Joshua 2:1

_AND JOSHUA THE SON OF NUN SENT OUT OF SHITTIM TWO MEN TO SPY SECRETLY, SAYING, GO VIEW THE LAND, EVEN JERICHO. AND THEY WENT, AND CAME INTO AN HARLOT'S HOUSE, NAMED RAHAB, AND LODGED THERE._ Joshua the son of Nun sent out of Shittim two men to spy secretly. Faith is manifested by an active persevering use of means (James 2:22.); and accordingly Joshua, while confiding in the accomplishment of the divine promise (Joshua 1:3), adopted every precaution which a skillful general could think of to render his first attempt in the invasion of Canaan successful. Two spies were despatched to reconnoitre the country, particularly in the neighbourhood of Jericho; for, in the prospect of investing that place, it was desirable to obtain full information as to its site, its approaches, the weak and assailable part

1._And Joshua the son of Nun sent, _etc. The object of the exploration now in question was different from the former one, when Joshua was sent with other eleven to survey all the districts of the land, and bring back information to the whole people concerning its position, nature, fertility, and other properties, the magnitude and number of the cities, the inhabitants, and their manners. The present object was to dispose those who might be inclined to be sluggish, to engage with more alacrity in the campaign. And though it appears from the first chapter of Deuteronomy, (Deuteronomy 1:22,) that Moses, at the request of the people, sent chosen men to spy out the land, he elsewhere relates (Numbers 13:4) that he did it by command from God. Those twelve, therefore, set out divinely commissioned, and for a somewhat different purpo

1-7 Faith in God's promises ought not to do away, but to encourage our diligence in the use of proper means. The providence of God directed the spies to the house of Rahab. God knew where there was one that would be true to them, though they did not. Rahab appears to have been an innkeeper; and if she had formerly been one of bad life, which is doubtful, she had left her evil courses. That which seems to us most accidental, is often overruled by the Divine providence to serve great ends. It was by faith that Rahab received those with peace, against whom her king and country had war. We are sure this was a good work; it is so spoken of by the apostle, James 2:25; and she did it by faith, such a faith as set her above the fear of man. Those only are true believers, who find in their hearts to venture for God; they take his people for their people, and cast in their lot among them. The spi...

CHAPTER II _Joshua sends out two spies to examine the state of the_ _inhabitants of the land, particularly those of Jericho, who_ _are entertained at the house of Rahab_, 1. _The king of Jericho is informed of their being in the town, and_ _sends to Rahab, commanding her to deliver them up_, 2, 3. _She hides the spies, and tells the messengers that the men were_ _departed and gone towards the mountain_, 4, 5. _When the officers of the king of Jericho were departed, she took_ _the spies to the house-top, and covered them with flax_, 6, 7....

AN HARLOT’S HOUSE - In the face of the parallel passages (e. g. Leviticus 21:7 : Jeremiah 5:7) the rendering advocated for obvious reasons, namely, “the house of a woman, an innkeeper,” cannot be maintained. Rahab must remain an example under the Law similar to that Luke 7:37 under the Gospel, of “a woman that was a sinner,” yet, because of her faith, not only pardoned, but exalted to the highest honor. Rahab was admitted among the people of God; she intermarried into a chief family of a chief tribe, and found a place among the best remembered ancestors of King David and of Christ; thus receiving the temporal blessings of the covenant in largest measure. The spies would of course betake themselves to

EXPOSITION RAHAB AND THE SPIES.— JOSHUA 2:1 AND JOSHUA THE SON OF NUN SENT. Rather, as margin, _had_ sent (see note on Joshua 1:2). It might have been at the very time when the command was given to the Israelites, for, according to a common Hebrew manner of speech (see, for instance, 1 Samuel 16:10), the three days (verse 22) may include the whole time spent by the spies in their exploring expedition. Out of Shittim. Literally, _from the valley of acacias. _It is so called in full in Joel 3:18. This place (called A

AND JOSHUA THE SON OF NUN SENT OUT OF SHITTIM TWO MEN,.... Or "had sent" p; for this was done before the above order to depart: it is a tradition of the Jews q, that they were Caleb and Phinehas; but they were not young men, as in Joshua 6:23; especially the former; nor is it probable that men of such rank and figure should be sent, but rather meaner persons; yet such as were men of good sense and abilities, and capable of conducting such an affair they were sent about, as well as men of probity and faithfulness; two good men, Kimchi says they were, and not as they that went on the mission of Moses; these were sent from Shittim, the same with Abelshittim, in the plains of Moab, where Israel now lay encamped, Numbers 33:49, which Josephus r calls Abila, and says it was sixty furlongs, or seven miles and better,

2. THE SPIES AND RAHAB'S FAITH CHAPTER 2 _ 1. The spies sent forth (Joshua 2:1)_ 2. Rahab's faith and works (Joshua 2:2) 3. The escape of the spies and assurance given (Joshua 2:15) 4. The return of the spies (Joshua 2:22) The historical account needs not to be restated. Joshua, who was one of the spies sent out by Moses, now sends two spies to view the land, even Jericho. Jericho was the great stronghold of the enemy, surrounded by high walls. Jericho means “fragrance” and is a type of the world. (It is interesting to note that in the Hebrew Jericho differs in its spelling in Joshua from that in Numbers. Th

II. TWO HEBREW SPIES VISIT JERICHO AND EVADE CAPTURE. The narrative is inconsistent with Joshua 1:11, Within three days ye are to pass over Jordan. The events in ch. 2 must have taken longer than three days, for Joshua 2:22 tells us that the spies abode three days in the mountains; and with one day to go and another to return, five days at least would be required. This is an indication that Joshua 2 and Joshua 1 are from different sources. And perhaps Joshua 2 itself is composite. The narrative reads consistently if Joshua 2:15 is omitted, for we can hardly think of the conversation being continued between Rahab at the window and the spies on the ground outside the wall. 1. SHITTIM:...

JOSHUA. He had been one of the twelve spies himself. Numbers 13:8; Numbers 13:16. SENT. had sent. See Joshua 1:11. Compare Joshua 1:2. MEN. Hebrew, plural of _ish or enosh._ See App-14. VIEW, Some codices, with one early printed edition, Septuagint, and Vulgate, read "and view". JERICHO. In Num. eleven times _Yerecho._ Here _Yericho._ Showing difference of authorship. CAME. The Septuagint preserves the primitive text by adding "to Jericho and came". Omitted by Figure of speech _Homuotelenton._ See App-6. HARLOT'S. Word to be taken in usual sense....