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<center><h1>Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary
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on the Whole Bible</h1>
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[<A HREF="MHC00000.HTM">Table of Contents</A>]<BR>
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Matthew Henry<BR><I>Commentary on the Whole Bible</I> (1708)
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<!-- (Begin Body) -->
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<CENTER>
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<BR><FONT SIZE=+3><B>J O S H U A</B></FONT>
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<BR>
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<BR><FONT SIZE=+2>CHAP. II.</FONT>
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<HR SIZE=1 WIDTH=50>
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</CENTER>
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<FONT SIZE=-1>
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<P>
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In this chapter we have an account of the scouts that were employed to
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bring an account to Joshua of the posture of the city of Jericho.
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Observe here,
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I. How Joshua sent them,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jos+2:1">ver. 1</A>.
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II. How Rahab received them, and protected them, and told a lie for
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them
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jos+2:2-7">ver. 2-7</A>),
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so that they escaped out of the hands of the enemy.
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III. The account she gave them of the present posture of Jericho, and
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the panic-fear they were struck with upon the approach of Israel,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jos+2:8-11">ver. 8-11</A>.
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IV. The bargain she made with them for the security of herself and her
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relations in the ruin she saw coming upon her city,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jos+2:12-21">ver. 12-21</A>.
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V. Their safe return to Joshua, and the account they gave him of their
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expedition,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jos+2:22-24">ver. 22-24</A>.
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And that which makes this story most remarkable is that Rahab, the
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person principally concerned in it, is twice celebrated in the New
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Testament as a great believer
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Heb+11:31">Heb. xi. 31</A>)
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and as one whose faith proved itself by good works,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jam+2:25">James ii. 25</A>.</P>
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</FONT>
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<A NAME="Jos2_1"> </A>
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<A NAME="Jos2_2"> </A>
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<A NAME="Jos2_3"> </A>
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<A NAME="Jos2_4"> </A>
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<A NAME="Jos2_5"> </A>
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<A NAME="Jos2_6"> </A>
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<A NAME="Jos2_7"> </A>
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<A NAME="Sec1"> </A>
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<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
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<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>The Two Spies and Rahab.</I></FONT></TD>
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<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>B. C.</FONT> 1451.</TD></TR>
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<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
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</TABLE>
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<P>
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<FONT SIZE=+1>1 And Joshua the son of Nun sent out of Shittim two men to spy
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secretly, saying, Go view the land, even Jericho. And they went,
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and came into a harlot's house, named Rahab, and lodged there.
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2 And it was told the king of Jericho, saying, Behold, there
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came men in hither to night of the children of Israel to search
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out the country.
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3 And the king of Jericho sent unto Rahab, saying, Bring forth
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the men that are come to thee, which are entered into thine
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house: for they be come to search out all the country.
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4 And the woman took the two men, and hid them, and said thus,
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There came men unto me, but I wist not whence they <I>were:</I>
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5 And it came to pass <I>about the time</I> of shutting of the gate,
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when it was dark, that the men went out: whither the men went I
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wot not: pursue after them quickly; for ye shall overtake them.
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6 But she had brought them up to the roof of the house, and hid
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them with the stalks of flax, which she had laid in order upon
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the roof.
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7 And the men pursued after them the way to Jordan unto the
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fords: and as soon as they which pursued after them were gone
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out, they shut the gate.
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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In these verses we have,</P>
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<P>
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I. The prudence of Joshua, in sending spies to observe this important
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pass, which was likely to be disputed at the entrance of Israel into
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Canaan
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jos+2:1"><I>v.</I> 1</A>).
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Go <I>view the land, even Jericho.</I> Moses had sent spies
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Nu+13:1-33">Num. xiii.</A>)
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Joshua himself was one of them and it proved of ill consequence. Yet
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Joshua now sent spies, not, as the former were sent, to survey the
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whole land, but Jericho only; not to bring the account to the whole
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congregation, but to Joshua only, who, like a watchful general, was
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continually projecting for the public good, and, was particularly
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careful to take the first step well and not to stumble at the
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threshold. It was not fit that Joshua should venture over Jordan, to
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make his remarks <I>incognito</I>--<I>in disguise;</I> but he sends two
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men (two young men, says the LXX.), to view the land, that from
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their report he might take his measures in attacking Jericho. Observe,
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1. There is no remedy, but great men must see with other people's eyes,
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which makes it very necessary that they be cautious in the choice of
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those they employ, since so much often depends upon their fidelity.
