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The Book of Joshua, Chapter Two
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Rahab and the Spies
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1. Who did Joshua send to Shittim, what did he
tell them to do, and where did they stay?
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Why did Joshua send the spies secretly? As far as he knew, he
would be attacking a heavily fortified city using conventional warfare tactics.
He needed strategic information about the city for the upcoming battle. But he
also knew that this might draw criticism from the other leaders. After all, the
last time spies were sent, the report they brought back caused disastrous
problems (see Numbers 13:1-14:4). While he did not want to move ahead without
information, he also did not want to cause the people to stumble and question
his wisdom and ability to lead the nation.
Why would the spies stop at the house of Rahab, a prostitute? (1)
It was a good place to gather information and have no questions asked in return.
(2) Rahab's house was in an ideal location for a quick escape because it was
built into the city wall (2:15). (3) God directed the spies to Rahab's house
because he knew her heart was open to him and that she would be instrumental in
the Israelite victory over Jericho. God often uses people with simple faith to
accomplish his great purposes, no matter what kind of past they have had or how
insignificant they seem to be. Rahab didn't allow her past to keep her from the
new role God had for her.
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Rahab's Profile
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Rahab was a prostitute in the city of Jericho. As a prostitute,
she lived on the edge of society, one stop short of rejection. Her house, built
right into the city wall, provided both lodging and favors to travelers. It was
a natural place for the Israelite spies to stay, as they would be mistaken for
Rahab's customers.
Stories about the Israelites had been circulating for some time,
but now it was evident that the Israelites were about to invade. Living on the
wall, Rahab felt especially vulnerable. Yet while she shared the general mood of
fear with the rest of Jericho's population, she alone turned to the Lord for her
salvation. Her faith gave her the courage to hide the spies and lie to the
authorities. Rahab knew her position was dangerous; she could have been killed
if she were caught harboring the Israelites. Rahab took the risk, however,
because she sensed that the Israelites relied on a God worth trusting. And God
rewarded Rahab by promising safety for her and her family.
God works through people - like Rahab - whom we are inclined to
reject. God remembers her because of her faith, not her profession. If at times
you feel like a failure, remember that Rahab rose above her situation through
her trust in God. You can do the same!
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Rahab's Strengths and Accomplishments
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* Relative of Boaz, and thus an ancestor of David and Jesus
* One of only two women listed in the Hall of Faith in Hebrews 11
* Resourceful, willing to help others at great cost to herself
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Rahab's Weakness and Mistake
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* She was a prostitute
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Lesson from Rahab's Life
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* She did not let fear affect her faith in God's ability to deliver
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Vital Statistics
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* Where: Jericho
*Occupations: Prostitute/innkeeper, later became a wife
* Relatives: Ancestor of David and Jesus (Matthew 1:5)
* Contemporary: Joshua
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Key Verse
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"By faith the prostitute Rahab, because she welcomed the spies, was not
killed with those who were disobedient" (Hebrews 11:31).
Rahab's story is told in Joshua 2 and 6:22, 23. She is also mentioned in
Matthew 1:5; Hebrews 11:31; and James 2:25.
2. What was the king of Jericho told, what did
the message the king of Jericho sent to Rahab say, what did Rahab do to the two
men, what did Rahab tell the king of Jericho messengers about the two men, when did Rahab
say they had left, what did Rahab say she didn't know, and what did Rahab say
for them to do quickly?
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Was Rahab justified in lying to save the lives of the spies?
Although the Bible does not speak negatively about her lie, it is clear that
lying is sin. In Hebrews 11:31, however, Rahab is commended for her faith in
God. Her lie is not mentioned. Several explanations have been offered: (1) God
forgave Rahab's lie because of her faith; (2) Rahab was simply deceiving the
enemy, a normal and acceptable practice in wartime; (3) because Rahab was not a
Jew, she could not be held responsible for keeping the moral standards set forth
in God's law; (4) Rahab broke a lesser principle - telling the truth - to uphold
a higher principle - protecting God's people.
There may have been another way to save the lives of the Israelite
spies. But under the pressure of the moment, Rahab had to make a choice. Most of
us will face dilemmas at one time or another. We may feel that there is no
perfect solution to our problem. Fortunately, God does not demand that our
judgment be perfect in all situations. He simply asks us to put our trust in him
and to do the best we know how. Rahab did that and was commended for her faith.
3. Where did Rahab hide the two spies, where did
the men head out in pursuit of the spies, and what happened as soon as the
pursuers had gone out?
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Flax was harvested in the fields and piled high on the rooftops
to dry. It was then made into yarn which was used to make linen cloth. Flax
grows to a height of three or four feet. Stacked on the roof, it made an
excellent hiding place for the spies.
4. What did Rahab do before the spies laid
down for the night, what did Rahab say she knew, what did Rahab say had fallen
on them (the people in Jericho), what did Rahab say they have heard, why did
Rahab say their hearts melted and everyone's courage failed, what did Rahab want
the spies to swear to her by the LORD,
and what did the spies say to Rahab?
