not whence they were; of what
country they were
whether Israelites or not; which whether she knew or not is
not certain; it is probable she did
and told an untruth
as she also did in Joshua 2:5.
Joshua 2:5 5 And it happened as the
gate was being shut
when it was dark
that the men went out. Where the men
went I do not know; pursue them quickly
for you may overtake them.”
YLT
5and it cometh to pass --
the gate is to [be] shut -- in the dark
and the men have gone out; I have not
known whither the men have gone; pursue ye
hasten after them
for ye overtake
them;'
And it came to pass
about the time of the shutting of the
gate
.... Of the city
which was done every night
and at a certain
time:
when it was dark; the sun set
and night come on:
that the men went out; out of her house
and
out of the city too
as she said
though it was a downright lie
as well as
what follows:
whither the men went I wot not; though she knew they
were not gone
but were now in her house; she might not scruple telling a lie
being brought up a Heathen
and being done with a design to save the lives of
persons that belonged to a people she was persuaded were the people of God
and
to whom he had given the land; though her lies are not to be justified; evil is
not to be done that good may come; nor are men to tell lies one to another upon
any account; but these sins
with others
the Lord forgave her:
pursue after them quickly
and ye shall overtake them; this she
encouraged them to do
to get rid of them the sooner
and to remove all
suspicion of her having any respect for them
and of being concerned in
concealing them.
Joshua 2:6 6 (But she had brought them
up to the roof and hidden them with the stalks of flax
which she had laid in
order on the roof.)
YLT
6and she hath caused them to
go up on the roof
and hideth them with the flax wood
which is arranged for
her on the roof.
But she had brought them up to the roof of the house
.... Before
the messengers came; though Abarbinel thinks it was after they were gone
when
she took them from the place of their concealment
and had them to the roof of
the house
where she thought they would be safe and secure
should the
messengers return
or others come in search of them
who would not
as she
imagined
look for them there:
and hid them with the stalks of flax; that is
under them
or "in flax of wood"
or "a tree"F2בפשתי העץ "in linis
ligni"
Montanus; "vel arboris"
Vatablus. ; which may with as
much propriety
or more
be called a tree than hyssop
1 Kings 4:33; as it
is in the MisnahF3Sabbat
c. 2. sect. 3. & Bartenora in ib. .
Moreover
there was a sort of flax which grew in the upper part of Egypt
towards Arabia
as Pliny saysF4Nat. Hist. l. 19. c. 1.
which they
called "xylon"
or wood
of which were made "lina xylina":
though the words may be rightly transposed
as by as
"stalks of
flax"
which are large and strong before the flax is stripped or beaten
off of them; the Targum renders it bundles of flax
or handfuls and sheaves of
them
as they were when cut down and gathered:
which she had laid in order upon the roof; to be dried
as Kimchi observes; and PlinyF5Nat. Hist. l. 19. c. 1. speaks of
flax being bound up in bundles
and hung up and dried in the sun; which was
done that it might be more easily stripped and beaten off; and the roofs of
houses in those countries being flat
were very fit for such a purpose; See
Gill on Deuteronomy 22:8;
and these being now laid there were very suitable and convenient to conceal the
men under them. This seems to be in favour of Rahab
as being a virtuous and
industrious woman; see Proverbs 31:13.
Joshua 2:7 7 Then the men pursued them
by the road to the Jordan
to the fords. And as soon as those who pursued them
had gone out
they shut the gate.
YLT
7And the men have pursued
after them the way of the Jordan
by the fords
and the gate they have shut
afterwards
when the pursuers have gone out after them.
