Joshua 2:23, commentary and pictures

This verse belongs to the account of Israel's preparation to cross the Jordan, which spans Joshua 1-4. It belongs more widely to the history in Joshua 1 to 22 of Joshua leading Israel through the Jordan, dividing the land for them, and setting them to conquer their foes and find the promised rest with the Captain of Jehovah's hosts with him. It is part of the proof given in Joshua 1 and 2 that God had placed the spirit of Moses upon Joshua as his successor, showing God's providential dealing with His children.

The verse records the two spies finishing the task Joshua gave them to spy out the land and report back to him. After reaching Jericho and lodging at Rahab's house, being demanded by the king's men but saved by God, viewing the country, and learning that the people had heard of Jehovah and His mighty works, they returned to Joshua when their tour was completed and told him all that had happened to them, giving him a favorable report about the place. Their visit showed that Jericho had been warned and its people could have yielded to God and been saved, and Rahab and her whole household were in fact saved through their coming.

In this account Rahab concealed the Israelite spies and sent them out another way while deliberately lying about them. She was promised safety but, as held by those who stressed the point, was not saved because she lied. Her lie was wrong, and God blessed her not because of it but in spite of it. Her faith that Israel's God was the true God led her to act according to the light she had, though she did not yet know the way of truth.

Rahab, featured in this chapter, was a woman in Christ's ancestry, and her inclusion in the record of His ancestors presents hope to fallen people. Going in the name of the Lord to do His work brought a blessing to the spies in doing it and brought a great blessing to others.