1I poslal Jozue, syn Núnův, ze Šitímu tajně dva zvědy se slovy: Jděte, prohlédněte si tu zemi i Jericho. Šli tedy, přišli do domu prostitutky jménem Rachab a ulehli tam. 2Tu bylo řečeno králi Jericha: Hle, teď v noci sem přišli muži ze synů Izraele, aby proslídili zemi. 3Jerišský král tedy poslal k Rachabě se slovy: Vyveď ty příchozí, kteří vstoupili do tvého domu, protože přišli, aby proslídili celou zemi. 4Ta žena však oba muže vzala a skryla je. Řekla: Ti muži ke mně opravdu přišli, ale nevěděla jsem, odkud jsou. 5Za tmy, když nastal čas zavřít bránu, ti muži odešli. Nevím, kam šli. Rychle je pronásledujte; však je dostihnete. 6Ona je pak vyvedla na střechu a ukryla je mezi snopky lnu, které měla na střeše rozprostřené. 7A ti muži je pronásledovali jordánskou cestou k brodům. Potom, jakmile za nimi pronásledovatelé vyšli, zavřeli bránu. 8Oni ještě ani neulehli, a ona k nim vystoupila na střechu. 9A řekla těm mužům: Poznala jsem, že vám Hospodin dal zemi, že na nás padla hrůza z vás a že kvůli vám všichni obyvatelé země propadli malomyslnosti. 10Vždyť jsme slyšeli, jak před vámi Hospodin nechal vyschnout vody Rákosového moře, když jste vycházeli z Egypta, a co jste udělali dvěma emorejským králům, kteří sídlili na druhé straně Jordánu, Síchonovi a Ógovi; jak jste je zasvětili zkáze. 11Když jsme to slyšeli, naše srdce se rozplynulo a nikdo už strachem z vás ani nedýchal, protože Hospodin, váš Bůh, je Bůh nahoře na nebesích i dole na zemi. 12Nuže, přísahejte mi, prosím, při Hospodinu, že když jsem vám prokázala milosrdenství, prokážete také vy milosrdenství domu mého otce a dáte mi spolehlivé znamení. 13A necháte žít mého otce i matku, mé bratry i sestry a všechno, co jim patří, a vysvobodíte naše duše od smrti. 14Nato jí ti muži odpověděli: Nechť naše duše zemře namísto vás. Pokud nevyzradíte tuto naši úmluvu a stane se, že nám Hospodin dá zemi, prokážeme ti milosrdenství a věrnost. 15Potom je nechala sestoupit po provaze z okna, protože její dům byl v hradební zdi. Bydlela na hradbách. 16A řekla jim: Na to pohoří jděte, ať na vás nenarazí pronásledovatelé. Ukryjete se tam na tři dny, dokud se pronásledovatelé nevrátí, a potom půjdete svou cestou. 17Muži jí řekli: Budeme zproštěni této tvé přísahy, kterou jsi nás zapřisáhla, za této podmínky: 18Hle, přicházíme do země. Přivážeš provázek z těchto karmínových šňůr do okna, z něhož jsi nás nechala sestoupit, a shromáždíš svého otce, matku, bratry a celý dům svého otce k sobě do domu. 19A krev každého, kdo vyjde ze dveří tvého domu na ulici, spočine na jeho hlavě a my budeme nevinní, ale krev každého, kdo bude s tebou v domě, spočine na naší hlavě, jestliže na něho dopadne něčí ruka. 20Jestliže však vyzradíš tuto naši úmluvu, budeme zproštěni tvé přísahy, jíž jsi nás zapřisáhla. 21Nato řekla: Tak to bude, podle vašich slov. Propustila je a oni šli. Potom přivázala do okna karmínový provázek. 22Tak šli, až došli na to pohoří a zůstali tam tři dny, dokud se pronásledovatelé nevrátili. Ačkoliv pronásledovatelé prohledali celou cestu, nikoho nenašli. 23Pak se oba muži vrátili. Sestoupili z pohoří, přebrodili se, přišli k Jozuovi, synu Núnovu, a vyprávěli mu o všem, co je potkalo. 24A řekli Jozuovi: Hospodin vydal do naší ruky celou zemi a také všichni obyvatelé té země z nás propadli malomyslnosti.
Jamieson Fausset Brown Bible Commentary 1 RAHAB RECEIVES AND CONCEALS THE TWO SPIES. (
Josh 2:1-
Josh 2:7)
Joshua . . . sent . . . two men to spy secretly--Faith is manifested by an active, persevering use of means (
Jas 2:22); and accordingly Joshua, while confident in the accomplishment of the divine promise (
Josh 1:3), adopted every precaution which a skilful general could think of to render his first attempt in the invasion of Canaan successful. Two spies were despatched to reconnoitre the country, particularly in the neighborhood of Jericho; for in the prospect of investing that place, it was desirable to obtain full information as to its site, its approaches, the character, and resources of its inhabitants. This mission required the strictest privacy, and it seems to have been studiously concealed from the knowledge of the Israelites themselves, test any unfavorable or exaggerated report, publicly circulated, might have dispirited the people, as that of the spies did in the days of Moses.