And the men pursued after them
.... As they thought:
the way to Jordan; on the other side of which the people of
Israel lay encamped
to which they supposed
according to Rahab's account
these two men directed their course:
unto the fords; the fords of Jordan
the passages through
it; for in some places
and at some times
it was fordable; which accounts for
the way in which these spies could get over Jordan
see Genesis 32:10; it
was most reasonable to conclude they would return the same way; and so far the
king's messengers went
but further they did not choose to go
because it would
be to no purpose
and they might expose themselves to the camp of Israel
which
lay on the other side:
and as soon as they which pursued after them were gone out
they
shut the gate; that is
either as soon as the king's messengers were gone out
of Rahab's house
either the spies
or rather the men of the house
Rahab's
servants
shut the door of it to prevent their return
or others coming in; or
rather
when they were got out of the city
the watchmen of the city
the
porters of the city gates
shut them
that if they were not got out of the
city
to prevent their escape
or however to keep out others from entering
that might be on some such design
or worse.
Joshua 2:8 8 Now before they lay down
she came up to them on the roof
YLT
8And -- before they lie down
-- she hath gone up unto them on the roof
And before they were laid down
.... Under the stalks of
the flax; or rather
since they are said to be hid in them
before they were
fallen asleep
so Kimchi and Abarbinel:
she came up unto them upon the roof; to acquaint them how
things were
and to converse with them on the following subjects.
Joshua 2:9 9 and said to the men: “I
know that the Lord
has given you the land
that the terror of you has fallen on us
and that all
the inhabitants of the land are fainthearted because of you.
YLT
9and she saith unto the men
`I have known that Jehovah hath given to you the land
and that your terror
hath fallen upon us
and that all the inhabitants of the land have melted at
your presence.
And she said unto the men
.... The two spies:
I know that the Lord hath given you the land; the land of
Canaan
of which she was an inhabitant
and in which they now were; this she
knew either by some tradition that was among them; or by divine revelation
a
supernatural impulse upon her mind: or by observing what the Lord had done
already
in putting the land of the Amorites into their hands
which were one
of the seven nations of Canaan; and by this it also appears
and more clearly
by what follows
that she had knowledge of the Lord God
the God of Israel:
and that your terror is fallen upon us; which was
another token or sign by which she knew the land would be delivered to them;
that they who were a formidable people
and struck terror into others
now were
terrified themselves
at the rumour of Israel being come to invade them; this
was what the Lord said should be the case
Deuteronomy 11:25
and that all the inhabitants of the land faint because of you; or
"melt"F6נמגו "liquefacti
sunt"
Montanus
Piscator.
like wax before the fire
as Moses had
predicted
Exodus 15:15.
Joshua 2:10 10 For we have heard how the Lord dried up the
water of the Red Sea for you when you came out of Egypt
and what you did to
the two kings of the Amorites who were on the other side of the Jordan
Sihon and Og
whom you utterly destroyed.
YLT
10`For we have heard how
Jehovah dried up the waters of the Red Sea at your presence
in your going out
of Egypt
and that which ye have done to the two kings of the Amorite who [are]
beyond the Jordan; to Sihon and to Og whom ye devoted.
For we have heard how the Lord dried up the waters of the Red sea
for you
when ye came out of Egypt
.... To make a passage
for them through it
to walk in as on dry land; this they had heard of and
remembered
though it was forty years ago:
and what you did unto the kings of the Amorites that were
on the other side Jordan: which were things more recent
done but a few months ago:
Sihon and Og
whom ye utterly destroyed; the history
of which see in Numbers 21:21; who
were destroyed by them under Moses and Joshua their commanders; and Hercules
who is thought to be the same with Joshua
is by LucianF7In Hercule.
called Ogmius
from slaying Og
as is supposedF8Dickinson. Delph.
Phoenic. c. 4. p. 44. .
Joshua 2:11 11 And as soon as we heard these
things
our hearts melted; neither did there remain any more courage in
anyone because of you
for the Lord your God
He is
God in heaven above and on earth beneath.
YLT
11And we hear
and melt doth
our heart
and there hath not stood any more spirit in [any] man
from your
presence
for Jehovah your God
He [is] God in the heavens above
and on the
earth beneath.
