Joshua-Chap-2

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Tanakh versions:

Throughout this site I may use any of the following three versions of the TaNaKh: 1. “Jewish Publication Society” (JPS-1917), 2. Mechon-Mamre.org” (MEC), and 3. “Sefaria.org” (SEF).

Colour coded details of the - TaNaKh:

1. Torah = History & Law, 2. Nevi’im = The Prophets. 3. *Ketuvim = all other Writings.

*The Ketuvim - Includes, Poetical books - Psalms, Proverbs, Job, the Megillot, or Scrolls - Song of Solomon, Ruth, Lamentations of Jeremiah, Ecclesiastes, and Esther, prophecy of Daniel, and history of Ezra, Nehemiah, and Chronicles I & II.

Please Note: Some alterations or (additions) have been made relating to ‘Names’ and ‘Attributes’ having been corrected like it once was, pre the “Masoretic Text”.

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Remember the following two truth’s from our beloved Scriptures!

“Ye shall NOT ADD TO THE WORD which I command you, neither shall ye diminish from it, that ye may keep the commandments of יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵיכֶם (the LORD your Eloleichem) which I command you”. Davarim - Deuteronomy 4:2. (JPS-1917).

“This is My Name FOREVER, and this is My Memorial to ALL Generations”. Shemot - Exodus 3:15. (JPS).

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“Yahoshua - Joshua Chapter 2”

With Rabbi, Dr. Reuven Ben Avraham-Goossens, PhD.

Just before the study, I would like to provide one vital quote from the book of Yahoshua - Joshua Ch 1:7-8. (JPS-1917).

“Be strong and courageous. Be careful to obey the entire Torah My servant Moshe has given you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. Do not let this Book of the Torah depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.”

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Introduction:

Joshua chapter 2 recounts the mission of two Israelite spies sent by Joshua to Jericho. They lodge in Rahab’s house; when the king seeks them, Rahab hides them and misleads the pursuers. Rahab acknowledges Israel’s אֱלֹהִים - Elohim (God), asks for protection for her family, and secures a promise from the spies. She helps them escape by lowering them from her window with a scarlet cord as a sign for her household’s safety when the city falls. The spies return to Joshua with a report of the land’s fear of Israel.

Let now read Yahoshua - Joshua Chapter 2 - (JPS-1917 version of the Tanakh).

1. And Joshua the son of Nun sent out of Shittim two spies secretly, saying: 'Go view the land, and Jericho.' And they went, and came into the house of a harlot whose name was Rahab, and lay there.

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 land.'

3. And the king of Jericho sent unto Rahab, saying: 'Bring forth the men that are come to thee, that are entered into thy house; for they are come to search out all the land.'

4. And the woman took the two men, and hid them; and she said: 'Yea, the men came unto me, but I knew not whence they were;

5. and it came to pass about the time of the shutting of the gate, when it was dark, that the men went out; whither the men went I know not; pursue after them quickly; for ye shall overtake them.'

6. But she had brought them up to the roof, and hid them with the stalks of flax, which she had spread out upon the roof.

7. And the men pursued after them the way to the Jordan unto the fords; and as soon as they that pursued after them were gone out, the gate was shut.

8. And before they were laid down, she came up unto them upon the roof;

9. and she said unto the men: 'I know that יְהוָה - the LORD hath given you the land, and that your terror is fallen upon us, and that all the inhabitants of the land melt away before you.

10. For we have heard how יְהוָה - the LORD dried up the water of the Red Sea before you, when ye came out of Egypt; and what ye did unto the two kings of the Amorites, that were beyond the Jordan, unto Sihon and to Og, whom ye utterly destroyed.

11. And as soon as we had heard it, our hearts did melt, neither did there remain any more spirit in any man, because of you; for יְהוָה - the LORD your אֱלֹהִים - Elohim, He is אֱלֹהִים in heaven above, and on earth beneath.