Jericho--Some derive this name from a word signifying "new moon," in reference to the crescent-like plain in which it stood, formed by an amphitheater of hills; others from a word signifying "its scent," on account of the fragrance of the balsam and palm trees in which it was embosomed. Its site was long supposed to be represented by the small mud-walled hamlet Er-Riha; but recent researches have fixed on a spot about half an hour's journey westward, where large ruins exist about six or eight miles distant from the Jordan. It was for that age a strongly fortified town, the key of the eastern pass through the deep ravine, now called Wady-Kelt, into the interior of Palestine.
they . . . came into an harlot's house--Many expositors, desirous of removing the stigma of this name from an ancestress of the Saviour (
Matt 1:5), have called her a hostess or tavern keeper. But Scriptural usage (
Lev 21:7-
Lev 21:14;
Deut 23:18;
Judg 11:1;
1Kgs 3:16), the authority of the Septuagint, followed by the apostles (
Heb 11:31;
Jas 2:25), and the immemorial style of Eastern khans, which are never kept by women, establish the propriety of the term employed in our version. Her house was probably recommended to the spies by the convenience of its situation, without any knowledge of the character of the inmates. But a divine influence directed them in the choice of that lodging-place.
2 it was told the king--by the sentinels who at such a time of threatened invasion would be posted on the eastern frontier and whose duty required them to make a strict report to headquarters of the arrival of all strangers.
4 the woman took the two men, and hid them--literally, "him," that is, each of them in separate places, of course previous to the appearance of the royal messengers and in anticipation of a speedy search after her guests. According to Eastern manners, which pay an almost superstitious respect to a woman's apartment, the royal messengers did not demand admittance to search but asked her to bring the foreigners out.
5 the time of shutting of the gates--The gates of all Oriental cities are closed at sunset, after which there is no possibility either of admission or egress.
the men went out--This was a palpable deception. But, as lying is a common vice among heathen people, Rahab was probably unconscious of its moral guilt, especially as she resorted to it as a means for screening her guests; and she might deem herself bound to do it by the laws of Eastern hospitality, which make it a point of honor to preserve the greatest enemy, if he has once eaten one's salt. Judged by the divine law, her answer was a sinful expedient; but her infirmity being united with faith, she was graciously pardoned and her service accepted (
Jas 2:25).
6 she had brought them up to the roof of the house, and hid them with the stalks of flax--Flax, with other vegetable productions, is at a certain season spread out on the flat roofs of Eastern houses to be dried in the sun; and, after lying awhile, it is piled up in numerous little stacks, which, from the luxuriant growth of the flax, rise to a height of three or four feet. Behind some of these stacks Rahab concealed the spies.
7 the men pursued after them the way to Jordan unto the fords--That river is crossed at several well-known fords. The first and second immediately below the sea of Galilee; the third and fourth immediately above and below the pilgrims' bathing-place, opposite Jericho.
as soon as they which pursued after them were gone out, they shut the gate--This precaution was to ensure the capture of the spies, should they have been lurking in the city.
8 THE COVENANT BETWEEN HER AND THEM. (
Josh 2:8-
Josh 2:21)
she came up unto them upon the roof and said--Rahab's dialogue is full of interest, as showing the universal panic and consternation of the Canaanites on the one hand (
Josh 24:11;
Deut 2:25), and her strong convictions on the other, founded on a knowledge of the divine promise, and the stupendous miracles that had opened the way of the Israelites to the confines of the promised land. She was convinced of the supremacy of Jehovah, and her earnest stipulations for the preservation of her relatives amid the perils of the approaching invasion, attest the sincerity and strength of her faith.
14 the men answered her, Our life for yours, if ye utter not this our business--This was a solemn pledge--a virtual oath, though the name of God is not mentioned; and the words were added, not as a condition of their fidelity, but as necessary for her safety, which might be endangered if the private agreement was divulged.
15 her house was upon the town wall--In many Oriental cities houses are built on the walls with overhanging windows; in others the town wall forms the back wall of the house, so that the window opens into the country. Rahab's was probably of this latter description, and the cord or rope sufficiently strong to bear the weight of a man.
16 she said--rather "she had said," for what follows must have been part of the previous conversation.
Get you to the mountain--A range of white limestone hills extends on the north, called Quarantania (now Jebel Karantu), rising to a height of from twelve hundred to fifteen hundred feet, and the sides of which are perforated with caves. Some one peak adjoining was familiarly known to the inhabitants as "the mountain." The prudence and propriety of the advice to flee in that direction rather than to the ford, were made apparent by the sequel.
21 she bound the scarlet line in the window--probably soon after the departure of the spies. It was not formed, as some suppose, into network, as a lattice, but simply to hang down the wall. Its red color made it conspicuous, and it was thus a sign and pledge of safety to Rahab's house, as the bloody mark on the lintels of the houses of the Israelites in Egypt to that people.