Chapter Summary
Core Passages from Joshua 2
Joshua 2:11And as soon as we heard it, our hearts melted, and there was no spirit left in any man because of you, for the Lord your God, he is God in the heavens above and on the earth beneath.
This is a stunning confession of faith from a Canaanite woman, showing that God's reputation had spread and was powerful enough to create genuine belief in an enemy city.Joshua 2:18Behold, when we come into the land, you shall tie this scarlet cord in the window through which you let us down, and you shall gather into your house your father and mother, your brothers, and all your father's household.
The scarlet cord becomes the physical sign of the covenant made between the spies and Rahab, symbolizing that her household would be saved from the coming destruction.Joshua 2:24And they said to Joshua, “Truly the Lord has given all the land into our hands. And also, all the inhabitants of the land melt away because of us.”
This faith-filled report stands in stark contrast to the fearful report from the spies in Numbers 13, signaling that this new generation of Israelites was ready to trust God and take the land.
Historical & Cultural Context
On the Brink of a Promise
With Moses gone, Joshua is now leading Israel. The nation is camped at Shittim, on the very edge of the Promised Land they have waited 40 years to enter. Before leading a full-scale invasion, Joshua initiates a covert intelligence mission to scout the first major obstacle: the heavily fortified city of Jericho. This mission is the first concrete step toward fulfilling the promise God made to Abraham centuries earlier.
A Second Chance at Espionage
This spy mission carries the weight of history. The last time Israel sent spies into Canaan, their report was filled with fear, leading to a generation of wandering in the wilderness (Numbers 13). Joshua, one of the two faithful spies from that original mission, now sends his own men. The success or failure of this new mission will set the tone for the entire conquest, determining if this generation will move forward in faith or shrink back in fear.
A Secret Mission to Jericho
The chapter opens with Joshua sending two men from their camp at Shittim on a secret mission. Their objective is to gather intelligence on the land, especially the strategic city of Jericho. Their journey takes an unexpected turn when they seek lodging at the house of Rahab, a woman whose life is about to intersect with God's plan in a dramatic way.
A Dangerous Hiding Place (Joshua 2:1-7)
1 And Joshua the son of Nun sent two men secretly from Shittim as spies, saying, "Go, view the land, especially Jericho." And they went and came into the house of a prostitute whose name was Rahab and lodged there.
2 And it was told to the king of Jericho, "Behold, men of Israel have come here tonight to search out the land."
3 Then the king of Jericho sent to Rahab, saying, "Bring out the men who have come to you, who entered your house, for they have come to search out all the land."
4 But the woman had taken the two men and hidden them. And she said, "True, the men came to me, but I did not know where they were from.
5 At the gate of the city she lodged with a man named Rahab, whose house was built into the city wall, so that she said to the men, "I know that the Lord has given you the land, and that the fear of you has fallen upon us, and that all the inhabitants of the land melt away before you.
6 But she had brought them up to the roof and hid them with the stalks of flax that she had laid in order on the roof.
7 So the men pursued after them on the way to the Jordan as far as the fords. And the gate was shut as soon as the pursuers had gone out.
Commentary:
Two Israelite spies are hidden by Rahab, who deceives the king's men to protect them.
A Confession on the Rooftop (Joshua 2:8-14)
8 Before the men lay down, she came up to them on the roof
9 and said to the men, “I know that the Lord has given you the land, and that the fear of you has fallen upon us, and that all the inhabitants of the land melt away before you.
10 For we have heard how the Lord dried up the water of the Red Sea before you when you came out of Egypt, and what you did to the two kings of the Amorites who were beyond the Jordan, to Sihon and Og, whom you devoted to destruction.
11 And as soon as we heard it, our hearts melted, and there was no spirit left in any man because of you, for the Lord your God, he is God in the heavens above and on the earth beneath.
12 Now then, please swear to me by the Lord that, as I have dealt kindly with you, you also will deal kindly with my father's house, and give me a sure sign
13 And when the Lord gives us the land, we will deal kindly and faithfully with you.”
14 And the men said to her, "Our life for yours even to death! If you do not tell this business of ours, then when the Lord gives us the land we will deal kindly and faithfully with you."
Commentary:
Rahab declares her faith in Israel's God and makes a deal with the spies to save her family.
A Covenant Sealed with a Cord (Joshua 2:15-21)
15 Then she let them down by a rope through the window, for her house was built into the city wall, so that she lived in the wall.
16 And she said to them, “Go into the hills, or the pursuers will encounter you, and hide there three days until the pursuers have returned. Then afterward you may go your way.”
17 The men said to her, “We will be guiltless with respect to this oath of yours that you have made us swear.
18 Behold, when we come into the land, you shall tie this scarlet cord in the window through which you let us down, and you shall gather into your house your father and mother, your brothers, and all your father's household.
19 Then if anyone goes out of the doors of your house into the street, his blood shall be on his own head, and we shall be guiltless. But if a hand is laid on anyone who is with you in the house, his blood shall be on our head.
20 If anyone goes out of the doors of your house into the street, his blood shall be on his own head, and we shall be guiltless. But if a hand is laid on anyone who is with you in the house, his blood shall be on our head.