12. Now therefore, I pray you, swear unto me by יְהוָה - the LORD, since I have dealt kindly with you, that ye also will deal kindly with my father's house, and give me a true token

13. and save alive my father, and my mother, and my brethren, and my sisters, and all that they have, and deliver our lives from death.'

14. And the men said unto her: 'Our life for yours, if ye tell not this our business; and it shall be, when יְהוָה - the LORD giveth us the land, that we will deal kindly and truly with thee.'

15. Then she let them down by a cord through the window; for her house was upon the side of the wall, and she dwelt upon the wall.

16. And she said unto them: 'Get you to the mountain, lest the pursuers light upon you; and hide yourselves there three days, until the pursuers be returned; and afterward may ye go your way.'

17. And the men said unto her: 'We will be guiltless of this thine oath which thou hast made us to swear.

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 gather unto thee into the house thy father, and thy mother, and thy brethren, and all thy father's household.

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.

20. But if thou utter this our business, then we will be guiltless of thine oath which thou hast made us to swear.'

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.

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.

23. Then the two men returned, and descended from the mountain, and passed over, and came to Joshua the son of Nun; and they told him all that had befallen them.

24. And they said unto Joshua: 'Truly יְהוָה - the LORD hath delivered into our hands all the land; and moreover all the inhabitants of the land do melt away before us.'

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Below is my concise, verse by verse commentary of Joshua chapter 2, providing a brief interpretive note for each verse to aid a study for a better understanding!

The verse by Verse Commentary:

Verse 1:

Joshua sends two spies from Shittim to Jericho: Preparation and prudence accompany Divine promise; the mission is covert and purposeful.

Verse 2:

The spies lodge in Rahab’s house: Rahab’s house functions as both inn and refuge, placing her at the story’s center.

Verse 3:

The king of Jericho demands the spies: The king’s inquiry shows local alarm and the city’s vigilance.

Verse 4:

Rahab hides the men and claims ignorance: Her action is protective and decisive, risking her life for the strangers.

Verse 5:

Pursuers search the streets at night. The narrative heightens tension; the spies’ escape seems imminent.

Verse 6:

Rahab hides them on the roof among flax: The detail of flax emphasizes ordinary domestic resources used for extraordinary rescue.

Verse 7:

Pursuers follow to the Jordan fords and fail to find them: The search’s failure underscores divine providence and human cunning.

Verse 8: Rahab approaches the spies before they sleep: She initiates dialogue, shifting from protector to petitioner.

Verse 9:

Rahab confesses that יְהוָה - the LORD has given the land to Israel: A Canaanite confession of faith marks a theological turning point.

Verse 10:

She recounts the Red Sea and victories over Sihon and Og: Rahab’s knowledge of Israel’s history explains why Jericho fears.

Verse 11:

She declares that the inhabitants’ hearts melt: Rahab recognizes אֱלֹהִים - Elohim’s sovereignty both in heaven and on earth.

Verse 12:

Rahab asks the spies to swear by יְהוָה - the LORD for her family’s safety: Her plea frames covenant language and mutual obligation.

Verse 13:

She requests protection for her parents and household: The request highlights family ties and communal survival in wartime.

Verse 14:

The spies promise life for life if she keeps silence: Their oath binds them morally and strategically to Rahab.

Verse 15:

Rahab lowers them by a cord through the window: The window and cord emphasize escape, liminality, and later covenant sign.

Verse 16:

She instructs them to hide on the mountain for three days: The mountain refuge provides temporary safety and plausible deniability.

Verse 17:

The spies accept the oath but reserve blamelessness: They set conditions that protect their future accountability.

Verse 18:

They instruct Rahab to bind a scarlet thread in the window: The scarlet cord becomes the visible sign of the covenant.

Verse 19:

They declare consequences for anyone leaving the house: The promise ties household obedience to communal survival.

