Joshua 2:9-16

Jos 2:9

And she said unto the men, I know that the LORD hath given you the land, and that your terror is fallen upon us, and that all the inhabitants of the land faint because of you.

Rahab fulfills a Scripture which the Lord spoke in John.  Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed. (John 20:29)  Rahab had heard the stories from many of what God had done to Egypt and how he guided the Israelites for forty years through the wilderness.  Rahab did not see those things being in Jericho but she totally believed them and knew the whole story that God had given them the land which she was in and that it seemed all of Canaan knew that God had given Israel the land and that is why there was such fear among them.  In fact it was prophesied back in the time of Moses that the people of Canaan would faint and become like wax which melted.  Then the dukes of Edom shall be amazed; the mighty men of Moab, trembling shall take hold upon them; all the inhabitants of Canaan shall melt away. (Exodus 15:15) 

Jos 2:10

For we have heard how the LORD dried up the water of the Red sea for you, when ye came out of Egypt; and what ye did unto the two kings of the Amorites, that were on the other side Jordan, Sihon and Og, whom ye utterly destroyed.

Then she tells the spies what she knows about the events which transpired for Israel by God.  She tells them that they have heard how the LORD had parted the Red Sea when they came out of Egypt so they were able to cross on dry ground.  It is also interesting that she also knew the name of the LORD as Jehovah which was first revealed to Moses.  And I appeared unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob, by the name of God Almighty, but by my name JEHOVAH was I not known to them. (Exodus 6:3)  Then she also knew well what happened to the two kings of the Amorites which were on the east side of Jordan which happened only a few months prior to this time.

And the LORD said unto Moses, Fear him not: for I have delivered him into thy hand, and all his people, and his land; and thou shalt do to him as thou didst unto Sihon king of the Amorites, which dwelt at Heshbon. (Numbers 21:34)  Here he is speaking about Og of Bashan

And Moses gave unto them, even to the children of Gad, and to the children of Reuben, and unto half the tribe of Manasseh the son of Joseph, the kingdom of Sihon king of the Amorites, and the kingdom of Og king of Bashan, the land, with the cities thereof in the coasts, even the cities of the country round about. (Numbers 32:33)

Jos 2:11

And 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.

When they heard these things, no doubt from traveling merchants and of course through military channels, their hearts literally did melt for the simple fact they knew that it was only a matter of a short time before they would be next to be conquered.  They knew of the omnipotence of God and how he rules in both Heaven and on earth.  Here is another evidence that Rahab was saved because she acknowledged the true God in the middle of a pagan society with a pantheon of false gods.  Paul extolled the Thessalonians for doing the same thing.  For they themselves shew of us what manner of entering in we had unto you, and how ye turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God; (1 Thessalonians 1:9)  They also knew it would be futile to fight against Israel since God had already divinely decreed that the land of Canaan was to be transferred to Israel.

Jos 2:12

Now therefore, I pray you, swear unto me by the LORD, since I have shewed you kindness, that ye will also shew kindness unto my father's house, and give me a true token:

Rahab knew that the destruction of Jericho was imminent and in return for the favor of hiding the spies, she now asked them to swear by God, knowing if they did they would have to keep that oath, that when they finally attack and take Jericho that her and her family would be shown kindness and mercy.  She wanted some type of mark or symbol which would could be seen by the invading army.  It was to be a token of evidence that she was the one who helped the spies during the time they were in Jericho.

Jos 2:13

And that ye will save alive my father, and my mother, and my brethren, and my sisters, and all that they have, and deliver our lives from death.

Rahab then desires of them that they would save her entire family from the edge of the sword once Jericho falls.  She was not concerning herself with material goods but wanted to make sure that all the children in her family and her extended family would also be saved from death.  Rahab was a wise woman in that she elicited a response from the spies for the safety of her family.  She protected them and now in return she was wanting them to protect her and her family when Jericho falls and all the people will be subject to the sword.

Jos 2:14

And the men answered her, Our life for yours, if ye utter not this our business. And it shall be, when the LORD hath given us the land, that we will deal kindly and truly with thee.

Then the spies made an oath or a covenant with Rahab. They would agree to the terms and protect her family and her, if for some reason any of Rahab’s family is killed or the agreement breached, then the spies stated they would give their lives as payment.  Rahab was also not to utter one word concerning their business to anyone because if she did, then that would give time to the king to prepare his military.  He knew that God had given them the land but would fight to the last man to preserve his little kingdom.  Then the spies gave further information that as long as Rahab says nothing, because many men who frequent harlots know of something called pillow talk, they would deal kindly with her and her family which means they would be spared.

Jos 2:15

Then she let them down by a cord through the window: for her house was upon the town wall, and she dwelt upon the wall.

Then once their business was concluded, Rahab further helped the spies by giving them an escape which would not have been spotted by the guards.  Since her house  was on the wall, she had a window which was on the side of the wall and through it she was able to let the spies down without them being spotted.  The same procedure was used for the Apostle Paul when the Jews had sought to kill him, the disciples let him down a wall in a basket.  Then the disciples took him by night, and let him down by the wall in a basket. (Acts 9:25)  Probably Rahab had that window for the purpose of letting down customers who did not want to be seen by others coming out of her house.

Jos 2:16

And she said unto them, Get you to the mountain, lest the pursuers meet you; and hide yourselves there three days, until the pursuers be returned: and afterward may ye go your way.

Then Rahab tells them to go to the mountains.  About 5 miles (8 KM) from Jericho was a mountain range called Quarantania which may be where they went to hide.  Normally mountains had caves which were good for hiding.  The pursuers would have headed toward the east where the camp of Israel was as they would have thought that is where the spies would have headed.  They were to remain in the mountains three days until the pursuers returned disappointed that they did not complete their mission.  Once the search stopped, then the spies were able to go their way unhindered.