Joshua chapter 2 narrates the secret mission of two Israelite spies sent by Joshua to scout the city of Jericho before the Israelites' invasion. They find refuge in the house of Rahab, a Canaanite wom...
24
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~4 min
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Joshua
Author
c. 1406 BC - Israel’s Entry into Canaan
Timeline
Timeline
c. 1406 BC - Israel’s Entry into Canaan
Joshua chapter 2 narrates the secret mission of two Israelite spies sent by Joshua to scout the city of Jericho before the Israelites' invasion. They find refuge in the house of Rahab, a Canaanite woman and harlot, who hides them from the king’s men and acknowledges the power of the God of Israel. Rahab’s faith leads her to request protection for her family in exchange for her assistance. The spies agree, instructing her to mark her house with a scarlet cord as a sign of safety. This chapter highlights themes of faith, divine sovereignty, and God’s providential protection, setting the stage for the conquest of Canaan and demonstrating God’s ability to use unlikely individuals for His purposes.
Verses 1-7: The Spies Sent and Hidden. Joshua sends two men to Jericho to spy secretly. They lodge in Rahab’s house, and when the king demands the spies, Rahab hides them and deceives the king’s messengers.
Verses 8-11: Rahab’s Confession of Faith. Rahab acknowledges the LORD’s power and recounts Israel’s victories, expressing her belief that God has given the land to Israel and that the inhabitants are terrified.
Verses 12-21: The Covenant with Rahab. Rahab requests a promise of protection for her family. The spies swear an oath to spare her household if she keeps their mission secret and marks her window with a scarlet cord.
Verses 22-24: The Spies’ Escape and Report. The spies escape to the mountains, evade pursuit, and return to Joshua with a confident report that the LORD has delivered the land into their hands.
A Canaanite woman and harlot living in Jericho who hides the Israelite spies. Her faith in the LORD leads her to protect the spies and seek mercy for her family, making her a key figure demonstrating God’s grace to Gentiles.
Men sent by Joshua to secretly scout Jericho. They rely on Rahab’s help to evade capture and return with a report of God’s deliverance, showing obedience and trust in God’s plan.
The ruler who seeks to capture the Israelite spies to prevent their reconnaissance. His pursuit highlights the opposition Israel faces in taking the Promised Land.
Joshua sends two spies to Jericho who find refuge in Rahab’s house. When the king demands the spies, Rahab hides them and deceives the pursuers, demonstrating courage and resourcefulness.
Rahab openly acknowledges the LORD’s power and the fear He has instilled in the land’s inhabitants, expressing her belief in Israel’s God and His promises.
Rahab requests a promise of protection for her family. The spies swear an oath and instruct her to mark her window with a scarlet cord as a sign of safety.
The spies evade their pursuers by hiding in the mountains and return safely to Joshua with a confident report of God’s deliverance of the land.
“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.”
“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.”
“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.”
“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.”
How well do you know Joshua 2?
Take the QuizTrust in God’s sovereignty even in uncertain and dangerous situations, as Rahab did.
Demonstrate faith by actions that align with God’s promises and commands.
Recognize that God can use anyone, regardless of background, to accomplish His purposes.
Obey God’s instructions faithfully, trusting His covenant promises for protection and provision.
Be courageous in sharing the truth of God’s power and salvation with others.
Seek God’s protection through faith and obedience, symbolized by the scarlet cord.
Rahab’s belief in the LORD and her actions to protect the spies illustrate how faith leads to salvation, showing God’s willingness to save those outside Israel who trust Him.
The chapter emphasizes God’s control over nations and peoples, as seen in the fear the inhabitants of Canaan have toward Israel, demonstrating God’s power to fulfill His promises.
The agreement between Rahab and the spies, sealed by the scarlet cord, highlights God’s covenant faithfulness and the importance of obedience to His promises for safety and deliverance.
This chapter is set during the late Bronze Age, around the time of Israel’s entrance into Canaan after the Exodus and wilderness wanderings. Jericho was a fortified city in the Jordan Valley, strategically important and heavily defended. The political situation involved various Canaanite city-states, often hostile to Israel’s incursion. The practice of sending spies was a common military strategy to gather intelligence. Rahab’s role as a harlot and resident of a city wall house reflects social customs of the time, where such women might have access to information and influence. The scarlet cord as a sign of protection fits within ancient Near Eastern covenant symbolism.
Reformed theologians emphasize Rahab’s faith as a demonstration of justification by faith apart from works, highlighting God’s sovereign grace extending beyond ethnic Israel.
Dispensationalists see this chapter as part of God’s progressive revelation and fulfillment of His promises to Israel, with Rahab’s inclusion foreshadowing Gentile inclusion in God’s redemptive plan.
Early Church Fathers often interpreted Rahab as a type of the Church, a sinner saved by faith, and the scarlet cord as a symbol of Christ’s blood protecting believers.
References Rahab’s faith as an example of righteousness by faith, connecting her story to the New Testament’s teaching on faith.
Uses Rahab’s actions to illustrate that faith without works is dead, emphasizing the necessity of active faith.
The scarlet cord parallels the blood on the doorposts during the Passover, signifying protection through God’s covenant.
God’s command to dispossess the Canaanites sets the context for the spies’ mission and the conquest of Jericho.
God as a refuge and strength echoes Rahab’s trust in the LORD’s protection.
Joshua chapter 2 powerfully illustrates the intersection of faith, obedience, and divine sovereignty as Israel prepares to enter the Promised Land. Rahab’s courageous faith and the spies’ mission demonstrate that God’s plans unfold through human cooperation under His guidance. The chapter encourages believers to trust God’s promises, act in faith, and recognize His grace extending beyond traditional boundaries. The scarlet cord remains a vivid symbol of God’s protective covenant, reminding Christians today of the salvation found in trusting Him fully.
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