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2. Faith in God's promise ought not to supersede but encourage our
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diligence in the use of proper means. Joshua is sure he has God with
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him, and yet sends men before him. We do not trust God, but tempt him,
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if our expectations slacken our endeavours.
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3. See how ready these men were to go upon this hazardous enterprise.
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Though they put their lives in their hands yet they ventured in
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obedience to Joshua their general, in zeal for the service of the camp,
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and in dependence upon the power of that God who, being the keeper of
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Israel in general, is the protector of every particular Israelite in
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the way of his duty.</P>
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<P>
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II. The providence of God directing the spies to the house of Rahab.
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How they got over Jordan we are not told; but into Jericho they came,
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which was about seven or eight miles from the river, and there seeking
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for a convenient inn were directed to the house of Rahab, here called a
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<I>harlot,</I> a woman that had formerly been of ill fame, the reproach
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of which stuck to her name, though of late she had repented and
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reformed. Simon the leper
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mt+26:6">Matt. xxvi. 6</A>),
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though cleansed from his leprosy, wore the reproach of it in his name
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at long as he lived; so Rahab the harlot; and she is so called in the
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New Testament, where both her faith and her good works are praised, to
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teach us,
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1. That the greatness of sin is no bar to pardoning mercy if it be
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truly repented of in time. We read of publicans and harlots entering
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into the kingdom of the Messiah, and being welcomed to all the
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privileged of that kingdom,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mt+21:31">Matt. xxi. 31</A>.
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2. That there are many who before their conversion were very wicked
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and vile, and yet afterwards come to great eminence in faith and
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holiness.
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3. Even those that through grace have repented of the sins of their
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youth must expect to bear the reproach of them, and when they hear of
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their old faults must renew their repentance, and, as an evidence of
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that, hear of them patiently. God's Israel, for aught that appears, had
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but one friend, but one well-wisher in all Jericho, and that was Rahab
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a harlot. God has often served his own purposes and his church's
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interests by men of different morals. Had these scouts gone to any
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other house than this they would certainly have been betrayed and put
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to death without mercy. But God knew where they had a friend that
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would be true to them, though they did not, and directed them thither.
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Thus that which seems to us most contingent and accidental is often
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over-ruled by the divine providence to serve its great ends. And those
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that faithfully acknowledge God in their ways he will <I>guide with his
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eye.</I> See
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jer+36:19,26">Jer. xxxvi. 19, 26</A>.</P>
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<P>
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III. The piety of Rahab in receiving and protecting these Israelites.
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Those that keep public-houses entertain all comers, and think
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themselves obliged to be civil to their guests. But Rahab showed her
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guests more than common civility, and went upon an uncommon principle
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in what she did; it was <I>by faith</I> that she received those with
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peace against whom her king and country had denounced war,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Heb+11:31">Heb. xi. 31</A>.
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1. She bade them welcome to her house; they lodged there, though it
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appears by what she said to them
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jos+2:9"><I>v.</I> 9</A>)
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she knew both whence they came and what their business was.
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2. Perceiving that they were observed coming into the city, and that
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umbrage was taken at it, she hid them upon the roof of the house, which
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was flat, and covered them with stalks of flax
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jos+2:6"><I>v.</I> 6</A>),
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so that, if the officers should come thither to search for them, there
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they might lie undiscovered. By these stalks of flax, which she herself
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had lain in order upon the roof to dry in the sun, in order to the
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beating of it and making it ready for the wheel, it appears she had one
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of the good characters of the virtuous woman, however in others of them
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she might be deficient, that she <I>sought wool and flax, and wrought
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willingly with her hands,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Pr+31:13">Prov. xxxi. 13</A>.
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From this instance of her honest industry one would hope that, whatever
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she had been formerly, she was not now a harlot.
