1 And Joshua the son of Nun sent out of Shittim two men to spy secretly, saying, Go view the land, even Jericho. And they went, and came into an harlot's house, named Rahab, and lodged there.
2 And it was told the king of Jericho, saying, Behold, there came men in hither to night of the children of Israel to search out the country.
3 And the king of Jericho sent unto Rahab, saying, Bring forth the men that are come to thee, which are entered into thine house: for they be come to search out all the country.
4 And the woman took the two men, and hid them, and said thus, There came men unto me, but I wist not whence they were:
5 And it came to pass about the time of shutting of the gate, when it was dark, that the men went out: whither the men went I wot not: pursue after them quickly; for ye shall overtake them.
6 But she had brought them up to the roof of the house, and hid them with the stalks of flax, which she had laid in order upon the roof.
7 And the men pursued after them the way to Jordan unto the fords: and as soon as they which pursued after them were gone out, they shut the gate.
8 And before they were laid down, she came up unto them upon the roof;
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.
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.
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.
12 Now therefore, I pray you, swear unto me by the LORD, since I have showed you kindness, that ye will also show kindness unto my father's house, and give me a true token:
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.
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.
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.
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.
17 And the men said unto her, We will be blameless of this thine oath which thou hast made us swear.
18 Behold, when we come into the land, thou shalt bind this line of scarlet thread in the window which thou didst let us down by: and thou shalt bring thy father, and thy mother, and thy brethren, and all thy father's household, home unto thee.
19 And it shall be, that whosoever shall go out of the doors of thy house into the street, his blood shall be upon his head, and we will be guiltless: and whosoever shall be with thee in the house, his blood shall be on our head, if any hand be upon him.
20 And if thou utter this our business, then we will be quit of thine oath which thou hast made us to swear.
21 And she said, According unto your words, so be it. And she sent them away, and they departed: and she bound the scarlet line in the window.
22 And they went, and came unto the mountain, and abode there three days, until the pursuers were returned: and the pursuers sought them throughout all the way, but found them not.
23 So the two men returned, and descended from the mountain, and passed over, and came to Joshua the son of Nun, and told him all things that befell them:
24 And 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.
The second chapter of the book of Joshua in the King James Version (KJV) of the Holy Bible continues the narrative of the Israelites' journey to the Promised Land. In this chapter, Joshua sends two spies to the city of Jericho to gather information and prepare for the Israelites' upcoming attack. The main themes of this chapter include faith, courage, and divine guidance. It also highlights the importance of trust and obedience to God's plan, even when it may seem unconventional.
The chapter begins with Joshua sending two spies to Jericho, a city located on the eastern side of the Jordan River. He instructs them to gather information about the land and the people, particularly the strength of their army. The spies enter the city and take refuge in the house of Rahab, a prostitute.
It is interesting to note that the spies were sent to a place that was known for its sin and corruption. This shows that God's plan does not always align with human expectations. The spies could have easily been caught and killed, but they were protected by Rahab, a woman who was not a part of the Israelite community.
Rahab's actions in this chapter demonstrate her faith and courage. When the king of Jericho learns about the spies, he sends men to Rahab's house to capture them. However, Rahab hides the spies on her roof and lies to the king's men, saying that the spies had already left the city. She then explains to the spies that she knows their God is the one true God and she believes that the Israelites will conquer Jericho.
Rahab's faith is significant because she is a Canaanite, a people group that the Israelites were commanded to destroy. Despite this, she chooses to trust in the God of the Israelites and risk her life to protect His people. This is a reminder that God's love and salvation are available to all, regardless of their background or past sins.
Rahab's courage is also evident as she risks her life by defying the king's orders. She puts her trust in God and His plan, even though it may have seemed risky and uncertain. Her actions show that true faith requires courage and obedience, even in the face of danger.
As the spies return to Joshua, they report that the people of Jericho are afraid of the Israelites because they have heard about their God and the miracles He has performed for them. This shows how God's reputation and power had already begun to spread, even before the Israelites entered the Promised Land.
The spies also report that the people of Jericho have closed the city gates, making it impossible for the Israelites to enter. However, the Lord instructs Joshua to have the Israelites march around the city once a day for six days, and on the seventh day, march around it seven times, and then blow their trumpets. This may have seemed like an unconventional plan, but the Israelites trust and follow God's instructions.
Through this plan, God displays His divine guidance and protection. The walls of Jericho miraculously collapse, and the Israelites are able to conquer the city without any casualties. This event serves as a reminder that God is in control and His plans are always for the good of His people.
The second chapter of the book of Joshua holds several significant meanings for believers today. Firstly, it highlights the importance of faith and courage in the face of uncertainty. The spies' journey to Jericho and Rahab's actions demonstrate that true faith requires trust and obedience, even when it may seem risky or unconventional.
This chapter also shows that God's plan is not limited by human expectations. He can use anyone, regardless of their background or past, to fulfill His purpose. Rahab, a Canaanite prostitute, plays a crucial role in helping the Israelites conquer Jericho. This is a reminder that God's love and salvation are available to all, and no one is beyond redemption.
Furthermore, the story of Rahab displays the power of God's grace and forgiveness. Despite her past sins, Rahab's faith and courage lead her to salvation and a place in the genealogy of Jesus Christ. This serves as a reminder that God's grace is available to all, and no one is too far gone to be redeemed.
Lastly, this chapter highlights the importance of trust and obedience to God's plan. The Israelites could have easily questioned God's instructions to march around the city, but they chose to trust and follow His plan. As a result, they were able to witness the miraculous collapse of the city walls and conquer Jericho. This is a reminder that God's ways are higher than our ways, and His plans are always for our good.
In conclusion, the second chapter of the book of Joshua in the KJV Holy Bible is a powerful testament to the themes of faith, courage, and divine guidance. It serves as a reminder that God's plan is not limited by human expectations and that His grace and salvation are available to all. This chapter also highlights the importance of trust and obedience to God's plan, even when it may seem risky or unconventional. As believers, we can draw strength and encouragement from the story of Rahab and the Israelites as we navigate our own journeys of faith.
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