JOSHUA LESSON 2


     We will begin this lesson in Joshua 2:1 "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."

     This place is the same as the plains of Moab across from Jericho.
The Israelites had stopped here for awhile. Jericho was known as the
city of fragrance. It was, also, known as the city of the palm trees.
It is, even today, a very fertile area. There is safety in two going,
instead of one. It seems these two young men found a place of rest in
Rahab's house. This same Rahab, the harlot, is mentioned in the
genealogy of Jesus.

     Joshua 2:2 "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."

     It appears, the king had suspicioned the Israelites would send
spies into his land. He, probably, had men stationed to watch for just
such an entrance. They have, now, reported to the king that his fears
have come true. The Israelites have, indeed, come to search the land.

     Joshua 2:3 "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."

     Now, we see they not only saw them come into the city, but
actually saw them enter Rahab's house. Some writers believe that Rahab
is a symbol of the forgiven church. Perhaps, these young men thought
the fact this was a harlot's house would have caused less suspicion of
their presence in town.

     Joshua 2:4 "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]:"

     This could have cost Rahab her life, if the king found her out.
She actually told the king's men that, they had been there, but left.
She, probably, had already hid the men, when she knew the king's men
were on their way.

     Joshua 2:5 "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."

     Rahab is telling lies to save the spies. Just about dark is the
time she told the king's men they left. She encourages them to go, and
look elsewhere for them. Rahab did not know the law of God and,
probably, had no idea that telling lies was a sin. She, probably, did
not even realize harlotry was a sin. These people were not taught in
the ways of God.
     Joshua 2:6 "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."

     We have discussed before how their homes had flat roofs and were
used for daytime activities. It appears, from this, that Rahab had
stacked some flax on her roof. She hid the spies under the flax. Linen
is made from flax. God had saved these spies. It was He who had Rahab
to stack the flax. It was His idea planted in Rahab's mind to hide the
spies here. God will hide His own in time of trouble.

     Joshua 2:7 "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."

     The men, who had come from the king, went to look for the spies
outside the city gates. It must have been about dusk, because just
after they left to look for the men, the city gate was closed.

     Joshua 2:8  "And before they were laid down, she came up unto
them upon the roof;"

     She did not disturb them after they had lain down. She went up
before they lay down to sleep. She wanted to talk to them.

     Joshua 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."

     She, like many of the other inhabitants, had heard that God had
given the Israelites this land. It is obvious she was more terrified
of God than she was of her own king. Rahab has great faith in the
ability of God to do what He says. She speaks of it as if it is
inevitable. It appears, fear had already gripped the people of this
land. They were afraid of Israel's God.

     Joshua 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."

     It seems that the miracles that God had done for them 40 years
ago at the Red Sea, was still known of these people. Of a more recent
time, God had destroyed Og and Sihon, and gave their land to Reuben
Gad, and the half tribe of Manasseh. Word brought to these people of
Jericho had them frightened of Israel's God.

     Joshua 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."

     The recognition of God for who He is will get a person saved.
Rahab has fulfilled the Scripture in Romans 10:10 "For with the heart
man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is
made unto salvation."  Rahab does not know this God of Israel
personally, but she believes in her heart that He is truly God. Rahab
realizes the idols are not real. She expresses, here, that the LORD,
He is God of everyone. This type of faith gets God's attention. The
sinful life she is living cannot keep her from being redeemed. God
will wash her and make her sins white as snow.

     Joshua 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 risked her life for their safety, because she believed in
their God. Notice, Rahab pleads for her family, as well as herself. I
think it is commendable on her part that she saved their lives, before
she asked for her family's safety. She did not bargain with them,
before she hid them. She is asking for something that will identify
her and save her family, when the siege comes.

     Joshua 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."

     We see the specific persons, now, she desires saved. She is not
satisfied to be saved herself, she wants them saved, also. This is
similar to Christianity. Each Christian's desire is that his family
will be saved.

     Joshua 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."

     Rahab had already committed herself to saving their lives. They
have agreed to Rahab's terms, if she remains silent about their plans.

     Joshua 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."

     It appears, this window was in the wall of the city. It, also,
appears that her house was part of the wall of the city. It could have
been on the top of the wall, the same as it could have been part of
the wall. The main idea is that Rahab let them down by rope to the
ground outside the wall. We know of a similar happening, when Paul was
let down by a basket outside the wall.

     Joshua 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."