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3. When she was examined concerning them, she denied they were in her
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house, turned off the officers that had a warrant to search for them
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with a sham, and so secured them. No marvel that the king of Jericho
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sent to enquire after them
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jos+2:2,3"><I>v.</I> 2, 3</A>);
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he had cause to fear when the enemy was at his door, and his fear made
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him suspicious and jealous of all strangers. He had reason to demand
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from Rahab that she should <I>bring forth the men</I> to be dealt with
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as spies; but Rahab not only disowned that she knew them, or knew where
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they were, but, that no further search might be made for them in the
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city, told the pursuers they had gone away again and in all probability
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might be overtaken,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jos+2:4,5"><I>v.</I> 4, 5</A>.
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Now,
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(1.) We are sure this was a good work: it is canonized by the apostle
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jam+2:25">James ii. 25</A>),
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where she is said to be <I>justified by works,</I> and this is
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specified, that <I>she received the messengers, and sent them out
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another way,</I> and she did it by faith, such a faith as set her above
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the fear of man, even of the wrath of the king. She believed, upon the
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report she had heard of the wonders wrought for Israel, that their God
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was the only true God, and that therefore their declared design upon
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Canaan would undoubtedly take effect and in this faith she sided with
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them, protected them, and courted their favour. Had she said, "I
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believe God is yours and Canaan yours, but I dare not show you any
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kindness," her faith had been dead and inactive, and would not have
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justified her. But by this it appeared to be both alive and lively,
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that she exposed herself to the utmost peril, even of life, in
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obedience to her faith. Note, Those only are true believers that can
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find in their hearts to venture for God; and those that by faith take
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the Lord for their God take his people for their people, and cast in
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their lot among them. Those that have God for their refuge and
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hiding-place must testify their gratitude by their readiness to shelter
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his people when there is occasion. <I>Let my outcasts dwell with
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thee,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+16:3,4">Isa. xvi. 3, 4</A>.
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And we must be glad of an opportunity of testifying the sincerity and
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zeal of our love to God by hazardous services to his church and kingdom
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among men. But,
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(2.) There is that in it which it is not easy to justify, and yet it
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must be justified, or else it could not be so good a work as to justify
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her.
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[1.] It is plain that she betrayed her country by harbouring the
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enemies of it, and aiding those that were designing its destruction,
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which could not consist with her allegiance to her prince and her
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affection and duty to the community she was a member of. But that which
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justifies her in this is that <I>she knew the Lord had given Israel
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this land</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jos+2:9"><I>v.</I> 9</A>),
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knew it by the incontestable miracles God had wrought for them, which
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confirmed that grant; and her obligations to God were higher than her
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obligations to any other. If she knew <I>God had given them this
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land,</I> it would have been a sin to join with those that hindered
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them from possessing it. But, since no such grant of any land to any
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people can now be proved, this will by no means justify any such
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treacherous practices against the public welfare.
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[2.] It is plain that she deceived the officers that examined her with
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an untruth--That she knew not whence the men were, that they had gone
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out, that she knew not whither they had gone. What shall we say to
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this? If she had either told the truth or been silent, she would have
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betrayed the spies, and this would certainly have been a great sin; and
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it does not appear that she had any other way of concealing them that
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by this ironical direction to the officers to pursue them another way,
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which if they would suffer themselves to be deceived by, let them be
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deceived. None are bound to accuse themselves, or their friends, of
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that which, though enquired after as a crime, they know to be a virtue.
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This case was altogether extraordinary, and therefore cannot be drawn
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into a precedent; and that my be justified here which would be by no
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means lawful in a common case. Rahab knew, by what was already done on
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the other side Jordan, that no mercy was to be shown to the Canaanites,
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and thence inferred that, if mercy was not owing them, truth was not;
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those that might be destroyed might be deceived. Yet divines generally
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conceive that it was a sin, which however admitted of this extenuation,
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that being a Canaanite she was not better taught the evil of lying; but
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God accepted her faith and pardoned her infirmity. However it was in
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this case, we are sure it is our duty to speak every man the truth to
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his neighbour, to dread and detest lying, and never to <I>do evil,
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that</I> evil, <I>that good may come of it,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ro+3:8">Rom. iii. 8</A>.
