Joshua 2 Commentary

Joshua sends two men to scout out Jericho. While they stay in the house of a prostitute named Rahab, the king of Jericho sends word to her, asking her to deliver them into his hands. Rahab hides the men, and as soon as the king’s agents leave her house, watchmen shut the city gate for the night. 

Rahab tells the Israelite spies that she fears the LORD their God and asks them to spare her and her family from death when they conquer the land of Jericho. The men agree to do what she says if she keeps their movements secret.

Rahab lowers the Israelite spies down from her roof and instructs them to escape the city. The men reiterate their promise to show kindness to her and her family when they return to destroy Jericho if she will tie a scarlet cord through her window and gather her family into her home. As long as she maintains their secret, they will spare her. Rahab accepts these conditions and releases the men.

The Israelite spies leave Rahab’s house. They remain in the hill country west of Jericho for three days until the king’s agents who searched for them return to the city. Then, unlike the 10 spies in Numbers 13 who gave a negative report, they return to Joshua and tell him the LORD will give them victory over Jericho.