Joshua 2

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Joshua 2:10

Verse 10 10.For we have heard how, etc. She mentions, as the special cause of consternation, that the wide-spread rumor of miracles, hitherto without example, had impressed it on the minds of all that God was warring for the Israelites. For it was impossible to doubt that the way through the Red Sea had been miraculously opened up, as the water would never have changed its nature and become piled up in solid heaps, had not God, the author of nature, so ordered. The transmutation of the element,... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Joshua 2:11

Verse 11 11.The Lord your God, he is God, etc. Here the image of Rahab’s faith appears, as if reflected in a mirror, when casting down all idols she ascribes the government of heaven and earth to the God of Israel alone. For it is perfectly clear that when heaven and earth are declared subject to the God of Israel, there is a repudiation of all the pagan fictions by which the majesty, and power, and glory of God are portioned out among different deities; and hence we see that it is not without... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Joshua 2:12

Verse 12 12.Now, therefore, I pray you, swear, etc. It is another manifestation of faith that she places the sons of Abraham in sure possession of the land of Canaan, founding on no other argument than her having heard that it was divinely promised to them. For she did not suppose that God was favoring lawless intruders who were forcing their way into the territories of others with unjust violence and uncurbed licentiousness, but rather concluded that they were coming into the land of Canaan,... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Joshua 2:14

Verse 14 14.Our life for yours, etc. They imprecate death upon themselves, if they do not faithfully make it their business to save Rahab. For the interpretation adopted by some, We will pledge our lives, seems far-fetched, or too restricted, since their intention was simply to bind themselves before God. They constitute themselves, therefore, a kind of expiatory victims, if any evil befalls Rahab through their negligence. The expression, for yours, ought, doubtless, to be extended to the... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Joshua 2:24

Verse 24 24.And they said unto Joshua, etc. This passage shows that Joshua was not mistaken in selecting his spies; for their language proves them to have been right-hearted men possessed of rare integrity. Others, perhaps, not recovered from the terror into which they had once been thrown, would have disturbed the whole camp, but these, while they reflect on the wonderful kindness of God, displayed in their escape from danger, and the happy issue of their expedition, exhort Joshua and the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Joshua 2:1

EXPOSITION RAHAB AND THE SPIES .— 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... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Joshua 2:1

Forethought. Let us play a little with this word. It has more in it than a good example for a military commander. And its side suggestions as to what is wise in all conflicts are many and valuable. Generalise the action of Joshua here, and its gives you some lesson of prudence in all departments of life. Let us gather a few of these. I. LOOK BEFORE YOU LEAP . Always and everywhere do so. Many definitions have indicated the difference between man and the lower animals. One says,... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Joshua 2:1

A brand plucked from the fire. This strange and somewhat romantic story of Rahab and the spies forms an interesting episode in the Scripture narrative. The special interest lies in the nature of the incidents and the character of the chief actor. Nothing is told us as to any definite result from the visit of the spies affecting the after siege and capture of the city, except so far as this, that they learnt from Rahab the alarm of the inhabitants at the approach of the Israelitish host. It... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Joshua 2:1-12

Rahab and the spies. Three points demand our attention in this narrative. First, the conduct of Joshua; secondly, of the spies; and thirdly, of Rahab. I. JOSHUA 'S CONDUCT . Here we may observe that— 1. He does not despise the use of means. He was under God's special protection. God had promised ( Joshua 1:5 ) that he would not fail him nor forsake him." He had seen miracles wrought in abundance, and was destined to receive other proofs of God's extraordinary presence with... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Joshua 2:4

And the woman took the two men. The majority of commentators are of opinion that here, as in Joshua 2:1 , we must render by the pluperfect. For, as Calvin remarks, Rahab would hardly have dared to lie so coolly had she not previously taken precautions to conceal her guests. And therefore she must have told a twofold falsehood. She must have discovered, or been made acquainted with, their errand, and therefore have "known whence they were," in addition to her assertion that she did not know... read more

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