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But God accepts what is sincerely and honestly intended, though there
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be a mixture of frailty and folly in it, and is not extreme to mark
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what we do amiss. Some suggest that what she said might possibly be
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true of some other men.</P>
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<A NAME="Jos2_8"> </A>
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<A NAME="Jos2_9"> </A>
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<A NAME="Jos2_10"> </A>
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<A NAME="Jos2_11"> </A>
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<A NAME="Jos2_12"> </A>
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<A NAME="Jos2_13"> </A>
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<A NAME="Jos2_14"> </A>
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<A NAME="Jos2_15"> </A>
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<A NAME="Jos2_16"> </A>
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<A NAME="Jos2_17"> </A>
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<A NAME="Jos2_18"> </A>
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<A NAME="Jos2_19"> </A>
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<A NAME="Jos2_20"> </A>
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<A NAME="Jos2_21"> </A>
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<P>
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<FONT SIZE=+1>8 And before they were laid down, she came up unto them upon
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the roof;
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9 And she said unto the men, I know that the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> hath given
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you the land, and that your terror is fallen upon us, and that
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all the inhabitants of the land faint because of you.
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10 For we have heard how the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> dried up the water of the Red
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sea for you, when ye came out of Egypt; and what ye did unto the
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two kings of the Amorites, that <I>were</I> on the other side Jordan,
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Sihon and Og, whom ye utterly destroyed.
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11 And as soon as we had heard <I>these things,</I> our hearts did
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melt, neither did there remain any more courage in any man,
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because of you: for the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> your God, he <I>is</I> God in heaven
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above, and in earth beneath.
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12 Now therefore, I pray you, swear unto me by the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>, since
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I have shewed you kindness, that ye will also shew kindness unto
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my father's house, and give me a true token:
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13 And <I>that</I> ye will save alive my father, and my mother, and
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my brethren, and my sisters, and all that they have, and deliver
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our lives from death.
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14 And the men answered her, Our life for yours, if ye utter
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not this our business. And it shall be, when the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> hath given
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us the land, that we will deal kindly and truly with thee.
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15 Then she let them down by a cord through the window: for her
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house <I>was</I> upon the town wall, and she dwelt upon the wall.
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16 And she said unto them, Get you to the mountain, lest the
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pursuers meet you; and hide yourselves there three days, until
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the pursuers be returned: and afterward may ye go your way.
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17 And the men said unto her, We <I>will be</I> blameless of this
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thine oath which thou hast made us swear.
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18 Behold, <I>when</I> we come into the land, thou shalt bind this
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line of scarlet thread in the window which thou didst let us down
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by: and thou shalt bring thy father, and thy mother, and thy
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brethren, and all thy father's household, home unto thee.
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19 And it shall be, <I>that</I> whosoever shall go out of the doors
|
|
of thy house into the street, his blood <I>shall be</I> upon his head,
|
|
and we <I>will be</I> guiltless: and whosoever shall be with thee in
|
|
the house, his blood <I>shall be</I> on our head, if <I>any</I> hand be
|
|
upon him.
|
|
20 And if thou utter this our business, then we will be quit of
|
|
thine oath which thou hast made us to swear.
|
|
21 And she said, According unto your words, so <I>be</I> it. And she
|
|
sent them away, and they departed: and she bound the scarlet line
|
|
in the window.
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
The matter is here settled between Rahab and the spies respecting the
|
|
service she was now to do for them, and the favour they were afterwards
|
|
to show to her. She secures them on condition that they should secure
|
|
her.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
I. She gives them, and by them sends to Joshua and Israel, all the
|
|
encouragement that could be desired to make their intended descent upon
|
|
Canaan. This was what they came for, and it was worth coming for.
|
|
Having got clear of the officers, she comes up to them to the <I>roof
|
|
of the house</I> where they lay hid, finds them perhaps somewhat
|
|
dismayed at the peril they apprehended themselves in from the officers,
|
|
and scarcely recovered from the fright, but has that to say to them
|
|
which will give them abundant satisfaction.
