Joshua 2

Verse 2. By night. Hebrew “this night.” Calmet.

“Behold”, from “הִנֵּה”, means look at, take notice, observe, see, or gaze at. It is often used as an interjection.

Verse 3. House. She spoke to them through a window. The messengers did not enter into her house; whence Serarius infers, that Rahab was a person consecrated to some impure deity, and therefore held in some estimation among the people of Jericho, as this was a city of the moon, in whose honour such consecrations were generally made. But these arguments are not very convincing. Calmet.

Verse 4. Hid, or “had hidden,” as (verse 6,) she had made the men retire before she spoke to the messengers, and probably before they came to demand them. As soon as she was informed of their design, she took all prudent precautions both for her own and their safety, as she could not have escaped death, if she had been discovered affording shelter to the enemies of her country. She felt herself authorized by God, on this occasion, to abandon those upon whom he had declared war, and who could have derived no benefit from the spies being betrayed to them. Bible.

Verse 5. At the time, not precisely, as otherwise the men who shut the gates must have seen them, but about that time, ( Calmet.) Rahab pretends that the spies had left her house, and had directed their course towards the gate, so that she made no doubt but they might easily overtake them. Bible.—Notwithstanding this officious lie, which is a venial sin, Saint Paul and Saint James testify that she was justified by her faith in God, and by good works towards these men. See Saint Augustine c. Mend. 17. and note on James 2:25. Worthington.—Rahab might suppose that an officious lie was not a sin, ( Menochius.) as many great and learned men seemed to have maintained this doctrine. See Grotius Jur. iii. 1. 9. Orig. c. Cels. iv. p. 171. Saint John Chrysostom hom. 53. Gen. She was so far from intending to do an injury to any one, that she consulted the welfare both of her guests and of her countrymen, who, if they had detected the spies and committed murder, would have thus brought greater destruction upon themselves, as they could not escape the wrath of God. Calmet.

Verse 6. There. The roofs were flat in that country, and consequently very proper to dry flax, or “cotton,” as Masius understands.

Verse 7. Jordan, where they had probably come over, though perhaps in a boat, ( Menochius.) and where the messengers concluded they would have the best chance of finding them, as the Israelites were on the opposite side of the river. Bible.—As soon as they were gone out of the city, the guards shut the gate, that if the spies should still be lurking within, they might be hindered from making their escape. Menochius.

Verse 8. Asleep. It seems as if the spies had been ignorant of the danger to which they had been just exposed, and had gone to the roof of the house with a design to pass the night in greater security. Rahab perceives, however, that it would be extremely rash for them to continue with her any longer, and therefore she gives them the best advice, to secure their safety by fleeing in the dead of the night, and without further delay. Bible.

Verse 9. Strength. Hebrew “they faint or melt away,” deprived both of strength and counsel.

Verse 11. Beneath. This is the confession of a true convert, ( Calmet.) inspired by God. Bible.—For Saint Paul commends her faith. Hebrews 11:31. Menochius.—The pagans confined the power of their idols to certain districts; the power of the true God is infinite. Calmet.

Verse 12. True token, such a one as, when I shew it to the Israelites, they may preserve me and mine. She is not content with a verbal promise, she requires something permanent and sensible, as a mark of their mutual engagements, ( Calmet.) a token of their sincerity. They afterwards appointed a piece of scarlet to be hung out of the house, where those were to be collected who should be entitled to protection. Rahab was bound not to divulge their secret, nor to betray them. If she had instructed others of her fellow-citizens to hand out the same mark, she would have forfeited all her privileges, verse 20. Bible.

Verse 14. Death. We are willing to die instead of you, if we do not fulfil our promises.—Truth, a real and effectual mercy.

Verse 16. Days; the remainder of this night, and the day and night following. It is probable that they would travel only in the night time. Calmet.—If they had gone by the high road, they might easily have been discovered by the messengers, who would be on their return. Bible.—But retiring to the mountains south of Jericho, till they had re-entered the city, the spies made their escape. Calmet.

Verse 18. By which window or cord. Calmet.—The cord was left as a signal. Menochius.

Verse 24. Fear, as Rahab had testified. They might also have been witnesses of the people’s consternation, which gave them the most assured hopes of victory, as the Lord had given this sign, among others, that he would be with them. Deuteronomy 28:10. Bible.