Joshua 2:4

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 lie she told. God layeth the finger of mercy on the scars of our sins; as that painter in the story.

But I wist not whence they were.] This was no better than an officious lie: yea, four lies she here uttereth together in a breath, - as Jacob also did three, Gen 27:19-24 - neither can she be excused. That was a worthy speech of a good woman on the rack, as Jerome relateth it, Non ideo negare volo ne peream: sed ideo mentiri nolo, ne peccem. But Rahab was yet but a new convert.