Verse 20:

If she betrays them, the oath is void: The conditional nature of the promise stresses mutual trust and secrecy.

Verse 21:

Rahab agrees and binds the scarlet line: Her compliance seals the agreement and marks her household for preservation.

Verse 22:

The spies hide on the mountain three days: Pursuers fail to find them. The plan succeeds, showing careful timing and providential protection.

Verse 23:

The spies return to Joshua and report: Their safe return enables informed leadership and next steps in the campaign.

Verse 24:

They report that יְהוָה - the LORD has delivered the land into their hands because the inhabitants faint: The report emphasizes psychological conquest as well as a military prospect!

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Additional observations:

Key Hebrew concept: “Chesed” (lovingkindness) is central and valued above life and the motive for praise.

Structure: three movements, ‘longing’ (vv.1-4), ‘satisfaction and remembrance’ (vv.5-9), ‘vindication’ and ‘contrast with enemies’ (vv.10–11).

Imagery: ‘water/desert’, ‘marrow/fatness’, ‘wings’, ‘right hand’, all concrete metaphors linking physical need and divine provision.

Conclusion:

Psalm 2 presents a stark contrast between human rebellion and divine rule: earthly rulers plot against יְהוָה - the Lord and His chosen ones, but אֱלֹהִים - Elohim sovereignty laughs, installs His king on Zion, and declares the king as His Son, promising authority over the nations and warning rulers to submit; this Tehillim - Psalm closes by urging trust in יְהוָה - the Lord and offering blessings to those who take refuge in him!

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PLEASE NOTE: This site was originally created, for those who desired to return to our blessed and wonderful faith. Thus be wise and work on your faith and pray at least two or three times a day (if possible) and always seek our beloved אֱלֹהִים - Elohim’s guidance, for His love is always with us, especially when we seek Him, blessed be He! However this site has become very much a teaching site with hundreds of studies!

Remember what אֱלֹהִים - Elohim, blessed be He, said the following, via several of our prophets...

“Return unto Me, and I will return unto you, saith צְבָאוֹת- יְהוָה- the LORD of hosts”. Mal’a’chi - Malachi 3:7. MEC).

And Remember ...

Enjoy your Sabbath Rest, Shabbat Shalom!

אֲנִי יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵיכֶם, בְּחֻקּוֹתַי לֵכוּ; וְאֶת-מִשְׁפָּטַי שִׁמְרוּ, וַעֲשׂוּ אוֹתָם

וְאֶת-שַׁבְּתוֹתַי, קַדֵּשׁוּ; וְהָיוּ לְאוֹת, בֵּינִי וּבֵינֵיכֶם-לָדַעַת, כִּי אֲנִי יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵיכֶם

“I am אֱלֹהֵיכֶם יְהוָה - the LORD your Eloheichem; walk in My statutes, and keep Mine ordinances, and do them; and hallow My Sabbaths, and they shall be a sign between Me and you, that ye may know that I am אֱלֹהֵיכֶם יְהוָה - the LORD your Eloheichem”. Yechezkel - Ezekiel 20:19-20. (JPS).

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“Hebraic Studies” motto is as follows;

“The More Torah, the More Life”

For אֱלֹהִים יְהוָה - the LORD Elohim, Blessed be His Sanctified Name,

He is the one who gave us our Life!”

May the שָׁלוֹם - Shalom = Peace of צְבָאוֹת- יְהוָה= the LORD of hosts. be with you, and please always uphold our blessed שַׁבָּת - Shabbat, as well as the מוֹעֲדִים - Mo’a’dim - Feasts, and continue saying your daily תְּפִלָּה - Tefeelah’s (Prayers) and regular בְּרָכָה - Be’ra’chah’s (blessings) before food and drinks, etc!

שָׁלוֹם עֲלֵיכֶם - Shalom Aleichem - Peace be with you!

Rabbi, Dr. Reuven Ben Avraham-Goossens, PhD.

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