And as soon as we had heard these things
our hearts did
melt
.... Particularly what were done to the two kings of the Amorites
who
and their people
were utterly destroyed
their goods made a prey of
and
their countries seized upon and possessed:
neither did there remain any more courage in any man
because of
you; they looked dejected in their countenances
had no heart to go
about any business
trembled at the shaking of a leaf
or at the least rumour
and report made that the Israelites were coming on and were at hand; they had
no spirit to prepare to go out and meet them
or to defend themselves:
for the Lord your God
he is God in heaven above
and in
earth beneath; the Maker and Possessor of both; is the Governor of the whole
universe
and does what he pleases in it; and disposes of all countries
persons
and things
as he thinks fit: this is a proof of her knowledge of the
true God
and faith in him
and shows her to be a believer
and hence she is
reckoned in the catalogue of believers
Hebrews 11:31; and
her faith is proved to be of the right kind by the works she did
James 2:25.
Joshua 2:12 12 Now therefore
I beg you
swear to me by the Lord
since I have shown you kindness
that you also will show kindness to my
father’s house
and give me a true token
YLT
12`And now
swear ye
I pray
you
to me by Jehovah -- because I have done with you kindness -- that ye have
done
even ye
kindness with the house of my father
and have given to me a
true token
Now therefore
I pray you
swear unto me by the Lord
.... Which
being a religious action
and done by men that feared the Lord
she knew it
would be binding upon them: the Targum is
"swear to me by the Word of the
Lord:"
since I have showed you kindness; by receiving them with
peace into her house
and hiding them when inquired for and demanded of her; in
doing which she risked her own
life
had this treachery to her country
as it
would have been deemed
been discovered;
that you will also show kindness unto my father's house; she mentions
not herself and household
for if this was granted that would be implied and
included; and this she presses for by the law of retaliation and friendship
for since she had shown kindness to them
it was but reasonable it should be
returned:
and give me a true token; that she and her
father's house would be saved by them when the city should be taken and the
inhabitants destroyed; a token that would not deceive her
on which she might
depend
and would be firm and sure.
Joshua 2:13 13 and spare my father
my
mother
my brothers
my sisters
and all that they have
and deliver our lives
from death.”
YLT
13and have kept alive my
father
and my mother
and my brothers
and my sisters
and all that they have
and have delivered our souls from death.'
And that ye will save alive my father
and my mother
and
my brethren
and my sisters
.... She makes no mention of any husband or
children she had
as harlots seldom have
and which seems to confirm her
character as such; and so Abarbinel observes
that her father's house is only
mentioned to tell us that she had no husband
for she was an harlot and had no
children
and puts her father and mother in the room of an husband
and her
brethren and sisters in the room of children:
and all that they have; not their substance
only
but their children more especially
the children of her brethren and
sisters:
and deliver our lives from death; here she manifestly
includes herself
and requests the saving of her life
and the lives of all her
relations
when she knew the inhabitants of the city would be all put to death
upon the taking of it: thus she provided for the safety of her family
as Noah
in another case and manner did
Hebrews 11:7; and
indeed seemed more concerned for them than for herself; and thus souls sensible
of their own estate and condition
by nature and grace
are very solicitous for
the salvation of their relations and friends
Romans 9:3.
Joshua 2:14 14 So the men answered her
“Our lives for yours
if none of you tell this business of ours. And it shall
be
when the Lord
has given us the land
that we will deal kindly and truly with you.”
YLT
14And the men say to her
`Our soul for yours -- to die; if ye declare not this our matter
then it hath
been
in Jehovah's giving to us this land
that we have done with thee kindness
and truth.'
And the men answered her
.... The two spies:
our life for yours; or "our souls in your stead to
die"F9נפשנו תחתיכם
למות "anima nostra pro vobis ad moriendum"
Pagninus
Montanus. ; that is
we engage for the security of your lives
should
they be in danger; we promise to die in your room and stead rather than you
should: this they said not as though their lives would be required of them for
them
but to assure her of the safety of her and her father's house
on the
following condition:
if ye utter not this our business; not their business in
searching the land
for the discovery of that would be of little avail after
they were gone; for it was known already that there were persons come to search
the land; but "this our word"F11את
דברנו זה "verbum
nostrum hoc"
Pagninus
Montanus; "sermonem nostrum hunc"
Vatablus
Junius & Tremellius.
what they were going to say to her and bid
her do
as a sign of safety to her and hers; which
if she discovered
others
would give out the same sign
and then they could not promise her safety; or if
she did not take care to bring in her father
mother
brethren
and sisters
and theirs into her house
they could not engage to protect them:
and it shall be
when the Lord hath given us the land; not the whole
land
but Jericho and the laud about it
that when that part of it should be
delivered into their hands:
that we will deal kindly and truly with thee;
"kindly"
by sparing her and her father's house; "truly"
by faithfully performing the promise and oath they made to her.
