Rahab lowers the Israelite spies down from her roof and instructs them to escape the city. The men reiterate their promise to show kindness to her and her family when they return to destroy Jericho if she will tie a scarlet cord through her window and gather her family into her home. As long as she maintains their secret, they will spare her. Rahab accepts these conditions and releases the men.
In Joshua 2:15-21, Rahab strikes a deal with the Israelite spies and guides them to safety.
The narrative in Joshua 2 began with Joshua commissioning two men to scout out the land of Canaan, especially the city of Jericho. The spies stayed in the house of a prostitute named Rahab. The king of Jericho heard about the spies’ presence in the city and sent word to Rahab, asking her to turn the men over to him. Rahab hid the men on her house’s roof and lied to the king’s messengers by telling them to pursue the spies on the road (Joshua 2:1-7).
When the guards had gone, Rahab spoke to the Israelite spies about her allegiance to them. She professed that she feared the LORD their God for His greatness and asked them to swear to show reciprocal loyalty to her and her family when they returned to capture the city of Jericho. The men agreed to do so if she would keep the matter secret (Joshua 2:8-14). Then she let them down by a rope through the window, enabling them to escape (v. 15). She could do so because her house was on the citywall, so that she was living on the wall.
In Joshua’s day, people often built private homes on the side of the city wall. This method benefited the city by adding extra width and support for the wall. It also helped the residents by providing a firm wall to support their houses. According to archaeological excavations, Jericho had two walls, so, like Rahab, other people built homes on the plaster rampart between the walls.
While the spies were still in Rahab’s home, she instructed them to leave the city. That was wise counsel. Had the men remained in her house, the king’s agents might have returned after failing to find the spies on the road to the Jordan River. They may have investigated Rahab’s house more thoroughly upon their return, and would have caught the spies and killed them. The spies were not safe in Jericho. But Rahab knew that once the Israelite men left the city and were safe, there would be no more threats to them or her. Thus, she said to them, ‘Go to the hill country’ (v. 16).
The hillcountry would be the region on the west side of the Jordan. The king’s messengers had headed east along the plain toward “the Jordan to the fords” (Joshua 2:7). Rahab knew the route they would take, so she advised the spies to go to the hills, which were to the west of Jericho. The purpose, she declared, was so that the pursuers would not happen upon you.
Not only did Rahab know the route the pursuers took, she knew exactly how long it would take them to travel to the Jordan and to return home. Thus, she said to the Israelite spies, Hide yourselves there for three days until the pursuers return. She was concerned for the safety of the Israelite spies and did her best to further save their lives. If they were slain, then the Israelite armies would not know about the pledge to spare her or her household. Rahab concluded her advice by saying, Then afterward you may go on your way. Rahab told the spies to remain hidden for three days to guarantee their protection. Once they spent that time in the hill country, they could return to their camp safely.
The spies concurred with Rahab’s idea. They first agreed to her previous request to spare her from the upcoming destruction of Jericho (vv. 12-13). However, they listed three requirements she must meet for them to fulfill their vows. First, they stated, We shall be free from this oath to you to which you have made us swear unless, when we come into the land, you tie this cord of scarlet thread in the window through which you let us down (vv. 17-18a). The spies may have given Rahab a cord of scarletthread to display at her window as a sign of their agreement. The scarlet color would be a visible sign to the Israelites when they returned to Jericho. They would know which house to spare.
The second requirement was for Rahab to gather to yourself into the house your father and your mother and your brothers and all your father’s household. Thus, if Rahab could hang the scarlet cord out the window and keep her family in the confines of her home, the Israelites would save their lives when capturing Jericho.
The Israelite spies reinforced the conditions by saying to Rahab, It shall come about that anyone who goes out of the door of your house into the street, his blood shall be on his own head, and we shall be free (v. 19). They would not be responsible for the death of Rahab or her household if they found them in the street upon their return. This was practical. The soldiers of Israel would not be able to distinguish Rahab or her kin from any other citizen of Jericho if they were among the general population in the city. But if they remained in one location marked by the scarlet thread, the Israelite host would know to spare that building. Rahab’s home was the safehouse. All who hid there would be protected during the conquest of Jericho. No one should leave the house until Israel had completely taken the city.
The spies further emphasized this truth through a contrast: But anyone who is with you in the house, his blood shall be on our head if a hand is laid on him. The spies would be guilty of bloodshed if the Israelite army killed any person inside Rahab’s home. Since the spies swore on their own lives, they would be sure to make clear to the other soldiers that Rahab’s house was under Israel’s protection.
The third requirement Rahab needed to meet was to maintain secrecy. The men introduced it with another contrast: But if you tell this business of ours, then we shall be free from the oath, which you have made us swear (v. 20).
