Joshua 2:22-23. Three days Supporting themselves there with the provisions which Rahab had furnished them with. The way That is, in the road to Jordan, and the places near it, but not in the mountains. Passed over Jordan unto Joshua. read more
1:1-5:15 ENTRY INTO CANAANPreparations (1:1-2:24)God’s command to Joshua was brief and straightforward: he was to take the land of Canaan. (The region in which Canaan was situated was occupied by various tribal peoples, the most important of whom were the Hittites and the Amorites.) Israel would not win the land without a fight, but the people had God’s assurance that wherever they advanced they would gain possession (1:1-5). As leader of the people, Joshua had the assurance of God’s presence,... read more
"And they went, and came unto the mountain, and abode there three days, until the pursuers were returned: and the pursuers sought them throughout all the way, but found them not. Then the two men returned, and descended from the mountain, and passed over, and came to Joshua the son of Nun; and they told him all that had befallen them. And they said unto Joshua, Truly God hath delivered into our hands all the land; and moreover, all the inhabitants of the land do melt away before us.""Amidst the... read more
The "hill country" referred to (Joshua 2:22-23) was probably the mountainous area west of Jericho. This area contains many caves in the "deeply eroded and lonely chalk hills" and many "isolated canyons cut through the [1,500 feet high] limestone cliffs." [Note: James Monson, The Land Between, p. 163.] The spies evidently were absent from the Israelite camp a total of three days (Joshua 2:22; cf. Joshua 1:11; Joshua 3:2).One of the major emphases in this chapter is God’s faithfulness. When the... read more
The Two Spies at JerichoJoshua himself had been one of twelve sent by Moses on a similar errand, some thirty-eight years before (Numbers 13). The incident, natural in itself, acquires a special interest as bringing before us for the first time Rahab, the great-great-grandmother of David, and so human ancestress of our Saviour (Matthew 1:3-6, cp. Ruth 4:18-22). it affords incidentally a signal instance among Gentiles of belief in the power of the true God (Joshua 2:11.), which is rewarded... read more
(24) The Lord hath delivered.—Observe the entirely satisfactory effect of this mission, and compare what was said on Joshua 2:1. read more
CHAPTER VII.THE SPIES IN JERICHO.Joshua 2:1-24.IT was not long ere Joshua found an occasion not only for the exercise of that courage to which he had been so emphatically called both by God and the people, but for calling on others to practise the same manly virtue. For the duty which he laid on the two spies - detectives we should now call them - to enter Jericho and bring a report of its condition, was perhaps the most perilous to which it was possible for men to be called. It was like... read more
2. The Spies and Rahab’s Faith CHAPTER 2 1. The spies sent forth (Joshua 2:1 ) 2. Rahab’s faith and works (Joshua 2:2-14 ) 3. The escape of the spies and assurance given (Joshua 2:15-21 ) 4. The return of the spies (Joshua 2:22-24 ) 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... read more
THE SPIES RECEIVED AND HIDDEN BY RAHAB (vv. 1-24) Joshua then sent two spies to "view the land, especially Jericho"(v. 1).Twelve men had been sent before at the request of the people (Deuteronomy 1:22-23). At that time the people wanted to find out whether they were likely to be able to overcome the enemy, and ten of the twelve spies reported that the odds were against them, so that the people refused to go in. Only Joshua and Caleb urged that they should launch an attack because they knew... read more
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The Pulpit Commentary - Joshua 2:24
For even all the inhabitants of the country do faint because of us. "[For even" is literally "and also." As Keil remarks, this information concerning the feelings of the Canaanites was the one great thing they had been sent out to discover. HOMILETICS read more