Spying Out Jericho

KEY VERSE: “They said unto Joshua, Truly the LORD hath delivered into our hands all the land; for even all the inhabitants of the country do faint because of us.” —Joshua 2:24

SELECTED SCRIPTURE: Joshua 2:1, 8-14, 22-24

JOSHUA WAS NOT unaware of the difficulties that confronted the Israelites in .crossing the Jordan and entering Canaan. Forty years before this he had served as a spy himself, and had noted how potentially strong their enemies were; but he believed then, and still believed, that the Lord would give his people victory over their enemies. He knew, nevertheless, that the Lord expected him to use all the wisdom and skill he possessed, and that God would help his people only when they had done all they could to help themselves.

Using his considerable knowledge of military strategy, Joshua felt that it was essential first of all to secure what information he could concerning the current strength of their enemies, that he might have some knowledge of what to expect after they crossed the Jordan. Consequently, he sent two spies to “go view the land.” Joshua knew that almost immediately after crossing Jordan they would be confronted with the walled city of Jericho, and he was anxious to discover, if possible, the size of the army within that city and any other helpful information needed in planning an attack.

Entering the city, these two spies went into the house of a woman named Rahab, and lodged there. (Josh. 2:1) This circumstance was reported to the king of Jericho, who sent messengers to Rahab’s house. It was correctly assumed that the men were spies, but when Rahab was requested to bring them forth, she told them that they already had left. She admitted that she had seen the two men but said she did not know where they went after they had gone away. Actually she had taken them to the roof of her house and concealed them under stalks of flax.

Rahab reported further that the men had left about dark. “Whither the men went I wot not,” she said. Then she told those seeking the spies, “Pursue after them quickly; for ye shall overtake them.” The searchers took her advice, leaving the spies on the roof of Rahab’s house. Later she let them down over the wall of the city with a rope, this being possible because her house was built on the wall. Following her instructions, they hid in the forest of the mountain until they could safely recross Jordan and report to Joshua.

The account is exceedingly brief, and there is nothing to indicate how much they had learned except what had been reported to them by Rahab. The information she gave them was that the people were terrified at the thought of the Israelites entering the land. “Your terror is fallen upon us,” she said, and “all the inhabitants of the land faint because of you.”—Josh. 2:9

Her own testimony was, “I know that the Lord hath given you the land.” Her city had heard of the miraculous crossing of the Red Sea forty years prior to this, and they also knew, as Rahab said, “What ye did unto the two kings of the Amorites, that were on the other side Jordan, Sihon and Og, whom ye utterly destroyed.”—Josh. 2:10

Then Rahab, revealing further the great fear of the people, confessed her faith in the God of Israel, saying, “As soon as we had heard these things, our hearts did melt, neither did there remain any more courage in any man, because of you: for the Lord your God, he is God in heaven above, and in earth beneath.” (vs. 11) Rahab then asked that the spies arrange for the protection of her family when the city was captured, and they agreed to this.

Rahab’s eloquent confession of faith in the true God indicates a genuine desire to be in harmony with him, and the Lord honored her faith. In Hebrews 11:31 she is cited as an example of having great faith. In James 2:25 her “work” in concealing the spies and sending “them out another way” is mentioned as evidence of her justifying faith. Later she married Salmon and became one of the outstanding mothers in Israel.—Matt. 1:5

The spies reported to Joshua that their enemies could easily be conquered, and reaching the same conclusion, Joshua at once began to move the people into position for the crossing of the Jordan River.—Josh. 3:1

| Home Page | Table of Contents |