Joshua 2:15 15 Then she let them down by
a rope through the window
for her house was on the city wall; she dwelt
on the wall.
YLT
15And she causeth them to go
down by a rope through the window
for her house [is] in the side of the wall
and in the wall she [is] dwelling;
Then she let them down by a cord through the window
.... Which
must be large
and the cord strong
as well as she herself a masculine woman
to let down two men by it
unless she employed any of her servants in the
affair; though this being so great a secrecy
it is probable she trusted none
of her domestics with it as little as possible: in like manner the Apostle Paul
was let down by the wall of Damascus in a basket
Acts 9:25; Jarchi
supposes it was the same cord and window
by means of and in at which her
gallants used to come and go:
for her house was upon the town wall; in a suitable
and convenient place to receive her guests and gallants: and it is observed
that harlots have had their houses on or under walls: Martial speaks of harlots
whom he callsF12Epigram. l. 3. Ep. 62. Summoenianae
whores that
plied under the walls and in the suburbs of cities:
and she dwelt upon the wall; that part of the house
in which she particularly dwelt was built on or over the wall
and the rest
towards the city was for the entertainment of persons that resorted to her
house.
Joshua 2:16 16 And she said to them
“Get
to the mountain
lest the pursuers meet you. Hide there three days
until the
pursuers have returned. Afterward you may go your way.”
YLT
16and she saith to them
`To
the mountain go
lest the pursuers come upon you; and ye have been hidden there
three days till the turning back of the pursuers
and afterwards ye go on your
way.'
And she said unto them
get ye unto the mountain
.... Which was
near to the city
and is supposed to be the same which is now called
Quarantania: Dr. Shaw
a late traveller in those parts
saysF13Travels
p. 276. Ed. 2.
from the mountain Quarantania
the very same perhaps where the
two spies concealed themselves
Joshua 2:16
we
have a distinct view of the land of the Amorites
of Gilead
and of Bashan
the
inheritance of the tribes of Reuben and Gad
and of the half tribe of
Manasseh--to it joins the mountain of Adummim
and through it the road is cut
that leads from Jerusalem to Jericho
where probably it was from the very
nature of the situation that the man fell among thieves
Luke 10:30; which
very probably is the same mountain which JosephusF14De Bello Jud. l.
4. c. 8. sect. 2. says hung over the city
and was a very barren one; though
the singular may be put for the plural
since
as Strabo saysF15Geograph.
l. 16. p. 525.
it was surrounded with mountains:
lest the pursuers meet you; on their return from the
fords of Jordan
being disappointed:
and hide yourselves there three days: some of the
Jewish Rabbins
as Jarchi and Kimchi
observe that she had this by the
revelation of the Holy Ghost
that the pursuers would return at the end of
three days; but the latter more truly remarks
that this was said by
conjecture; that Jericho being
as he says
one day from Jordan
and a little
more
by going
returning
and searching for the spies
they would be three
days in doing it:
until the pursuers be returned; into the city; for until
they were they could not be in safety
but must be in danger of being met by
them and taken up:
and afterward may ye go your way: to Jordan
and so to the
camp of Israel
and that without fear.
Joshua 2:17 17 So the men said to her:
“We will be blameless of this oath of yours which you have made us
swear
YLT
17And the men say unto her
`We are acquitted of this thine oath which thou hast caused us to swear:
And the men said unto her
.... Some think that this
discourse
which passed between the spies and her
was while in the house
before she let them down
or otherwise they would have been in danger of being
overheard
and so the whole affair discovered; but as it was on the other side
of the house
and under the wall of the city
and without it
they might with
the greater safety converse together:
we will be blameless of this thine oath which thou hast
made us swear; that is
they would most faithfully and punctually keep it
it
should be sacred to them
and she should have no occasion to lay any blame upon
them in the least.