|
|
|
|
1. She lets them know that the report of the great things God had done
|
|
for them had come to Jericho
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jos+2:10"><I>v.</I> 10</A>),
|
|
|
|
not only that they had an account of their late victories obtained over
|
|
the Amorites in the neighbouring country, on the other side of the
|
|
river, but that their miraculous deliverance out of Egypt, and passage
|
|
through the Red Sea, a great way off, and forty years ago, were
|
|
remembered and talked of afresh in Jericho, to the amazement of every
|
|
body. Thus <I>this</I> Joshua and his fellows were <I>men wondered
|
|
at,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Zec+3:8">Zech. iii. 8</A>.
|
|
|
|
See how God <I>makes his wonderful works to be remembered</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+111:4">Ps. cxi. 4</A>),
|
|
|
|
so that <I>men shall speak of the might of his terrible acts,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+145:6">Ps. cxlv. 6</A>.
|
|
|
|
2. She tells them what impressions the tidings of these things had made
|
|
upon the Canaanites: Your <I>terror has fallen upon us</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jos+2:9"><I>v.</I> 9</A>);
|
|
|
|
<I>our hearts did melt,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jos+2:11"><I>v.</I> 11</A>.
|
|
|
|
If she kept a public house, this would give her an opportunity of
|
|
understanding the sense of various companies and of travellers from
|
|
other parts of the country, so that they could not know this any way
|
|
better than by her information; and it would be of great use to Joshua
|
|
and Israel to know it; it would put courage into the most cowardly
|
|
Israelite to hear how their enemies were dispirited, and it was easy to
|
|
conclude that those who now fainted before them would infallibly fall
|
|
before them, especially because it was the accomplishment of a promise
|
|
God had made them, that he would <I>lay the fear and dread of them upon
|
|
all this land</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=De+11:25">Deut. xi. 25</A>),
|
|
|
|
and so it would be an earnest of the accomplishment of all the other
|
|
promises God had made to them. Let not the stout man glory in his
|
|
courage, any more than the strong man in his strength; for God can
|
|
weaken both mind and body. Let not God's Israel be afraid of their most
|
|
powerful enemies; for their God can, when he pleases, make their most
|
|
powerful enemies afraid of them. Let none think to harden their hearts
|
|
against God and prosper; for he that made man's soul can at any time
|
|
make the sword of his terrors approach to it.
|
|
|
|
3. She hereupon makes profession of her faith in God and his promise;
|
|
and perhaps <I>there was not found so great faith</I> (all things
|
|
considered), <I>no, not in Israel,</I> as in this woman of Canaan.
|
|
|
|
(1.) who believes God's power and dominion over all the world
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jos+2:11"><I>v.</I> 11</A>):
|
|
|
|
"Jehovah your God, whom you worship and call upon, is so far above all
|
|
gods that he is the only true God; for <I>he is God in heaven above and
|
|
in earth beneath,</I> and is served by all the hosts of both." A vast
|
|
distance there is between heaven and earth, yet both are equally under
|
|
the inspection and government of the great Jehovah. Heaven is not
|
|
above his power, nor is earth below his cognizance.
|
|
|
|
(2.) She believes his promise to his people Israel
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jos+2:9"><I>v.</I> 9</A>):
|
|
|
|
<I>I know that the Lord hath given you the land.</I> The king of
|
|
Jericho had heard as much as she had of the great things God had done
|
|
for Israel, yet he cannot infer thence that the Lord had given them
|
|
this land, but resolves to hold it out against them to the last
|
|
extremity; for the most powerful means of conviction will not of
|
|
themselves attain the end without divine grace, and by that grace Rahab
|
|
the harlot, who had only heard of the wonders God had wrought, speaks
|
|
with more assurance of the truth of the promise made to the fathers
|
|
than all the elders of Israel had done who were eye-witnesses of those
|
|
wonders, many of whom perished through unbelief of this promise.
|
|
<I>Blessed are those that have not seen, and yet have believed;</I> so
|
|
Rahab did. <I>O woman, great is thy faith!</I></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
II. She engaged them to take her and her relations under their
|
|
protection, that they might not perish in the destruction of Jericho,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jos+2:12,13"><I>v.</I> 12, 13</A>.
