Joshua 2:17-21

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 2:17

And the men said unto her ,.... Some think that this discourse, which passed between the spies and her, was while in the house before she let them down, or otherwise they would have been in danger of being overheard, and so the whole affair discovered; but as it was on the other side of the house, and under the wall of the city, and without it, they might with the greater safety converse together: we will be blameless of this thine oath which thou hast made us swear ; that is, they... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Joshua 2:18

Behold, when we come into the land ,.... The land of Canaan, and into this city, into that part of it, as the Septuagint, where her house was, meaning not themselves only, but the people of Israel they belonged to: thou shall bind this line of scarlet thread in the window which thou didst let us down by ; the word by refers either to the scarlet thread they were let down by, said to be a cord, Joshua 2:15 ; and therefore must be a line twisted with various scarlet threads, as Kimchi;... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Joshua 2:19

And it shall be, that whosoever shall go out of the door of thy house into the street ,.... After they have been taken in, and when the Israelites were come into the city: his blood shall be upon his head, and we will be guiltless ; if he is killed by any person, his death will be owing to himself, and no blame to be laid on us; nor shall we reckon ourselves guilty of the breach of the oath taken: and whosoever shall be with thee in the house, his blood shall be on our head,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Joshua 2:20

And if thou utter this our business ,.... So that others would either hang out scarlet threads or get into her house for shelter; see Gill on Joshua 2:14 , then we will be quit of thine oath which thou hast made us to swear ; be under no obligation to make it good, by saving her and her father's house. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Joshua 2:21

And she said, according to your words, so be it ,.... She agreed, that if the conditions required were not performed, they would be quit of their oath, but if they were, she expected it would be fulfilled: and she sent them away, and they departed ; took their leave of each other: and she bound the scarlet line in the window ; immediately, as Abarbinel thinks, and in the sight of the spies, that they might see that she conformed to their direction, and that they might take notice... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Joshua 2:18

This line of scarlet thread - השני חוט תקות tikvath chut hashshani . Probably this may mean, this piece of scarlet cloth, or, this cloth (made) of scarlet thread. When the Israelites took the city this piece of red cloth seems to have been hung out of the window by way of flag; and this was the sign on which she and the spies had agreed. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Joshua 2:20

If thou utter this our business - It was prudent to make her life depend on her secresy; had it been otherwise she might have been tempted to give information, not only concerning the spies, but concerning the designs of the Israelites. But her life being at stake, added to every other motive, she kept the secret for the sake of her own personal safety and that of all her relatives. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Joshua 2:12-24

The oath of the spies, and their return to Joshua. This passage suggests considerations of various kinds, historical, practical, and allegorical. I. THE TRUSTWORTHINESS OF THE SPIES . They had, no doubt, been specially selected by Joshua for this purpose, and they show themselves worthy of his choice. II. THE SCARLET CORD A TOKEN OF SALVATION THROUGH CHRIST . For scarlet, or rather crimson (see note), is the colour of blood. The scarlet cord had been the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Joshua 2:17

We will be blameless. Perhaps "we would be blameless," and therefore we make the conditions which follow. Something must be supplied to fill up the sense. The most ordinary rule would be to translate "we are blameless," i.e; by making these conditions. But the former yields a better sense. read more

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