Joshua 2:18 18 unless
when we
come into the land
you bind this line of scarlet cord in the window through
which you let us down
and unless you bring your father
your mother
your brothers
and all your father’s household to your own home.
YLT
18lo
we are coming into the
land
this line of scarlet thread thou dost bind to the window by which thou
hast caused us to go down
and thy father
and thy mother
and thy brethren
and all the house of thy father thou dost gather unto thee
to the house;
Behold
when we come into the land
.... The land
of Canaan
and into this city
into that part of it
as the Septuagint
where
her house was
meaning not themselves only
but the people of Israel they
belonged to:
thou shall bind this line of scarlet thread in the window which
thou didst let us down by; the word by refers either to the scarlet
thread they were let down by
said to be a cord
Joshua 2:15; and
therefore must be a line twisted with various scarlet threads
as Kimchi; who
observes
that according to the Targum
it was the border of a red garment; or
to the window through which they were let down
as the Septuagint version; it
may refer to both
and the sense be
that the same twisted cord of scarlet
thread they were let down by should be bound to the same window they were let
down through; only this objection there is to the same window
that it was not
towards the city
and so not to be seen when they came into it
but looked over
the wall without the city: now as Rahab was an instance of the salvation of
sinners by the grace of God
for she was a sinner by birth
by practice
and a
notorious one; she was an instance of distinguishing grace
of free and
efficacious grace
a singular instance of it; and became a true penitent
a
real believer
was a justified person
and saved: so the scarlet thread was an
emblem of the blood of Christ
by which salvation is; redemption and all the
blessings of grace are through it; justification
remission of sin
reconciliation
and atonement
and safety
and protection from avenging
justice
and wrath to come
are only by it: likewise the spies
who are also
called "messengers"
James 2:25; may
represent the ministers of the Gospel
who are the messengers of Christ
and
the churches
are sent out by him the antitypical Joshua
men of wisdom
courage
and valour
and are sent as spies to bring to light men and things
who direct to the way of salvation and give the same token of it
Mark 16:16
and thou shall bring thy father
and thy mother
and thy brethren
and all thy father's household home unto thee; into her house
where
the scarlet thread was bound
and where only they would be safe
as the
Israelites were in the houses where the blood of the paschal lamb was
sprinkled
Exodus 12:23; and
so they are safe
and they only
who are under the blood of sprinkling
and
partake of the virtue of it.
Joshua 2:19 19 So it shall be that
whoever goes outside the doors of your house into the street
his blood shall
be on his own head
and we will be guiltless. And whoever is with
you in the house
his blood shall be on our head if a hand is laid on
him.
YLT
19and it hath been
any one
who goeth out from the doors of thy house without
his blood [is] on his head
and we are innocent; and any one who is with thee in the house
his blood [is]
on our head
if a hand is on him;
And it shall be
that
whosoever shall go out of the door of thy house into the street
.... After
they have been taken in
and when the Israelites were come into the city:
his blood shall be upon his head
and we will be
guiltless; if he is killed by any person
his death will be owing to
himself
and no blame to be laid on us; nor shall we reckon ourselves guilty of
the breach of the oath taken:
and whosoever shall be with thee in the house
his blood
shall be on our head
if any hand be upon him: if anyone
within doors is killed by an Israelite entering in
the guilt of the blood
shall lie upon us
and we will be answerable
according to the tenor of the
oath
"our life for yours"
Joshua 2:14.
Joshua 2:20 20 And if you tell this
business of ours
then we will be free from your oath which you made us swear.”
YLT
20and if thou declare this
our matter
then we have been acquitted from thine oath which thou hast caused
us to swear.'
And if thou utter this our
business
.... So that others would either hang out scarlet threads or get
into her house for shelter; see Gill on Joshua 2:14
then we will be quit of thine oath which thou hast made us to
swear; be under no obligation to make it good
by saving her and her
father's house.
