1
Joshua son of Nun secretly sent two spies from Shittim, saying, “Go, survey the land and Jericho.” So they went and came to the house of a woman, a prostitute named Rahab, and stayed there.
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Then it was reported to the king of Jericho, saying, “Look, men from the Israelites came here last night to spy out the land.”
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So the king of Jericho sent word to Rahab, saying, “Bring out the men who came to you, who entered your house, for they have come to spy out the whole land.”
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But the woman had taken the two men and hidden them. She said, “Yes, the men came to me, but I did not know where they were from.
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And when the gate was about to be shut at dusk, the men went out; I do not know where the men went. Pursue them quickly, and you will surely overtake them.”
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But she had brought them up to the roof and hidden them under the stalks of flax that she had laid out on the roof.
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So the men pursued them toward the Jordan River, to the crossing places, and the gate was shut as soon as the pursuers had gone out.
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Before the two men lay down, the woman came up to them on the roof
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and said to the men, “I know that the LORD has given you this land, and that the terror of you has fallen upon us, and all the inhabitants of the land are melting with fear before you.
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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 beyond the Jordan, namely Sihon and Og, whom you utterly destroyed.
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When we heard it, our hearts melted, and the spirit of every man failed because of you; for the LORD your God is God in heaven above and on the earth beneath.
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Now then, please swear to me by the LORD, since I have dealt kindly with you, that you also will deal kindly with my father’s house; and give me a sure sign,
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that you will spare my father and my mother, my brothers and my sisters, and all who belong to them, and that you will save our lives from death.”
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Then the two men answered her, “Our lives for yours, if you do not tell this business of ours; and when the LORD gives us the land, we will deal kindly and faithfully with you.”
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Then she let them down by a rope through the window, for her house was on the city wall, and she lived on the wall.
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And she said to them, “Go to the hill country, so that the pursuers may not find you, and hide there three days, until the pursuers have returned; then you may go on your way.”
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The two men said to her, “We shall be free from this oath of ours to you, which you made us swear—
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indeed, when we come into the land, you shall tie this cord of scarlet thread in the window through which you let us down, and you shall gather your father and your mother, your brothers, and all your family into your house.
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Everyone who goes out of the doors of your house into the street shall be responsible for his own death, and we shall be innocent; but whoever is with you in the house, if anyone harms him, his blood shall be on our heads.
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But if you tell this matter of ours, then we shall be free from your oath that you made us swear.”
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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.
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They departed and came to the hill country, and stayed there three days, until the pursuers returned. The pursuers had searched all along the road and found nothing.
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Then the two men returned; they came down from the hill country, crossed over, and came to Joshua son of Nun, and they told him all that had happened to them.
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They said to Joshua, “The LORD has given all the land into our hand, and indeed all the inhabitants of the land are melting with fear before us.”
🏠🔍🕊️ Summary of Joshua 2 – Rahab Hides the Spies
Joshua 2 tells how two Israelite spies were sent to Jericho, and they were helped by Rahab, a woman who lived as a prostitute. With faith and courage, Rahab saved them and asked for protection for her family. This story shows how faith in God brings salvation, even for those whom the world considers lowly.
📌 1. Two Spies Sent to Jericho (verse 1)
- Joshua secretly sent two spies from Shittim to the city of Jericho.
- They entered the house of Rahab, a prostitute, and stayed there overnight.
🎯 God’s mission often begins quietly, yet full of strategy and divine direction.
📌 2. The King of Jericho Learns of It, Rahab Protects Them (verses 2–7)
- The king of Jericho learned of the spies’ presence and ordered them to be searched for.
- Rahab hid them on the roof of her house and misled the king’s messengers.
- She said they had already gone, though they were still hiding.
🎯 Rahab risked her life because she trusted in the God of Israel — true courage is born from faith.
📌 3. Rahab’s Confession of Faith (verses 8–13)
- Rahab said to the spies:
“I know that the LORD has given this land to you…” (verse 9)
- She acknowledged the greatness of the God of Israel:
“The LORD your God, he is God in heaven above and on the earth beneath.” (verse 11)
- She asked that her family be saved when Israel attacked.
🎯 Rahab showed faith that saves, as spoken of in Hebrews 11 and James 2.
📌 4. The Covenant of Safety and the Scarlet Cord (verses 14–24)
- The two spies made a covenant of safety with Rahab:
Do not reveal their mission.
Tie a scarlet cord in the window as a sign.
Gather your family in the house, and they will be safe.
- They returned to Joshua with joyful news:
“The LORD has given the whole land into our hands.”
🎯 The scarlet cord is a symbol of salvation — a shadow of Christ’s blood that saves the household that believes.
📖 Main Lesson
- God can use anyone — even a sinner — for His plan.
- True faith is shown through real actions, not only words.
- Salvation from the Lord is covenantal and requires a sign of faith.
- The Lord goes before us in spiritual battle — the enemy is already afraid even before we arrive.
- Rahab becomes an example that the past does not limit the future in the Lord.
✨ Spiritual Meaning (New Testament)
“By faith, Rahab… did not perish with those who were disobedient…”
“Likewise Rahab… was justified by her deeds…”
Rahab is included in the lineage of Jesus Christ.
🎯 Rahab symbolizes God’s grace that surpasses background and sin – faith brings restoration and an eternal inheritance.
“The Lord, your God, is God in heaven above and on the earth below.” – Joshua 2:11
“Tie this scarlet cord…” – Joshua 2:18
“The Lord has given the whole land into our hands.” – Joshua 2:24
