Joshua 2:6
But she had brought them up to the roof and hid them with the stalks of flax that she had laid in order on the roof.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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Rahab didn't just hide the spies; she specifically concealed them within the bundles of flax she had laid out to dry on the roof, a detail that highlights her clever resourcefulness in utilizing her everyday environment for extraordinary protection. This mundane detail of preparing flax for use underscores the practicality and swiftness of her faith, turning a common domestic task into a vital act of saving lives.
King's men have just discovered that spies have entered Jericho and are at Rahab's house. She quickly brings them to the roof and hides them among the stalks of flax she had laid out there to dry. The king's men then arrive, and Rahab tells them the spies have already left.
Rahab didn't just hide the spies; she hid them using elements of her livelihood. What does this reveal about her faith and resourcefulness?
Rahab's actions in Joshua 2:6 are a powerful illustration of faith in action. She didn't just passively believe; she actively intervened.
Hiding in Plain Sight
The 'stalks of flax' weren't just random debris. Flax was a significant crop, harvested and laid out to dry on rooftops during this season. Rahab used these substantial stalks, piled high, as a natural camouflage.
Resourcefulness Born of Conviction
This wasn't a panicked, haphazard act. The text notes she 'had laid in order' the flax. This suggests a thoughtful, prepared mind. Her deep conviction about God's plan for Israel fueled her courage and ingenuity, allowing her to see her rooftop, a place of daily work, as a sanctuary for God's chosen.
Faith That Acts
Rahab's faith wasn't theoretical; it was practical. She risked her life and the safety of her household, not by fleeing or passively waiting, but by strategically using her environment to protect the very people her nation feared.
The flat rooftops of ancient Jericho were more than just the highest point of a house; they were spaces for work, rest, and even divine encounters. What spiritual significance did this space hold for Rahab?
The rooftop in ancient Near Eastern culture was a versatile space, often associated with significant life events and spiritual awareness.
A Place of Work and Observation
As the commentaries note, rooftops were used for practical purposes like drying crops. For Rahab, this was where she managed her livelihood. It was also a vantage point, allowing her to observe the world outside her door.
Exposed to the Elements and Truth
Rahab's act of hiding the Israelite spies occurs at a pivotal moment: the eve of Israel's invasion of Canaan. Her deception and protection of the spies, along with her belief in Israel's God, demonstrate faith amidst intense political and military tension.
c. 1400 BC— this verse
Israelites Cross the Jordan River
After 40 years in the wilderness, the Israelites, led by Joshua, cross the Jordan River into the land of Canaan. This event marks the beginning of their conquest of the land.
c. 1400 BC
Joshua Sends Spies to Jericho
Joshua sends two spies from their camp at Shittim to reconnoiter Jericho, a key city guarding the entrance to Canaan. Their mission is to assess the city's defenses and the inhabitants' readiness.
c. 1400 BC
Spies Hiding in Rahab's House
The spies seek refuge in the house of Rahab, a prostitute, who hides them on her roof under stalks of flax. News of their presence reaches the king of Jericho, who demands their surrender.
c. 1400 BC
Rahab Deceives Jericho's King
Rahab lies to the king's men, claiming the spies have already left the city. She then lowers the spies from her window, which is in the city wall, to aid their escape.
This passage explicitly commends Rahab's faith, highlighting her act of hiding the spies as a demonstration of her belief in God, even when it meant defying her own government.
James 2:25Similar to Hebrews, James also points to Rahab's reception of the spies and sending them away safely as evidence of her faith being made complete by her works.
Exodus 2:3This passage shows another instance where a woman hid a baby (Moses) from hostile authorities, demonstrating a parallel theme of courageous protection of God's people through hidden means.
1 Samuel 19:11-12Here, Michal similarly hides her husband David from Saul's men, using deception and a cleverly placed image to ensure his escape, mirroring Rahab's resourceful protection of the spies.
Deuteronomy 22:8The requirement for a parapet on flat roofs serves as a backdrop, emphasizing the intentionality and design of the roof space, which Rahab utilized for concealment. It also subtly highlights the potential danger of roofs if not properly secured, making her use of the space for hiding even more strategic.
calvinJoshua 2:1-24: "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."
Miserat [31] autem Josue filius Nun viros duos exploratores clam, [32] dicendo: Ite, considerate terram et Jericho. Profecti sunt igitur et ingressi sunt domum mulieris meretricis, cujus nomen erat Rahab, et dormierunt illic.
And it was told the king of Jericho, saying, Behold, there…
jfbJoshua 2:6: "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."
- she had brought them up to the roof of the house, and hid them with the stalks of flax—Flax, with other vegetable productions, is at a certain season spread out on the flat roofs of Eastern houses to be dried in the sun; and, after lying awhile, it is piled up in numerous little stacks, which, from the luxuriant growth of the flax, rise to a hei…
Rahab didn't just hide the spies; she specifically concealed them within the bundles of flax she had laid out to dry on the roof, a detail that highlights her clever resourcefulness in utilizing her everyday environment for extraordinary protection. This mundane detail of preparing flax for use underscores the practicality and swiftness of her faith, turning a common domestic task into a vital act of saving lives.
King's men have just discovered that spies have entered Jericho and are at Rahab's house. She quickly brings them to the roof and hides them among the stalks of flax she had laid out there to dry. The king's men then arrive, and Rahab tells them the spies have already left.
King's men have just discovered that spies have entered Jericho and are at Rahab's house. She quickly brings them to the roof and hides them among the stalks of flax she had laid out there to dry. The king's men then arrive, and Rahab tells them the spies have already left.
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Being open to the sky, rooftops were exposed to the sun, the stars, and the 'elements.' This exposure also made them a place where truth, like the approaching Israelites and their God, could be revealed. Rahab, from her rooftop, had heard about God's power. It was in this exposed, elevated space that she processed this truth and made her pivotal decision.
A Threshold for Transformation
Rahab's rooftop became a literal and spiritual threshold. It was where she concealed the spies from earthly authorities and where she encountered a divine truth that would change her destiny and that of her family. The physical act of going to the roof symbolized her ascent from fear and compromise to courage and commitment.
c. 1400 BC
Spies Escape to the Mountains
The spies flee to the hills and hide for three days until the pursuers return, then make their way back to Joshua with their intelligence report.
c. 1400 BC
Fall of Jericho
Following the spies' report and divine instructions, the Israelites march around Jericho for seven days, and its walls miraculously collapse, leading to the city's destruction.
"But she had brought them up to the roof and hid them with the stalks of flax that she had laid in order on the roof." — Rahab didn't just hide the spies; she specifically concealed them within the bundles of flax she had laid out to dry on the roof, a detail that highlights her clever resourcefulness in utilizing her…
