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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Joshua 2:1-7

In these verses we have, I. The prudence of Joshua, in sending spies to observe this important pass, which was likely to be disputed at the entrance of Israel into Canaan (Josh. 2:1). Go view the land, even Jericho. Moses had sent spies (Num. 13:1-33) Joshua himself was one of them and it proved of ill consequence. Yet Joshua now sent spies, not, as the former were sent, to survey the whole land, but Jericho only; not to bring the account to the whole congregation, but to Joshua only, who,... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Joshua 2:8-21

The matter is here settled between Rahab and the spies respecting the service she was now to do for them, and the favour they were afterwards to show to her. She secures them on condition that they should secure her. I. She gives them, and by them sends to Joshua and Israel, all the encouragement that could be desired to make their intended descent upon Canaan. This was what they came for, and it was worth coming for. Having got clear of the officers, she comes up to them to the roof of the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Joshua 2:6

But she had brought them up to the roof of the house ,.... Before the messengers came; though Abarbinel thinks it was after they were gone, when she took them from the place of their concealment, and had them to the roof of the house, where she thought they would be safe and secure, should the messengers return, or others come in search of them, who would not, as she imagined, look for them there: and hid them with the stalks of flax ; that is, under them, or "in flax of wood", or "a... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Joshua 2:7

And the men pursued after them ,.... As they thought: the way to Jordan ; on the other side of which the people of Israel lay encamped, to which they supposed, according to Rahab's account, these two men directed their course: unto the fords ; the fords of Jordan, the passages through it; for in some places, and at some times, it was fordable; which accounts for the way in which these spies could get over Jordan, see Genesis 32:10 ; it was most reasonable to conclude they would... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Joshua 2:8

And before they were laid down ,.... Under the stalks of the flax; or rather, since they are said to be hid in them, before they were fallen asleep, so Kimchi and Abarbinel: she came up unto them upon the roof ; to acquaint them how things were, and to converse with them on the following subjects. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Joshua 2:9

And she said unto the men ,.... The two spies: I know that the Lord hath given you the land ; the land of Canaan, of which she was an inhabitant, and in which they now were; this she knew either by some tradition that was among them; or by divine revelation, a supernatural impulse upon her mind: or by observing what the Lord had done already, in putting the land of the Amorites into their hands, which were one of the seven nations of Canaan; and by this it also appears, and more clearly... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Joshua 2:10

For we have heard how the Lord dried up the waters of the Red sea for you, when ye came out of Egypt ,.... To make a passage for them through it, to walk in as on dry land; this they had heard of and remembered, though it was forty years ago: and what you did unto the kings of the Amorites that were on the other side Jordan : which were things more recent, done but a few months ago: Sihon and Og, whom ye utterly destroyed ; the history of which see in Numbers 21:21 ; who were... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Joshua 2:11

And as soon as we had heard these things , our hearts did melt ,.... Particularly what were done to the two kings of the Amorites, who, and their people, were utterly destroyed, their goods made a prey of, and their countries seized upon and possessed: neither did there remain any more courage in any man, because of you ; they looked dejected in their countenances, had no heart to go about any business, trembled at the shaking of a leaf, or at the least rumour and report made that the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Joshua 2:12

Now therefore, I pray you, swear unto me by the Lord ,.... Which being a religious action, and done by men that feared the Lord, she knew it would be binding upon them: the Targum is,"swear to me by the Word of the Lord:" since I have showed you kindness ; by receiving them with peace into her house, and hiding them when inquired for and demanded of her; in doing which she risked her own, life, had this treachery to her country, as it would have been deemed, been discovered; that you... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Joshua 2:13

And that ye will save alive my father, and my mother, and my brethren, and my sisters ,.... She makes no mention of any husband or children she had, as harlots seldom have, and which seems to confirm her character as such; and so Abarbinel observes, that her father's house is only mentioned to tell us that she had no husband, for she was an harlot and had no children, and puts her father and mother in the room of an husband, and her brethren and sisters in the room of children: and all... read more

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