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Many would assume that Rahab - a pagan, a Canaanite, and a
prostitute - would never be interested in God. Yet Rahab was willing to risk
everything she had for a God she barely knew. We must not gauge a person's
interest in God by his or her background, life-style, or appearance. We should
let nothing get in the way of our telling people about God.
Rahab recognized something that many of the Israelites did not -
the God of heaven is not an ordinary god! He is all-powerful. The people of
Jericho were afraid because they had heard the news of God's extraordinary power
in defeating the armies across the Jordan River. Today we can worship this same
powerful, miracle-working God. He is powerful enough to destroy mighty, wicked
armies, as he did in Jericho. He is also powerful enough to save us from certain
death, as he did with Rahab.
5. How did Rahab help the spies out of her
home, what was the house she lived in a part of, why did she tell the spies to
go to the hills, and how long did she tell them to hide themselves there?
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In Joshua's day it was common to build houses on city walls. Many
cities had two walls about 12 to 15 feet apart. Houses were built on wooden logs
laid across the tops of the two walls. Rahab may have lived in such a house with
a window that looked out over the outside wall.
6. What was Rahab to do in order to keep the
oath she made the men swear to binding, what did the spies say will be on their
(Rahab's family) own heads if anyone goes outside Rahab's house into the street,
whose blood will be on the spies heads if a hand is laid on those in Rahab's
house, how did the spies say they will be released from the oath Rahab made the
spies swear to, what was Rahab's reply to the spies, and what did Rahab do after
they departed?
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The spies laid down three conditions: (1) the scarlet cord must be
placed in Rahab's window; (2) Rahab's whole family must stay in her house; and
(3) the covenant between Rahab and the spies must be kept secret. These were
practical ways for Rahab and her family to demonstrate their faith. The "scarlet
cord" would identify Rahab's house. The spies no doubt anticipated a
house-to-house battle in which the Israelites would have been instructed to
spare the house so marked. The statement "his blood will be on his own head"
means that all who disobey the instruction to stay in the house will be
responsible for their own death. (The NIV Commentary -
Zondervan)
Since the spies did not know at this time that God would use a miracle to
capture the city, they may have arranged a plan for Rahab to deliver the city
into Israel's hands. This could be the secret that Rahab was not to tell anyone.
The statement "she tied the scarlet cord in the window" forms a fitting
conclusion for this section because it points to Rahab's faith in action. (The NIV Commentary -
Zondervan)
7. Who did the spies go to after they stayed
in the hills for three days, and what did Joshua say after hearing everything
the spies had to say?
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It is remarkable that the spies trusted Rahab so implicitly as to
follow her instructions. Since the spies told Joshua "everything," we must
assume that verse 24 is only a summary of what they said. The narrative ends
triumphantly. The spies learned two important facts: God had been faithful to
his promise, and the inhabitants of the land were totally demoralized. (The NIV Commentary -
Zondervan)
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Answers to Joshua 2
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1. Two spies...to look
over the land, especially Jericho...the house of a prostitute named Rahab
2. That some of the Israelites have come there tonight to spy out the
land..."Bring out the men who came to you and entered your house, because they
have come to spy out the whole land."...she hid them...that the men came to her,
but she did not know where they had come from...at dusk, when it was time to
close the city gate...which way they went...go after them, they may catch up
with them
3. She had taken them up to the roof and hidden them under the stalks of flax
she had laid out on the roof...on the road that leads to the fords of the
Jordan...the gate was shut
4. She went up on the roof and talked to them...that the LORD
had given this land to the the Israelites...a great fear, so that all who live
in this country are melting in fear because of the Israelites...how the LORD
dried up the water of the Red Sea for the Israelites when they came out of
Egypt, and what the Israelites did to Sihon and Og, the two kings of the
Amorites east of the Jordan, whom the Israelites completely destroyed...because
of the Israelites, for the LORD
their God is God in heaven above and on the earth below...that the spies will
show kindness to her family, because she had shown kindness to them. To give her
a sure sign that they will spare the lives of her father and mother, her
brothers and sisters, and all who belong to them, and that they will save them
from death..."Our lives for your lives! If you don't tell what we are doing, we
will treat you kindly and faithfully when the LORD
gives us the land."
5. By a rope through the window...the city wall...so the pursuers will not find
them...three days
6. When they enter the land, she was to tied a scarlet cord in the window
through which she let them down, and she has to bring her father and mother, her
brothers and all her family into her house...their blood...anyone who is in the
house with Rahab...if Rahab tells what they are doing..."Agreed. Let it be as
you say."...she tied the scarlet cord in the window
7. Joshua son of Nun..."The LORD
has surely given the whole land into our hands; all the people are melting in
fear because of us."
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The Life Application Study Bible - NIV- Zondervan
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