joshua-2:12-16

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 2:12

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

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Joshua 2:14

And the men answered her ,.... The two spies: our life for yours ; or "our souls in your stead to die" F9 נפשנו תחתיכם למות "anima nostra pro vobis ad moriendum", Pagninus, Montanus. ; that is, we engage for the security of your lives, should they be in danger; we promise to die in your room and stead rather than you should: this they said not as though their lives would be required of them for them, but to assure her of the safety of her and her father's house, on the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Joshua 2:15

Then she let them down by a cord through the window ,.... Which must be large, and the cord strong, as well as she herself a masculine woman, to let down two men by it, unless she employed any of her servants in the affair; though this being so great a secrecy, it is probable she trusted none of her domestics with it as little as possible: in like manner the Apostle Paul was let down by the wall of Damascus in a basket, Acts 9:25 ; Jarchi supposes it was the same cord and window, by means... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Joshua 2:16

And she said unto them, get ye unto the mountain ,.... Which was near to the city, and is supposed to be the same which is now called Quarantania: Dr. Shaw, a late traveller in those parts, says F13 Travels, p. 276. Ed. 2. , from the mountain Quarantania, the very same perhaps where the two spies concealed themselves, Joshua 2:16 , we have a distinct view of the land of the Amorites, of Gilead, and of Bashan, the inheritance of the tribes of Reuben and Gad, and of the half tribe of... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Joshua 2:12

Swear unto me by the Lord - This is a farther proof that this woman had received considerable instruction in the Jewish faith; she acknowledged the true God by his essential character Jehovah; and knew that an oath in his name was the deepest and most solemn obligation under which a Jew could possibly come. Does not this also refer to the command of God, Thou shalt fear the Lord, and shalt swear by his name? See the note on Deuteronomy 6:13 . read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Joshua 2:13

Deliver our lives from death - She had learned, either from the spies or otherwise, that all the inhabitants of the land were doomed to destruction, and therefore she obliges them to enter into a covenant with her for the preservation of herself and her household. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Joshua 2:14

Our life for yours - "May our life be destroyed if we suffer yours to be injured!" This is what was anciently called in our country pledging - staking, a man's life for that of his neighbor or friend. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Joshua 2:15

Then she let them down by a cord etc. - The natural place of this verse is after the first clause of Joshua 2:21 ; for it is certain that she did not let them down in the basket till all those circumstances marked from Joshua 2:16-20 ; inclusive had taken place. She dwelt upon the wall - That is, either the wall of the city made a part of her house or her house was built close to the wall, so that the top or battlements of it were above the wall with a window... read more

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

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

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

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Joshua 2:14

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Joshua 2:15

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Joshua 2:16

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Joshua 2:12

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Joshua 2:13

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Joshua 2:14

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Joshua 2:15

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