     Not only had Rahab helped them out of the city, but she tells
them of a good hiding place in the mountains where they will be safe.
Near Jericho the mountains were full of caves, and they would be safe
hiding in one of them. In just such a cave, the Dead Sea Scrolls were
found, years after they were hidden there.
     Joshua 2:17 And the men said unto her, We [will be] blameless of
this thine oath which thou hast made us swear.

     They did not want to be blamed for not keeping their promise to
Rahab. They give her the following instructions for her safety.

     Joshua 2:18 "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."

     Those, whose lives Rahab had begged for, will have to be in her
home to be safe. The scarlet thread is speaking of red. Red means
blood, or life. This red thread is symbolic of the blood of Jesus
Christ, which saves all who will dare to believe. It was the blood of
the lamb, which saved the Hebrews in Egypt. This type of sign of
safety is throughout the Bible. It began with the blood covenant God
made with Abraham.

     Joshua 2:19 "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."

     This is the very same thing as the blood on the door of the
Hebrews houses. If they were not inside the house with the blood, they
were killed like the Egyptian firstborn. This is speaking of the blood
of the Lamb of God protecting Rahab and her family, who are covered in
the blood. Christians are washed in that same blood, and made
righteous in God's sight. Revelation 1:5 "And from Jesus Christ, [who
is] the faithful witness, [and] the first begotten of the dead, and
the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and
washed us from our sins in his own blood,"  Revelation 7:14 "And I
said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they
which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and
made them white in the blood of the Lamb."

     Joshua 2:20 "And if thou utter this our business, then we will be
quit of thine oath which thou hast made us to swear."

     She must not only put the red thread of rope on her house, but
she must not tell of their mission, as well.

     Joshua 2:21 "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."

     She did not, wait until the attack came. She prepared herself
then. People, who are thinking about becoming a Christian, should not
wait, until the trumpet blows in the sky. It might be too late. Rahab
shows her eagerness to be ready, by binding the scarlet line in the
window ahead of time. Her redemption is sealed, with that action upon
her part.

     Joshua 2:22 "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."

     Rahab had given them good advice. They were able to hide safely,
until the searchers from the king stopped looking. Perhaps, they were
in a cave, we do not know. We do know they were in the mountains three
days, and not found out.

     Joshua 2:23  "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:"

     They were young, so they, probably, swam over the river to get
back to Joshua. I am sure Joshua was pleased that the people feared
them.  An enemy who fears defeat, will, probably, experience defeat.
They told Joshua of their promise to Rahab, as well.

     Joshua 2:24 "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."

     There were no negative reports this time. The two spies found
they truly could take this land of promise. The best news of all is
the fact that the land they are about to enter, is fearful of the God
of the Israelites. The enemy will, probably, give up easily, since
they know that Israel's God fights for Israel.


























                        Joshua 2 Questions


1.  Who did Joshua send on a spying mission?
2.  Where did he send them?
3.  Where did they stay, when they got there?
4.  Jericho was known as the city of ___________.
5.  What else was it known as?
6.  Rahab is mentioned in the genealogy of _________.
7.  Who was their presence in the city reported to?
8.  Who came to check with Rahab about the spies?
9.  Some writers believe that Rahab is a symbol of the _________
    _______.
10. What did Rahab do, to keep the two men safe?
11. What did she tell the men the king had sent?
12. What happened to the men that came to find the spies?
13. Did Rahab realize that lying and committing adultery was sin?
14. Where did Rahab hide the spies?
15. What happened immediately after the king's men went out of the
    city, looking for the spies?
16. When did Rahab go and talk to the spies?
17. Why had terror fallen upon them?
18. Who were they afraid of?
19. What had Rahab heard of God?
20. Who received the land of Og and Sihon?
21. What confession did Rahab make in verse 11?
22. Quote Romans chapter 10 verse 10.
23. What does Rahab ask the spies to do, so she will know they will
    keep their word?
24. Who is Rahab begging for?
25. Each Christian's desire is that his _________ will be saved.
26. How did Rahab get them out of town?
27. What good advice did she give the spies?
28. What did the spies tell Rahab to do, to be saved?
29. The scarlet thread is speaking of _____.
30. Verse 19 is similar to what other happening?
31. Quote Revelation chapter 1 verse 5.
32. Quote Revelation chapter 7 verse 14.
33. What was the condition that would quit them of their promise?
34. When did she put the scarlet line in the window?
35. What lesson could we learn from that?
36. After 3 days, where did the spies go?
37. What type of report did they give?
38. What was the best news of all?
39. Why will the enemy give up easily?
40. ________ fights for Israel.