8 And—before they lie down—she hath gone up unto them on the roof, 9 and she saith unto the men, 'I have known that Jehovah hath given to you the land, and that your terror hath fallen upon us, and that all the inhabitants of the land have melted at your presence. 10 'For we have heard how Jehovah dried up the waters of the Red Sea at your presence, in your going out of Egypt, and that which ye have done to the two kings of the Amorite who 'are' beyond the Jordan; to Sihon and to Og whom ye devoted. 11 And we hear, and melt doth our heart, and there hath not stood any more spirit in 'any' man, from your presence, for Jehovah your God, He 'is' God in the heavens above, and on the earth beneath. 12 'And now, swear ye, I pray you, to me by Jehovah—because I have done with you kindness—that ye have done, even ye, kindness with the house of my father, and have given to me a true token, 13 and have kept alive my father, and my mother, and my brothers, and my sisters, and all that they have, and have delivered our souls from death.' 14 And the men say to her, 'Our soul for yours—to die; if ye declare not this our matter, then it hath been, in Jehovah's giving to us this land, that we have done with thee kindness and truth.' 15 And she causeth them to go down by a rope through the window, for her house 'is' in the side of the wall, and in the wall she 'is' dwelling; 16 and she saith to them, 'To the mountain go, lest the pursuers come upon you; and ye have been hidden there three days till the turning back of the pursuers, and afterwards ye go on your way.' 17 And the men say unto her, 'We are acquitted of this thine oath which thou hast caused us to swear: 18 lo, we are coming into the land, this line of scarlet thread thou dost bind to the window by which thou hast caused us to go down, and thy father, and thy mother, and thy brethren, and all the house of thy father thou dost gather unto thee, to the house; 19 and it hath been, any one who goeth out from the doors of thy house without, his blood 'is' on his head, and we are innocent; and any one who is with thee in the house, his blood 'is' on our head, if a hand is on him; 20 and if thou declare this our matter, then we have been acquitted from thine oath which thou hast caused us to swear.' 21 And she saith, 'According unto your words, so it 'is';' and she sendeth them away, and they go; and she bindeth the scarlet line to the window.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Joshua 2:8-21
Commentary on Joshua 2:8-21
(Read Joshua 2:8-21)
Rahab had heard of the miracles the Lord wrought for Israel. She believed that his promises would certainly be fulfilled, and his threatenings take effect; and that there was no way of escape but by submitting to him, and joining with his people. The conduct of Rahab proved that she had the real principle of Divine faith. Observe the promises the spies made to her. The goodness of God is often expressed by his kindness and truth, Psalm 117:2; in both these we must be followers of him. Those who will be conscientious in keeping promises, are cautious in making them. The spies make needful conditions. The scarlet cord, like the blood upon the doorpost at the passover, recalls to remembrance the sinner's security under the atoning blood of Christ; and that we are to flee thereto for refuge from the wrath of a justly offended God. The same cord Rahab used for the saving of these Israelites, was to be used for her own safety. What we serve and honour God with, we may expect he will bless, and make useful to us.