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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Joshua 6:17-27

The people had religiously observed the orders given them concerning the besieging of Jericho, and now at length Joshua had told them (Josh. 6:16), ?The Lord hath given you the city, enter and take possession.? Accordingly in these verses we have, I. The rules they were to observe in taking possession. God gives it to them, and therefore may direct it to what uses and intents, and clog it with what provisos and limitations he thinks fit. It is given to them to be devoted to God, as the first... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Joshua 6:22

But Joshua had said unto the two men that had spied out the country ,.... Whom he had sent on that errand, Joshua 2:1 ; and what follows he had said unto them before the people entered into the city, and perhaps before the walls of it fell; and indeed from Joshua 6:16 , it appears to have been said at the time he gave the people orders to shout: go into the harlot's house : he does not mention her name but they full well knew who he meant: and bring out thence the woman, and all... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Joshua 6:23

And the young men that were spies went in, and brought out Rahab ,.... Not only went into the city, but into Rahab's house, which they knew again by the scarlet thread hung out at the window of it. But here a difficulty occurs, how they could be said to go into her house, when it was built on the town wall, Joshua 2:15 ; and that was now fallen down flat. Abarbinel thinks that when the spies went round the city, they saw the scarlet thread in the window of her house, and set their eyes on... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Joshua 6:24

And they burnt the city with fire, and all that was therein ,.... As Babylon the great, of which this city was an emblem, as has been observed; see Gill on Joshua 6:20 ; will be burnt with fire also, Revelation 18:8 , only the silver and the gold, and the vessels of brass and iron, they put into the treasury of the house of the Lord ; See Gill on Joshua 6:19 . read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Joshua 6:25

And Joshua saved Rahab the harlot alive ,.... From perishing by the sword, as the rest of the inhabitants did. Kimchi says, some interpret it of his giving her food, and an inheritance by which she might live; and Josephus F6 Antiqu. l. 5. c. 1. sect. 7. intimates the same: he says, he gave her fields, and had her in great honour and esteem; and it is the notion of some Jewish writers, that he took her to wife, and that this is meant by saving her alive; which sense Kimchi disapproves... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Joshua 6:23

Brought out Rahab , and her father , etc. - Rahab having been faithful to her vow of secrecy, the Israelites were bound by the oath of the spies, who acted as their representatives in this business, to preserve her and her family alive. And left them without the camp - They were considered as persons unclean, and consequently left without the camp; (see Leviticus 13:46 ; Numbers 12:14 ;). When they had abjured heathenism, were purified, and the males had... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Joshua 6:24

Only the silver , and the gold - they put into the treasury , etc . - The people were to have no share of the spoils, because they had no hand in the conquest. God alone overthrew the city; and into his treasury only the spoils were brought. This is one proof that the agitation of the air, by the sound of the people's voice, was not the cause of the fall of the city walls. Vessels of brass and of iron - Instead of כלי keley , Vessels, the Septuagint, in the... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Joshua 6:25

And she dwelleth in Israel even unto this day - This is one proof that the book was written in the time to which it is commonly referred; and certainly might have been done by the hand of Joshua himself, though doubtless many marginal notes may have since crept into the text, which, to superficial observers, give it the appearance of having been written after the days of Joshua. See the preface to this book. read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Joshua 6:22

Verse 22 22.But Joshua had said unto the two men, etc The good faith of Joshua in keeping promises, and his general integrity, are apparent in the anxious care here taken. But as the whole city had been placed under anathema, a question might be raised as to this exception of one family. No mortal man was at liberty to make any change on the decision of God. Still as it was only by the suggestion of the Spirit that Rahab had bargained for her impunity, I conclude that Joshua, in preserving her,... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Joshua 6:23

Verse 23 23.And the young men that were spies went in, etc God, doubtless, wished those to be safe, whose minds he thus inclined to embrace deliverance. Had it been otherwise, they would have rejected it not less proudly, and with no less scorn than the two sons-in-law of Lot. But a still better provision is made for them, when, by being placed without the camp, they receive a strict injunction to abandon their former course of life. (67) For had they been immediately admitted and allowed to... read more

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