Rahab Hides the Spies
Rahab protects Israel's spies as Jericho's king hunts them.
Joshua 2:1-7 (BSB)
1Then Joshua son of Nun secretly sent two spies from Shittim, saying, “Go, inspect the land, especially Jericho.” So they went and entered the house of a prostitute named Rahab and stayed there.
2And it was reported to the king of Jericho: “Behold, some men of Israel have come here tonight to spy out the land.”
3So the king of Jericho sent to Rahab and said, “Bring out the men who came to you and entered your house, for they have come to spy out the whole land.”
4But the woman had taken the two men and hidden them. So she said, “Yes, the men did come to me, but I did not know where they had come from.
5At dusk, when the gate was about to close, the men went out, and I do not know which way they went. Pursue them quickly, and you may catch them!”
6(But Rahab had taken them up to the roof and hidden them among the stalks of flax that she had laid out there.)
7So the king’s men set out in pursuit of the spies along the road to the fords of the Jordan, and as soon as they had gone out, the gate was shut.
What is the big idea of Joshua 2:1-7?
Rahab protects Israel's spies as Jericho's king hunts them.
Understanding the Big Idea
The spies enter a threatened city and find refuge with Rahab, who conceals them as the king's search reaches her house. The narrative introduces costly protection before explaining her confession.
How does Joshua 2:1-7 point to Christ?
Rahab's protection belongs to the story of Israel's entry into the land. Later Scripture commends her faith and reception of the messengers (Hebrews 11:31; James 2:25), not a universal duty to lie. The gospel rests on Jesus' death for sins and resurrection (1 Corinthians 15:3-4); God's grace can receive outsiders without making danger or deceit a saving ritual.
Authorial Intent
Joshua secretly sends two men from Shittim to inspect Jericho; Rahab receives and hides them while the king's agents search and then pursue a false trail.
Literary Context
Joshua 1:10-18 precedes this unit; Joshua 2:8-11 continues the account. Joshua secretly sends two men from Shittim to inspect Jericho; Rahab receives and hides them while the king's agents search and then pursue a false trail.
Historical Context
Before the Jordan crossing, Joshua sends two spies from Shittim toward Jericho. The city has a king, a guarded gate, and a wall in which Rahab's house is situated.
Chapter: Joshua 2
Rahab’s Faith and the Spies’ Covenant Protection
The LORD has already gone before His people, and those who turn to Him in faith find mercy even under judgment.