|
|
|
|
Now,
|
|
|
|
1. It was an evidence of the sincerity and strength of her faith
|
|
concerning the approaching revolution in her country that she was so
|
|
solicitous to make an interest for herself with the Israelites, and
|
|
courted their kindness. She foresaw the conquest of her country, and in
|
|
the belief of that bespoke in time the favour of the conquerors. Thus
|
|
Noah, being <I>moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his
|
|
house, and the condemning of the world,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Heb+11:7">Heb. xi. 7</A>.
|
|
|
|
Those who truly believe the divine revelation concerning the ruin of
|
|
sinners, and the grant of the heavenly land to God's Israel, will give
|
|
diligence to flee from the wrath to come, and to lay hold of eternal
|
|
life, by joining themselves to God and to his people.
|
|
|
|
2. The provision she made for the safety of her relations, as well as
|
|
for her own, is a laudable instance of natural affection, and an
|
|
intimation to us in like manner to do all we can for the salvation of
|
|
the souls of those that are dear to us, and, with ourselves, to bring
|
|
them, if possible, into the bond of the covenant. No mention is made of
|
|
her husband and children, but only her parents, and brothers, and
|
|
sisters, for whom, though she was herself a housekeeper, she retained a
|
|
due concern.
|
|
|
|
3. Her request that they would swear unto her by Jehovah is an instance
|
|
of her acquaintance with the only true God, and her faith in him and
|
|
devotion towards him, one act of which is religiously to <I>swear by
|
|
his name.</I>
|
|
|
|
4. Her petition is very just and reasonable, that, since she had
|
|
protected them, they should protect her, and since her kindness to them
|
|
extended to their people, for whom they were now negotiating, their
|
|
kindness to her should take in all hers. It was the least they could do
|
|
for one that had saved their lives with the hazard of her own. Note,
|
|
Those that show mercy may expect to find mercy. Observe, She does not
|
|
demand any preferment by way of reward for her kindness to them, though
|
|
they lay so much at her mercy that she might have made her own terms,
|
|
but only indents for her Life, which in a general destruction would be
|
|
a singular favour. Thus God promised Ebed-Melech, in recompence for his
|
|
kindness to Jeremiah, that in the worst of times he should have <I>his
|
|
life for a prey,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jer+39:18">Jer. xxxix. 18</A>.
|
|
|
|
Yet this Rahab was afterwards advanced to be a princess in Israel, the
|
|
wife of Salmon, and one of the ancestors of Christ,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mt+1:5">Matt. i. 5</A>.
|
|
|
|
Those that faithfully serve Christ and suffer for him he will not only
|
|
protect, but prefer, and will do for them <I>more than they are able to
|
|
ask or think.</I></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
III. They solemnly engaged for her preservation in the common
|
|
destruction
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jos+2:14"><I>v.</I> 14</A>):
|
|
|
|
"<I>Our life for yours.</I> We will take as much care of your lives as
|
|
of our own, and would as soon hurt ourselves as any of you." Nay, they
|
|
imprecate God's judgments on themselves if they should violate their
|
|
promise to her. She had pawned her life for theirs, and now they in
|
|
requital pawn their lives for hers, and (as public persons) with them
|
|
they pawn the public faith and the credit of their nation, for they
|
|
plainly interest all Israel in the engagement in those words, <I>When
|
|
the Lord has given us the land,</I> meaning not themselves only, but
|
|
the people whose agents they were. No doubt they knew themselves
|
|
sufficiently authorized to treat with Rahab concerning this matter, and
|
|
were confident that Joshua would ratify what they did, else they had
|
|
not dealt honestly; the general law that they should make no covenant
|
|
with the Canaanites
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=De+7:2">Deut. vii. 2</A>)
|
|
|
|
did not forbid them to take under their protection a particular person,
|
|
that had heartily come into their interests and had done them real
|
|
kindnesses. The law of gratitude is one of the laws of nature. Now
|
|
observe here,
|
|
|
|
1. The promises they made her. In general, "<I>We will deal kindly and
|
|
truly with thee,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jos+2:14"><I>v.</I> 14</A>.