The Israelite spies reminded Rahab to keep their identity, espionage, and plans of conquest secret (Joshua 2:14). They instructed her not to report any information that could jeopardize their lives. They would be glad to save her and her family, but she needed to keep her part of the bargain. After hearing the spies’ conditions, she agreed: According to your words, so be it (v. 21).
Rahab’s statement demonstrates that she accepted the terms of the threefold procedure enumerated by the spies. That is to say, she would hang out a scarletcord in the window, assemble her family at her house, and remain discreet. Once both parties were agreed, the spies were sent out. Time was precious. Thus, she sent them away. Based on the explicit demonstration of Rahab’s concern and care for the men, they obeyed her and departed. Having released the men, she tied the scarlet cord in the window. By doing so, she fulfilled the first of the conditions immediately.
There are other times a scarlet cord (which was likely woven woolen cloth dyed scarlet) is mentioned in scripture and often has to do with cleansing, salvation from something, or messianic prophecy about the work Jesus was destined to perform. When a leper was to be cleansed of leprosy, a scarlet thread was required during the cleansing ritual (Leviticus 14:4). When Perez, an ancestor of Jesus, was born, his twin brother’s hand began to come out first from his mother Tamar, and the midwife tied a scarlet thread around his hand, but, seemingly, Perez pulled his brother back into the womb and came out first, then his brother with the scarlet thread emerged second (Genesis 38:28-30). Jesus at the crucifixion would be clothed in a scarlet robe, the scarlet thread which all the others may have been pointing towards.
The scarlet cord also reminds the reader of the Passover described in Exodus 12. In that passage, the LORD instructed the Israelites to paint the doorposts and lintel of their houses with blood (Exodus 12:7). Later, He gave them the rationale for that: “The blood shall be a sign for you on the houses where you live; and when I see the blood I will pass over you, and no plague will come upon you to destroy you when I strike the land of Egypt” (Exodus 12:13).
Likewise, the scarlet cord was to be a sign for the Israelites to spare Rahab and her family when they captured Jericho.
We see this promise fulfilled a few chapters later:
“However, Rahab the harlot and her father’s household and all she had, Joshua spared; and she has lived in the midst of Israel to this day, for she hid the messengers whom Joshua sent to spy out Jericho.” (Joshua 6:25)
Despite Rahab’s previous religious background and social status, she trusted Israel’s God and became one of His children. For this reason, the New Testament writers commended her for her faith and placed her among other great heroes of faith: “By faith, Rahab the harlot did not perish along with those who were disobedient, after she had welcomed the spies in peace” (Hebrews 11:31; James 2:25).
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Joshua 2:15-21 meaning
In Joshua 2:15-21, Rahab strikes a deal with the Israelite spies and guides them to safety.
The narrative in Joshua 2 began with Joshua commissioning two men to scout out the land of Canaan, especially the city of Jericho. The spies stayed in the house of a prostitute named Rahab. The king of Jericho heard about the spies’ presence in the city and sent word to Rahab, asking her to turn the men over to him. Rahab hid the men on her house’s roof and lied to the king’s messengers by telling them to pursue the spies on the road (Joshua 2:1-7).
When the guards had gone, Rahab spoke to the Israelite spies about her allegiance to them. She professed that she feared the LORD their God for His greatness and asked them to swear to show reciprocal loyalty to her and her family when they returned to capture the city of Jericho. The men agreed to do so if she would keep the matter secret (Joshua 2:8-14). Then she let them down by a rope through the window, enabling them to escape (v. 15). She could do so because her house was on the city wall, so that she was living on the wall.
In Joshua’s day, people often built private homes on the side of the city wall. This method benefited the city by adding extra width and support for the wall. It also helped the residents by providing a firm wall to support their houses. According to archaeological excavations, Jericho had two walls, so, like Rahab, other people built homes on the plaster rampart between the walls.
While the spies were still in Rahab’s home, she instructed them to leave the city. That was wise counsel. Had the men remained in her house, the king’s agents might have returned after failing to find the spies on the road to the Jordan River. They may have investigated Rahab’s house more thoroughly upon their return, and would have caught the spies and killed them. The spies were not safe in Jericho. But Rahab knew that once the Israelite men left the city and were safe, there would be no more threats to them or her. Thus, she said to them, ‘Go to the hill country’ (v. 16).
The hill country would be the region on the west side of the Jordan. The king’s messengers had headed east along the plain toward “the Jordan to the fords” (Joshua 2:7). Rahab knew the route they would take, so she advised the spies to go to the hills, which were to the west of Jericho. The purpose, she declared, was so that the pursuers would not happen upon you.
