Joshua 2

Josua sendeth two men to spie out the land of Cannan and Jericho , verse 1, & c. Whom the King of that City causeth to be sought after , 3 . but Rahab bideth them , 4. and craftily deceiveth the Kings messengers , 5. and she relateth the great dismaydnesse of the people of that city, and of the land , declaring that the same came from God , 9.She requesteth that the israelites would save her and her fathers house alive , 12 . which the spies promise upon oath , yet with condition , 14. after that they return unto Josua , 23. and bring him good tidings 24 .

1. Now Josua the son of Nun had sent from Sittim [Situate in the land of the Moabites , where the Israelites had transgressed in committing fornication and idolatry with Baal-Peor , Numb. 25.1.] two men , to spie secretly, [Heb. silently : i.e. he had not acquainted the people therewith , as Moseh had done , when he sent out the twelve men , Num.13.2. and 33.49.] saying : Go your wayes , view the land and Jericho : [Jericho was afterward allotted to the tribe of Benjamin ; distant about 150 furlongs from Jerusalem , and about 60 from Jordan : this is the first city which te Israelites set upon by force : It was seated or placed in a pleasant fruitful countrey , where many palm-trees grew , whence it was called the palm-City , Deut.34.3. Judg.1.16. and 2 Chron 28.15.]They then went , and came unto the house of a woman , a harlot , [Oth. of a woman , who was an harlot .The Hebrew word signifieth also an hostesse : but, Hebrews 11:31. and Jerem.2.25. Rachabis expresly called an harlot] and they lodged there .

2. Then it was told the King of Jericho , saying : Behold, this night are come hither two men from the children of Israel , to search out this land .

3. Wherefore the King of Jericho sent unto Rachab , saying : Bring forth the men that are come to thee , for they are come to search out all the land .

4. But that woman had taken both of these men , and she had hid them , [Heb. had hid him ; viz. each of them] and said thus ; [Oth. and she said , it is right] There came men unto me , but I know not whence they were.

5. And it came to passe , when the gate should be shut , when it was dark , that those men went forth ; whither those men are gone , I know not ; pursue quickly after them , for ye shall overtake them .

6. But she had caused them to go up into the roof : and she had hid them among the stalks of flax , [Heb. in the flax of the wood , thus raw flax , which is not cleared from its stalks , seems to be called . There be those who conceive , that by the flax of the wood is meant cotten , which by the Greeks is called Eunivov , Eunov , wherefore abundance is found in Syria and Assyria] which by her were placed on the roof.

7. Those men now pursued after them on the way of Jordan, unto the ferries . [Understand here the ferrie, or ferries , where they are wont to passe over the Jordan ; that there their passage over might be stopped] and the gate was shut , [viz. the City-gate , that those spies , if they were yet in the city , might not scape away] after they were gone forth that pursued after them .

8. Now before they were laid down , she went up to them upon the roof,

9. And she spake unto these men , I know that the LORD hath given you this land , and that your terror is fallen upon us , [i.e. the terror because of you , or for your sake] and that all the inhabitants of the land are melted before your face.

10. For we have heard that the LORD dried up the waters of the red-sea before your face , when ye went forth out of Egypt , and what ye did unto the two Kings of the Amorites , Sihon and Og, who were on the other side of Jordan , whom ye banned . [or devoted to destruction .]

11. When we heard it , our heart melted , [i.e. we fainted and lost all our courage . See this manner of speaking likewise , Jos.5.1. and 7.5. Deut.1.28. And 20.8. Isa. 13,7. Ezech.21.14. Nehem.2.12 , etc.] neither did there remain any more courage in any man , because of your presence : for the LORD your God is a God in the heaven above , and on the earth beneath.

12. Now then, swear unto me ( I pray) by the LORD , because I have shewed kindnesse unto you : that ye likewise will shew kindeness unto my fathers house , [i.e. kindred . See Jos. 23,25.] and give me a true token ,

13. That ye will save alive my father and my mother , as also my brethren , and my sisters , with all that they have ; and that ye will deliver our soules from death. [i.e.our persons .]

14. Then said those men unto her , Let our soul be to die for you , [i.e. we will spare and protect both you and yours , though it should cost us our life] if ye discover not this our businesss : [i.e. thou, or any of thine] It shall then be , when the LORD giveth us this land , that we will show [Heb. do] kindnesse and faithfulnesse unto thee.

15. Then she let them down by a cord through the window : for her house wa upon the city wall , and she dwelt upon the wall.

16. And she said unto them , Get up to the mountain , lest preadventure the pursuers meet you , and hide your selves there three dayes , untill the pursuers shall be returned , and afterward go your way.

17. Also those men said unto her : we will be guiltlesse [i.e. free . So likewise , verse 20.] of this thy oath [i.e.of the oath whereby thou hast engaged us] hich thou hast caused us to swear.

18. Behold , when we come into the land , thou shalt tie this line of scarlet thred to the window , whereby thou shalt have let us down , and thou shalt gather unto thee into the house , thy father , and thy mother , and thy brethren and the whole household of thy father .

19. So shall it be , that whosoever shall go forth out of the doors of thy house , let his blood be upon his head , [i.e. let him be guilty of it himself, if his blood be shed] and we shall be guiltlesse, but whosoever shall be with thee in the house , his blood be upon our head , if any hand shall be against him.

20. But if thou shalt make known this our businesse , then we shall be guiltlesse of this by oath , which thou hast made us swear.

21. Then she said , Bee it so according to your words : then she let them go , and they departed , and she tied the scarlet line to the window.

22. They then went their way , and came up into the mountain , and abode there three dayes , untill the pursuers were returned : for the pursuers had sought them all the way , [viz. towards Jordan , but they sought then not upon the mountain , where the spies lay close] but not found them.

23. So these two men returned , [i.e. they came again into their right way , from which they were departed , that they might not fall into the hands of those that pursued after them] and descended from the mountain , and passed over , [to wit , over Jordan] and came to Josua the sun of Nun , and they related unto him whatsoever had befallen them . [Heb. whatsoever had found them.]

24. And they said unto Josua , Assuredly the LORD hath given us that land into our hands , for even all the inhabitants of the land are melted before our faces .