|
|
|
|
We will not only be kind in promising now, but true in performing what
|
|
we promise; and not only true in performing just what we promise, but
|
|
kind in out-doing thy demands and expectations." The goodness of God is
|
|
often expressed by his kindness and truth
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+117:2">Ps. cxvii. 2</A>),
|
|
|
|
and in both these we must be followers of him. In particular, "<I>If a
|
|
hand be upon any in the house with thee,</I> his <I>blood shall be on
|
|
our head,</I>"
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jos+2:19"><I>v.</I> 19</A>.
|
|
|
|
If hurt come through our carelessness to those whom we are obliged to
|
|
protect, we thereby contract guilt, and blood will be found a heavy
|
|
load.
|
|
|
|
2. The provisos and limitations of their promises. Though they were in
|
|
haste, and it may be in some confusion, yet we find them very cautious
|
|
in settling this agreement and the terms of it, not to bind themselves
|
|
to more than was fit for them to perform. Note, Covenants must be made
|
|
with care, and we must swear in judgment, lest we find ourselves
|
|
perplexed and entangled when it is too late <I>after vows to make
|
|
enquiry.</I> Those that will be conscientious in keeping their promises
|
|
will be cautious in making them, and perhaps may insert conditions
|
|
which others may think frivolous. Their promise is here accompanied
|
|
with three provisos, and they were necessary ones. They will protect
|
|
Rahab, and all her relations always, provided,
|
|
|
|
(1.) That she tie the scarlet cord with which she was now about to let
|
|
them down in the window of her house,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jos+2:18"><I>v.</I> 18</A>.
|
|
|
|
This was to be a mark upon the house, which the spies would take care
|
|
to give notice of to the camp of Israel, that no soldier, how hot and
|
|
eager soever he was in military executions, might offer any violence to
|
|
the house that was thus distinguished. This was like the blood
|
|
sprinkled upon the door-post, which secured the first-born from the
|
|
destroying angel, and, being of the same colour, some allude to this
|
|
also to represent the safety of believers under the protection of the
|
|
blood of Christ sprinkled on the conscience. The same cord that she
|
|
made use of for the preservation of these Israelites was to be made use
|
|
of for her preservation. What we serve and honour God with we may
|
|
expect he will bless and make comfortable to us.
|
|
|
|
(2.) That she should have all those whose safety she had desired in the
|
|
house with her and keep them there, and that, at the time of taking the
|
|
town, none of them should dare to stir out of doors,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jos+2:18,19"><I>v.</I> 18, 19</A>.
|
|
|
|
This was a <I>necessary</I> proviso, for Rahab's kindred could not be
|
|
distinguished any other way than by being in her distinguished house;
|
|
should they mingle with their neighbours, there was no remedy, but the
|
|
sword would devour <I>one as well as another.</I> It was a
|
|
<I>reasonable</I> proviso that, since they were saved purely for
|
|
Rahab's sake, her house should have the honour of being their castle,
|
|
and that, if they would not <I>perish with those that believed not,</I>
|
|
they should thus far believe the certainty and severity of the ruin
|
|
coming upon their city as to retire into a place made safe by promise,
|
|
as Noah into the ark and Lot into Zoar, and should <I>save themselves
|
|
from this untoward generation,</I> by separating from them. It was
|
|
likewise a <I>significant</I> proviso, intimating to us that those who
|
|
are added to the church that they may be saved must keep close to the
|
|
society of the faithful, and, having <I>escaped the corruption that is
|
|
in the world through lust,</I> must take heed of being again entangled
|
|
therein.
|
|
|
|
(3.) That she should keep counsel
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jos+2:14,20"><I>v.</I> 14, 20</A>):
|
|
|
|
<I>If thou utter this our business,</I> that is, "If thou betray us
|
|
when we are gone, or if thou make this agreement public, so as that
|
|
others tie scarlet lines in their windows and so confound us, then we
|
|
will be clear of thy oath." Those are unworthy of <I>the secret of the
|
|
Lord</I> that know now how to keep it to themselves when there is
|
|
occasion.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
IV. She then took effectual care to secure her new friends, and <I>sent
|
|
them out another way,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jam+2:25">James ii. 25</A>.
