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:
Read it in contextRahab and the Spies
Start reading at Joshua 2:1 (Joshua 2:1 to Joshua 2:24).
The entire chapter details the mission of the spies, Rahab's protection of them, and their agreement for her family's safety.
2:1And 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.
2:2And 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.
2:3And 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.
2:4And the woman took the two men, and hid them, and said thus, There came men unto me, but I wist not whence they were:
2:5And 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.
2:6But 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.
2:7And 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.
2:8And before they were laid down, she came up unto them upon the roof;
2:9And 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.
2:10For 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.
2:11And 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.
2:12Now 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:
2:13And 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.
2:14And 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.
2:15Then she let them down by a cord through the window: for her house was upon the town wall, and she dwelt upon the wall.
2:16And 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.
2:17And the men said unto her, We will be blameless of this thine oath which thou hast made us swear.
2:18Behold, 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.
2:19And 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.
2:20And if thou utter this our business, then we will be quit of thine oath which thou hast made us to swear.
2:21And 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.
2:22And 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.
2:23So 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:
2:24And 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.
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Who
Who wrote the book? Joshua is the traditional principal author, and Joshua 24:26 credits him with writing covenant words. The closing record of his death and later events means the completed account includes a later contribution. Biblical references: Joshua 24:26; Joshua 24:29. Historical source: Babylonian Talmud, Bava Batra 14b–15a (record of Jewish attribution, not contemporary proof). traditionally held
Who was present or being addressed in this passage? In the surrounding chapter context (Joshua 2:1–2:24): Joshua's two spies, Rahab, and the king of Jericho's messengers are the immediate participants. stated in the text
Who was the book written to? Israel living in the land and later generations learning how the land was allotted and why covenant faithfulness mattered. No individual first recipient is known. Biblical references: Joshua 4:6; Joshua 4:21; Joshua 24:24. book background
What
What is the main event or theme? Rahab, having shown kindness to the Israelite spies by hiding them from the king of Jericho, requests an oath from them. She asks them to swear by the LORD that they will show kindness to her father's house and give her a true token, ensuring the salvation of her family when Israel conquers the land.
What is God revealing? God is revealing His power and sovereignty over all the earth, as Rahab acknowledges Him as "God in heaven above, and in earth beneath." He is also revealing His willingness to extend mercy and salvation to those who believe in Him, even from among the nations that oppose Israel.
What is the literary style? The literary style of the book of Joshua is narrative history.
When
When was it written? The book of Joshua was written between approximately 1400 and 1370 B.C.
When does the event take place? The event takes place around 1400 to 1375 B.C., specifically before the Israelites crossed the Jordan River and began the conquest of Jericho.
Where
Where did it happen? This event happened in Jericho, specifically in Rahab's house, which was located upon the town wall.
Where was the author located? The author, Joshua, was located in Canaan when the book was written.
Where does the context start?
This passage sits in Rahab and the Spies (Joshua 2:1 to Joshua 2:24).
Start reading at Joshua 2:1. The entire chapter details the mission of the spies, Rahab's protection of them, and their agreement for her family's safety.
How
How does it fit the broader context? This passage is a pivotal moment in the narrative of the conquest of Canaan. It details the reconnaissance mission to Jericho, the first city to be conquered, and establishes a covenant of protection for Rahab and her family due to her faith and actions. This event sets the stage for the miraculous fall of Jericho and demonstrates God's providential care for His people and His mercy towards those who turn to Him.
How does it point to Christ? Rahab's faith in the LORD, an outsider to Israel, led to her salvation and the salvation of her household from destruction. The scarlet thread she was instructed to display in her window (Joshua 2:18) served as a visible sign and token of deliverance, much like the blood on the doorposts in Egypt (Exodus 12:13). This scarlet thread can be seen as a type of the blood of Christ, which provides salvation and deliverance for all who believe and trust in Him.
How do I apply it today? This passage encourages believers today to place their trust in the one God, who is sovereign over all things, as Rahab did. It illustrates that God can use unexpected individuals to accomplish His purposes and that faith, even from an unlikely source, is honored by God. It also reminds us of the importance of showing kindness and mercy, as Rahab showed to the spies, and as the spies promised to show to her family.
Cross references from CrossReferences-org (CC BY 4.0).
Macro-Structure
See how this passage fits the chapter and the book.
Macro-Structure of Joshua 2
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Joshua concerns Israel's entry into Canaan, the distribution of the land, and covenant exhortations. It identifies Joshua's leadership and records his writing in Joshua 24:26, but that does not establish that he wrote every later event in the book. Local headings and stanza divisions are editorial reading aids adapted from public-domain BSB headings; verse boundaries and Scripture links use the KJV. Connections describe the surrounding book movement.
Connection to the wholeThis opening unit introduces the chapter’s movement. Joshua's commission and the Jordan crossing lead into renewed covenant signs before the campaigns begin.
Connection to the wholeThis unit closes the chapter’s selected reading divisions. Joshua's commission and the Jordan crossing lead into renewed covenant signs before the campaigns begin.
interpretation
Suggested literary divisions. Headings summarize the passage; they are not part of the biblical text.
Macro-Structure of Joshua
Prefilled outline, not yet reviewed.
Joshua concerns Israel's entry into Canaan, the distribution of the land, and covenant exhortations. It identifies Joshua's leadership and records his writing in Joshua 24:26, but that does not establish that he wrote every later event in the book.
Connection to the wholeThe campaigns include both victories and Israel's failure concerning the devoted things; the record ends with a list of defeated kings.