Not only did Rahab know the route the pursuers took, she knew exactly how long it would take them to travel to the Jordan and to return home. Thus, she said to the Israelite spies, Hide yourselves there for three days until the pursuers return. She was concerned for the safety of the Israelite spies and did her best to further save their lives. If they were slain, then the Israelite armies would not know about the pledge to spare her or her household. Rahab concluded her advice by saying, Then afterward you may go on your way. Rahab told the spies to remain hidden for three days to guarantee their protection. Once they spent that time in the hill country, they could return to their camp safely.
The spies concurred with Rahab’s idea. They first agreed to her previous request to spare her from the upcoming destruction of Jericho (vv. 12-13). However, they listed three requirements she must meet for them to fulfill their vows. First, they stated, We shall be free from this oath to you to which you have made us swear unless, when we come into the land, you tie this cord of scarlet thread in the window through which you let us down (vv. 17-18a). The spies may have given Rahab a cord of scarlet thread to display at her window as a sign of their agreement. The scarlet color would be a visible sign to the Israelites when they returned to Jericho. They would know which house to spare.
The second requirement was for Rahab to gather to yourself into the house your father and your mother and your brothers and all your father’s household. Thus, if Rahab could hang the scarlet cord out the window and keep her family in the confines of her home, the Israelites would save their lives when capturing Jericho.
The Israelite spies reinforced the conditions by saying to Rahab, It shall come about that anyone who goes out of the door of your house into the street, his blood shall be on his own head, and we shall be free (v. 19). They would not be responsible for the death of Rahab or her household if they found them in the street upon their return. This was practical. The soldiers of Israel would not be able to distinguish Rahab or her kin from any other citizen of Jericho if they were among the general population in the city. But if they remained in one location marked by the scarlet thread, the Israelite host would know to spare that building. Rahab’s home was the safehouse. All who hid there would be protected during the conquest of Jericho. No one should leave the house until Israel had completely taken the city.
The spies further emphasized this truth through a contrast: But anyone who is with you in the house, his blood shall be on our head if a hand is laid on him. The spies would be guilty of bloodshed if the Israelite army killed any person inside Rahab’s home. Since the spies swore on their own lives, they would be sure to make clear to the other soldiers that Rahab’s house was under Israel’s protection.
The third requirement Rahab needed to meet was to maintain secrecy. The men introduced it with another contrast: But if you tell this business of ours, then we shall be free from the oath, which you have made us swear (v. 20).
The Israelite spies reminded Rahab to keep their identity, espionage, and plans of conquest secret (Joshua 2:14). They instructed her not to report any information that could jeopardize their lives. They would be glad to save her and her family, but she needed to keep her part of the bargain. After hearing the spies’ conditions, she agreed: According to your words, so be it (v. 21).
Rahab’s statement demonstrates that she accepted the terms of the threefold procedure enumerated by the spies. That is to say, she would hang out a scarlet cord in the window, assemble her family at her house, and remain discreet. Once both parties were agreed, the spies were sent out. Time was precious. Thus, she sent them away. Based on the explicit demonstration of Rahab’s concern and care for the men, they obeyed her and departed. Having released the men, she tied the scarlet cord in the window. By doing so, she fulfilled the first of the conditions immediately.
There are other times a scarlet cord (which was likely woven woolen cloth dyed scarlet) is mentioned in scripture and often has to do with cleansing, salvation from something, or messianic prophecy about the work Jesus was destined to perform. When a leper was to be cleansed of leprosy, a scarlet thread was required during the cleansing ritual (Leviticus 14:4). When Perez, an ancestor of Jesus, was born, his twin brother’s hand began to come out first from his mother Tamar, and the midwife tied a scarlet thread around his hand, but, seemingly, Perez pulled his brother back into the womb and came out first, then his brother with the scarlet thread emerged second (Genesis 38:28-30). Jesus at the crucifixion would be clothed in a scarlet robe, the scarlet thread which all the others may have been pointing towards.
The scarlet cord also reminds the reader of the Passover described in Exodus 12. In that passage, the LORD instructed the Israelites to paint the doorposts and lintel of their houses with blood (Exodus 12:7). Later, He gave them the rationale for that: “The blood shall be a sign for you on the houses where you live; and when I see the blood I will pass over you, and no plague will come upon you to destroy you when I strike the land of Egypt” (Exodus 12:13).
Likewise, the scarlet cord was to be a sign for the Israelites to spare Rahab and her family when they captured Jericho.
We see this promise fulfilled a few chapters later:
“However, Rahab the harlot and her father’s household and all she had, Joshua spared; and she has lived in the midst of Israel to this day, for she hid the messengers whom Joshua sent to spy out Jericho.”
(Joshua 6:25)
Despite Rahab’s previous religious background and social status, she trusted Israel’s God and became one of His children. For this reason, the New Testament writers commended her for her faith and placed her among other great heroes of faith: “By faith, Rahab the harlot did not perish along with those who were disobedient, after she had welcomed the spies in peace” (Hebrews 11:31; James 2:25).