21 And she said, “According to your words, so be it.” Then she sent them away, and they departed. And she tied the scarlet cord in the window.
Commentary:
The spies promise to spare Rahab's family if she hangs a scarlet cord in her window and keeps her family inside.
A Report of Faith, Not Fear (Joshua 2:22-24)
22 And they departed and went into the hills and remained there three days until the pursuers returned, and the pursuers searched all along the way and found nothing.
23 So the two men returned, and they came down from the hills and passed over and came to Joshua the son of Nun, and they told him all that had happened to them.
24 And they said to Joshua, “Truly the Lord has given all the land into our hands. And also, all the inhabitants of the land melt away because of us.”
Commentary:
The spies return to Joshua with a confident report that God has given them the land.
Unexpected Faith and God's Inclusive Plan
Faith in an Unlikely Heart
Rahab, a Canaanite prostitute, is the last person anyone would expect to be a hero of faith. Yet, she demonstrates a clearer understanding of God's power and a more courageous faith than many Israelites. Her story powerfully illustrates that God's grace is not limited by nationality, social status, or past mistakes.
A God Whose Reputation Precedes Him
The Israelites had not yet fought a single battle in Canaan, but God's reputation had already done the work of demoralizing the enemy. The stories of the Exodus and other victories had spread far and wide, proving that God was sovereign over all nations. Rahab's faith was born from hearing about God's mighty deeds, showing that God is always at work beyond what we can see.
The Scarlet Cord of Deliverance
The scarlet cord is a symbol of a covenant, a binding promise of salvation, not merely a marker. For Rahab and her family, this cord represented their only hope of being saved from the coming judgment. It serves as a powerful reminder that God provides a clear and specific way for people to find deliverance through faith and obedience.
Applying Rahab's Story to Our Lives
Rahab's story shows that God is not concerned with your resume or your reputation, but with the posture of your heart. As a non-Israelite and a prostitute, she was a complete outsider, yet God used her to advance His plan of salvation. This teaches you that no one is too far gone or too insignificant for God to use in a powerful way.
You can follow Rahab's example by acting on what you know to be true about God, even when it's risky. She heard about God's power and chose to align with Him instead of her culture (Joshua 2:9-11). This means making choices based on faith in God's character, even when those choices are unpopular or frightening.
The scarlet cord was a visible sign of God's promise of protection. For you, it can represent the assurance of salvation that comes through faith in Jesus. Similar to Rahab, who trusted the sign and obeyed the command to stay inside (Joshua 2:18-19), you are called to place your trust in God's promises and remain in His care.
God's Plan Includes Unexpected People
Joshua 2 reveals that God's plan of salvation is already at work even among those considered enemies or outsiders. Through the story of Rahab, we see that faith is not defined by one's background but by a heart that recognizes God's supreme authority and acts on it. The message is both surprising and hopeful: God's grace extends to anyone who turns to Him, offering them a secure place in His redemptive story.
What This Means for Us Today
Faith often requires a courageous choice. Rahab heard about God's power and chose to risk everything to align herself with Him and His people. Joshua 2 invites us to do the same - to hear what God has done and to step out in faith, trusting that He will make a way for our deliverance.
- Where is God asking you to take a risk based on what you know about Him?
- Who in your life might be an 'outsider' that God is inviting into His story?
- What 'scarlet cord' of God's promises do you need to hold onto today?
Further Reading
Immediate Context
God commissions Joshua to lead Israel, promising His presence and commanding courage, setting the stage for the mission to Jericho.
The story continues with the Israelites miraculously crossing the Jordan River on dry ground, a public display of the power Rahab had only heard about.
Connections Across Scripture
This chapter details the first spy mission into Canaan, where the majority's fearful report led to 40 years of wandering, providing a crucial contrast to the faith-filled report in Joshua 2.
Rahab is celebrated in the 'Hall of Faith' as a hero whose active faith saved her from destruction.
James highlights Rahab as a key example of how genuine faith is proven by righteous actions.
Discussion Questions
- Rahab lied to the king's men to protect the spies. How do we reconcile her act of faith with her act of deception, and what does this teach us about living by faith in a broken world?
- The people of Jericho heard the same stories about God as Rahab, but they responded with terror while she responded with faith. What do you think made the difference in her heart?
- How does Rahab's inclusion in the story of Israel - and later, in the lineage of Jesus (Matthew 1:5) - change your perspective on who belongs in God's family?
Glossary
places
Jericho
A heavily fortified Canaanite city that was the first major target for the Israelites upon entering the Promised Land.
Shittim
The final campsite of the Israelites east of the Jordan River before they crossed into the Promised Land.
Jordan River
The natural border on the eastern side of the Promised Land that the Israelites had to cross.
figures
Rahab
A Canaanite prostitute in Jericho who hid the Israelite spies and became part of Israel's story through her faith.
Joshua
Moses' successor who was chosen by God to lead the Israelites into the Promised Land.
Sihon and Og
Two powerful Amorite kings whom the Israelites had defeated east of the Jordan, a victory that contributed to God's fearsome reputation.