|
|
|
|
Having fully understood the bargain they made with her, and consented
|
|
to it
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jos+2:21"><I>v.</I> 21</A>),
|
|
|
|
she then <I>let them down by a cord</I> over the city wall
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jos+2:15"><I>v.</I> 15</A>),
|
|
|
|
the situation of her house befriending them herein: thus Paul made his
|
|
escape out of Damascus,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Co+11:33">2 Cor. xi. 33</A>.
|
|
|
|
She also directed them which way to go for their own safety, being
|
|
better acquainted with the country than they were,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jos+2:16"><I>v.</I> 16</A>.
|
|
|
|
She directs them to leave the high road, and abscond in the mountains
|
|
till the pursuers returned, for till then they could not safely venture
|
|
over Jordan. Those that are in the way of God and their duty may expect
|
|
that Providence will protect them, but this will not excuse them from
|
|
taking all prudent methods for their own safety. God will keep us, but
|
|
then we must not wilfully expose ourselves. Providence must be trusted,
|
|
but not tempted. Calvin thinks that their charge to Rahab to keep this
|
|
matter secret, and not to utter it, was intended for her safety, lest
|
|
she, boasting of her security from the sword of Israel, should, before
|
|
they came to protect her, fall into the hands of the king of Jericho
|
|
and be put to death for treason: thus do they prudently advise her for
|
|
her safety, as she advised them for theirs. And it is good advice,
|
|
which we should at any time be thankful for, to <I>take heed to
|
|
ourselves.</I></P>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Jos2_22"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Jos2_23"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Jos2_24"> </A>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
<FONT SIZE=+1>22 And they went, and came unto the mountain, and abode there
|
|
three days, until the pursuers were returned: and the pursuers
|
|
sought <I>them</I> throughout all the way, but found <I>them</I> not.
|
|
23 So the two men returned, and descended from the mountain,
|
|
and passed over, and came to Joshua the son of Nun, and told him
|
|
all <I>things</I> that befell them:
|
|
24 And they said unto Joshua, Truly the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> hath delivered
|
|
into our hands all the land; for even all the inhabitants of the
|
|
country do faint because of us.
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
We have here the safe return of the spies Joshua had sent, and the
|
|
great encouragement they brought with them to Israel to proceed in
|
|
their descent upon Canaan. Had they been disposed to discourage the
|
|
people, as the evil spies did that Moses sent, they might have told
|
|
them what they had observed of the height and strength of the walls of
|
|
Jericho, and the extraordinary vigilance of the king of Jericho, and
|
|
how narrowly they escaped out of his hands; but they were of another
|
|
spirit, and, depending themselves upon the divine promise, they
|
|
animated Joshua likewise.
|
|
|
|
1. Their return in safety was itself an encouragement to Joshua, and a
|
|
token for good. That God provided for them so good a friend as Rahab
|
|
was in an enemy's country, and that notwithstanding the rage of the
|
|
king of Jericho and the eagerness of the pursuers they had come back in
|
|
peace, was such an instance of God's great care concerning them for
|
|
Israel's sake as might assure the people of the divine guidance and
|
|
care they were under, which should undoubtedly make the progress of
|
|
their arms glorious. He that so wonderfully protected their scouts
|
|
would preserve their men of war, and cover their heads in the day of
|
|
battle.
|
|
|
|
2. The report they brought was much more encouraging
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jos+2:24"><I>v.</I> 24</A>):
|
|
|
|
"<I>All the inhabitants of the country,</I> though resolved to stand it
|
|
out, yet <I>do faint because of us,</I> they have neither wisdom to
|
|
yield nor courage to fight," whence they conclude, "<I>Truly the Lord
|
|
has delivered into our hands all the land,</I> it is all our own; we
|
|
have nothing to do, in effect, but to take possession." Sinners'
|
|
frights are sometimes sure presages of their fall. If we resist our
|
|
spiritual enemies they will flee before us, which will encourage us to
|
|
hope that in due time we shall be more than conquerors.</P>
|
|
|
|
<!-- (End Body) -->
|
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<HR>
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<TABLE WIDTH="100%">
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<TR>
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<TD ALIGN="LEFT" VALIGN="TOP">
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[<A HREF="MHC00000.HTM">Table of Contents</A>]<BR>
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Matthew Henry<BR><I>Commentary on the Whole Bible</I> (1708)
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</TABLE>
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