Joshua 2:1-7. The Mission of the Spies to Jericho 1. _sent out_ Or, _had sent_. Comp. ch. Joshua 1:11; Joshua 3:2. This was probably on the same day that Joshua received the Divine command to cross the Jordan. _out of Shittim_ Comp. Numbers 33:49; Numbers 25:1; Joshua 3:1; Micah 6:5. The full name... [ Continue Reading ]
_it was told the king_ Jericho was the residence of a "king" or "chief," a fenced city, enclosed by walls of considerable breadth, and not only contained sheep and oxen, but abounded in "silver and gold," and "vessels of brass and iron" (Joshua 6:24).... [ Continue Reading ]
_sent unto Rahab_ "In modern Europe the officers of the government would have entered the house without wasting the previous time in parley. But formerly, as now, in the East, the privacy of a woman was respected, even to a degree that might be called superstitious, and no one will enter the house i... [ Continue Reading ]
_And the woman took the two men_ Instead of timidly surrendering them to the king she resolved to shield and protect them. _I wist not_ For this meaning of "wist," comp. Exodus 16:15, "And they said one to another, It is manna, for they _wist_not what it was;" Exodus 34:29, and in many other passag... [ Continue Reading ]
_shutting of the gate_ A necessary precaution owing to the absence of all artificial light from the streets of Oriental towns. _when it was dark_ In the East, night comes on soon after sundown, and the evening twilight is of very short duration. _I wot not_ Strict truth was a virtue but little know... [ Continue Reading ]
_the roof of the house_ The roofs of Eastern houses were flat (St Mark 2:4), and were made useful for various purposes, as drying corn, hanging up linen, and preparing figs and raisins. They were also used as (_a_) places of recreation in the evening; (_b_) sleeping-places at night, when the interio... [ Continue Reading ]
Reception of the Spies by Rahab 9. _the Lord_ The name is remarkable as used by Rahab. But the Israelites had long been encamped in the neighbourhood, and she might easily have become acquainted with the name of their God. _your terror_ i.e. "the terror of you." The prophetic words of triumph in M... [ Continue Reading ]
_dried up the water_ The inhabitants of the land had heard of two important events, which filled them with alarm; (_a_) the drying up of the Red Sea before the Israelites (cp. Psalms 106:7; Psalms 106:9; Psalms 106:22; Psalms 136:13); (_b_) the defeat at Jahaz of Sihon king of the Amorites, who refu... [ Continue Reading ]
_he is God in heaven above_ Rahab expressly acknowledges God as Almighty, a knowledge which is possible to the heathen, for the "invisible things of God from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His _eternal power and Godhead_" (Romans 1:20).... [ Continue Reading ]
_a true token_ "a verrey tokne," Wyclif; i.e. _a token of truth, a sign_; comp. Exodus 3:12, "And this shall be _a token unto thee_, that I have sent thee;" 1 Samuel 2:34; Isaiah 7:11; Luke 2:12.... [ Continue Reading ]
_Our life for yours_ Literally, OUR SOUL INSTEAD OF YOURS FOR DEATH, or INSTEAD OF YOURS TO DIE, as in the margin. "Oure soule be for you into deth," Wyclif.... [ Continue Reading ]
_she let them down by a cord_ Comp. the escape of St Paul from Damascus (Acts 9:25). _her house was upon the town wall_ i.e. her chamber was in the upper story of the house, which rose above the wall, as may be seen even now in old cities along the Rhine.... [ Continue Reading ]
_Get you to the mountain_ i.e. probably the caverns in "the jagged range of the white limestone mountains" (of Judæa) which rise to the north of the city, "the same which in later ages afforded shelter to the hermits who there took up their abode, in the belief that this was the mountain of the Fort... [ Continue Reading ]
_We will be blameless_ Or, "We are blameless." We must supply "unless you do what we shall now say unto you." Comp. Genesis 24:41, "Then shalt thou be clear from this my oath, when thou comest to my kindred; and if they give not thee one, thou shalt be clear from my oath." Wyclif renders it "we schu... [ Continue Reading ]
_this line of scarlet thread_ The line was spun out of crimson thread, the crimson colour produced by the _coccus ilicis_, Linn., a cochineal insect, living on the holm oak, the larvæ of which yield the crimson dye.... [ Continue Reading ]
_his blood_ = his "bloodguiltiness," his "responsibility for blood." Compare 2 Samuel 21:1, "It is for Saul, and his _bloody_("blood-thirsty") house, because he slew the Gibeonites;" Ezekiel 22:2, "Wilt thou judge the _bloody_("bloodguilty") city? yea thou shalt shew her all her abominations.... [ Continue Reading ]
Return of the Spies to Joshua 22. _the mountain_ See above, Joshua 2:16.... [ Continue Reading ]
_and passed over_ Probably by swimming, for the water at this season was too high to allow them to ford; compare the coming to David of the eleven mighty men from the uplands of Gad, who swam the river when it had overflowed all its banks (1 Chronicles 12:15). _all things that befell them_ Compare... [ Continue Reading ]
_all the inhabitants_ This was the most important part of their communication, that the inhabitants of the land were utterly dispirited and cast down.... [ Continue Reading ]