And 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. Ver. 1. _And Joshua the son of Nun sent out of Shittim._] Where the people then encamped, Num 33:49 and where... [ Continue Reading ]
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 country. Ver. 2. _And it was told the king of Jericho._] Kings have long ears; their ωτακουσται, informers and intelligencers, are in all places, but especially when Ha... [ Continue Reading ]
_And 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._ Ver. 3. _For they be come to search out all the country._] "To see the nakedness of the land," as Genesis 42:9. _See Trap... [ Continue Reading ]
And the woman took the two men, and hid them, and said thus, There came men unto me, but I wist not whence they [were]: Ver. 4. _And the woman took the two men, and hid them._] This was an act of her praiseworthy faith. See Hebrews 11:31, where it is honourably mentioned, but nothing is said of the... [ Continue Reading ]
And 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. Ver. 5. _And it came to pass._] See Joshua 2:4 .... [ Continue Reading ]
But 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. Ver. 6. _But she had brought them up to the roof of the house._] _a_ Which was built flat in those parts, as they are also at this day in Italy. _ Which she had la... [ Continue Reading ]
And 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. Ver. 7. _And the men pursued._] Not once searching the house. Thus God "maketh the wisdom of the wise to perish." Isa 29:14 See Matthew 2:8. Herod went no... [ Continue Reading ]
And before they were laid down, she came up unto them upon the roof; Ver. 8. _And before they were laid down,_] so., To take their rest, which in this fright they had little list to. "Sleep on now, take your rest," saith our Saviour by an irony to his drowsy disciples; _q.d., _ Do so, if you can at... [ Continue Reading ]
And 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. Ver. 9. _I know that the Lord hath given you the land._] She had a full assurance both of knowledge, _as _ Luk 1:1 and of f... [ Continue Reading ]
For 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. Ver. 10. _For we have heard._] _Historiae fidae monitrices. Succurr... [ Continue Reading ]
_And 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._ Ver. 11. _For the Lord your God, he is God._] As for our idols, they are very vanities,... [ Continue Reading ]
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: Ver. 12. _And give me a true token._] Sυσσημον, as Mark 14:44. _Signum consignans, de composito datum._ As for the familiar confe... [ Continue Reading ]
And [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. Ver. 13. _And that ye will save alive._] Man is ζωον φιλοζωον, a creature that would fain live, said Aesop. _Quis vitam non vult?_ said Augustine. The G... [ Continue Reading ]
And 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. Ver. 14. _If ye utter not this our business._] On this condition we assure thee of safety. God's promises also are wi... [ Continue Reading ]
Then she let them down by a cord through the window: for her house [was] upon the town wall, and she dwelt upon the wall. Ver. 15. _For her house was upon the town wall._] In an obscure nook, among the poorer sort of people: for this harlot Rahab had not got such an estate as Phryne had, who offere... [ Continue Reading ]
And 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. Ver. 16. _Get you to the mountain._] This, say some, was spoken after the men were down, in the still of the night, wi... [ Continue Reading ]
And the men said unto her, We [will be] blameless of this thine oath which thou hast made us swear. Ver. 17. _We will be blameless of this thine oath,_] _q.d,_ Great haste though we have, yet will we clear up the terms whereunto we have sworn, to prevent the danger or rebut the suspicion of perjury... [ Continue Reading ]
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 bring thy father, and thy mother, and thy brethren, and all thy father's household, home unto thee. Ver. 18. _And thou shalt bring thy father, &c._] Who, i... [ Continue Reading ]