Joshua Prepares Carefully

Joshua proceeded to obey God’s command, “Arise, go over this Jordan, thou and all this people, unto the land which I do give them.” But he did not do so without adequate preparation. The Lord’s generous promise that no one would be able to withstand him did not make him proceed recklessly. He realized that the first major problem the children of Israel would have to face after crossing the Jordan, would bethe conquest of Jericho. Jericho was a strong city located about five miles from the Jordan and heavily garrisoned by enemy troops. It blocked their way. It would not be possible for the Israelites to even begin the possession of the promised land without first removing this obstacle. Practical man that he was, Joshua sent two trusted men to Jericho disguised as natives to spy out the city so he might have the information necessary to plan his campaign. Details are not given but it is interesting to imagine how this might have been done. Perhaps Joshua sent a squad of commandos across the river and waylaid two natives, hijacking their clothes and camels with which to equip his spies. At any rate the spies successfully gained access to the city and lodged in the house of a woman named Rahab.

Ancient Jericho must have been a beautiful and colorful city. The name Jericho means “place of fragrance.” In Deuteronomy 34:3 and in 2 Chronicles 28:15, it is called “the city of palm trees,” indicating that it may have been built around an oasis. Apparently it did have an abundance of water and many cultivated gardens of fragrant flowers, shrubs and trees. It was not a large city, but it is described as having been very rich, not only in gold and silver, but also in expensive fabrics, fine clothing, and other luxuries. Excavations show that the city was enclosed with a massive double wall. We know from Joshua 2:15 that this wall was so thick that houses were built upon the top of it. The house of Rahab, where the spies found lodging, was one of these. This was an ideal vantage point for the spies. From this elevated position they could readily observe both the interior of the city on the one side of the wall and the surrounding terrain on the other side.

The Jerichoites were, of course, aware that the children of Israel were encamped about five miles away on the other side of the swollen Jordan river and were poised to invade their land. After all a nation of three million on the march cannot be hidden. So you may be sure the Jerichoites had their own spies and were keeping the camp of Israel under constant surveillance. They had apparently observed Joshua’s spies cross the Jordan and proceed, disguised, to Jericho. Following them they must have seen them enter the house of Rahab. I think this is a reasonable deduction because we read:

“And it was told the king of Jericho saying, Behold, there came men in hither tonight, of the children of Israel to search out the country. And the king of Jericho sent unto Rahab, saying, Bring forth the men that are come unto thee, which are entered into thine house; for they be come to search out all the country.” Joshua 2:2,3

It is easy to disguise one’s appearance but not easy to disguise one’s accent. Rahab had undoubtedly known by speaking to them that the men were not natives of the land but were from Israel. Then suddenly she heard a commotion in the city street below her house. There must have been quite a long staircase leading up from the street to her house high on the top of the wall. We can imagine Rahab looking out of a window and seeing a squad of the king’s officers ascending the stairs. She immediately surmised their mission and quickly led the two spies to the flat roof of her house, and hid them under a pile of flax. Then she came down and opened the door. When the officers made their demand, Rahab realized that her guests had been seen entering her house and that it would be useless to deny they had come. So she admitted they had been there but said they had left only a little while ago, just before the time of the closing of the city gate. She then urged the officers to pursue immediately and overtake them. She spoke very convincingly and, being in a great hurry to commence pursuit, the officers did not stop to search the house. From her vantage point upon the wall, Rahab saw the king’s officers leave the city and saw the city gates close behind them. She saw them ride hurriedly in the direction of the Jordan. Then she went up to the roof and told the two spies what had happened. Now we read from the record:

“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. For we have heard how the Lord dried up the water of the Red Sea for you, when ye came out of Egypt.”

Strange that they remembered this! This was something that had happened forty years before, probably before Rahab was born! “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. 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.” Joshua 2:9-11