Joshua 2:21 21 Then she said
“According
to your words
so be it.” And she sent them away
and they departed. And
she bound the scarlet cord in the window.
YLT
21And she saith
`According
unto your words
so it [is];' and she sendeth them away
and they go; and she
bindeth the scarlet line to the window.
And she said
according to
your words
so be it
.... She agreed
that if the conditions
required were not performed
they would be quit of their oath
but if they
were
she expected it would be fulfilled:
and she sent them away
and they departed; took their
leave of each other:
and she bound the scarlet line in the window; immediately
as Abarbinel thinks
and in the sight of the spies
that they might see that
she conformed to their direction
and that they might take notice where she
fastened it; and that she herself might
at the sight of it
be put in mind of
the design of it
and be an encouragement to her faith as to the safety of her
and her father's house; and it being a thing so trifling and insignificant in
itself
would not be taken notice of by the inhabitants
or be thought to be
done with any design; though
according to the instruction of the spies
it
seems as if it was to be done when they came into the land
and into the city
and which seems most likely that it was then done.
Joshua 2:22 22 They departed and went to
the mountain
and stayed there three days until the pursuers returned. The
pursuers sought them all along the way
but did not find them.
YLT
22And they go
and come in to
the mountain
and abide there three days until the pursuers have turned back;
and the pursuers seek in all the way
and have not found.
And they went
and came
unto the mountain
.... Rahab had directed them to
the mountain Quarantania; see
Gill on Joshua 2:16
and abode there three days; being
no doubt
supplied with food by Rahab; and it might not be three wholly
but one whole
day and part of the other two:
until the pursuers were returned; to the city of Jericho
as might reasonably be supposed:
and the pursuers sought them throughout all the way; from Jericho
to the fords of Jordan
searching every hedge
field
and village as they went
and returned:
but found them not; Rahab having hid them in
her house
and then sent them to the mountain
there to remain till the return
of the pursuers.
Joshua 2:23 23 So the two men returned
descended from the mountain
and crossed over; and they came to Joshua the son
of Nun
and told him all that had befallen them.
YLT
23And the two men turn back
and come down from the hill
and pass over
and come in unto Joshua son of Nun
and recount to him all that hath come upon them;
So the two men returned
and descended from the mountain
.... Or came down from it again
by which
it seems
they went to the top of it
and hid themselves in some cave there:
this descent
Kimchi says
was
"on the third day of their being sent
which was the second day of the three days Joshua made mention of when he said
"within three days";'See Gill on Joshua 1:11
and passed over; that is
the river Jordan
at the fords of
it:
and came to Joshua the son of Nun; at Shittim
where he
still continued
and from whence he sent them
Joshua 2:1
and told him all things that befell them; what house
they went into when come to Jericho
what reception they met with
the report
of them to the king of Jericho
how messengers were sent by him to demand them
and by what means they were preserved and made their escape.
Joshua 2:24 24 And they said to Joshua
“Truly the Lord
has delivered all the land into our hands
for indeed all the inhabitants of
the country are fainthearted because of us.”
YLT
24and they say unto Joshua
`Surely Jehovah hath given into our hand all the land; and also
all the
inhabitants of the land have melted at our presence.'
And they said unto Joshua
.... Made a
report of what they had got knowledge of
which answered the end of their
mission:
truly the Lord hath delivered into our hands all the land: which they
concluded by the terror the inhabitants of it were in
and so in no condition
to make resistance and defend themselves; and they not only judged of the whole
land by the case of the inhabitants of Jericho
but were assured by Rahab that
all the inhabitants of the land were in the same plight and condition
Joshua 2:9
for even the inhabitants of the country do faint because of us; this was the
temper and disposition they appeared in
and seems to be what Joshua was
chiefly desirous of knowing; since nothing else is told by the spies nor
inquired of by him
but immediately upon this report began his march towards
Canaan
as in the next chapter is related.
──《John Gill’s
Exposition of the Bible》
New King James
Version (NKJV)