So the men pursued after them on the way to the Jordan as far as the fords. And the gate was shut as soon as the pursuers had gone out.
English Standard Version (ESV)
What's easily missed here is the urgency and finality of the gate being shut. It wasn't just a routine closing; it happened "as soon as" the pursuers were gone, effectively trapping anyone left inside and sealing the city against the approaching Israelites. This detail emphasizes how close the spies came to being caught and highlights the immediate danger Rahab and the spies were in.
So the men pursued after them on the way to the Jordan as far as the fords. And the gate was shut as soon as the pursuers had gone out.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The king's men, tipped off about the Israelite spies in Jericho, rush to Rahab's house to apprehend them. After Rahab cleverly hides the spies on her roof and misdirects the pursuers, they set off in a frantic chase towards the Jordan River, hoping to catch the men before they can escape across the water. As soon as the king's men leave the city in pursuit, the gates are shut, trapping anyone still inside and cutting off further escape.
Imagine the pounding of feet, the shouts of pursuers, and the chilling sound of a gate slamming shut just as you slip through. This moment highlights a daring act of faith and God's perfect timing.
The verse describes a frantic chase towards the Jordan River. The king's men, tipped off about the spies, are hot on their heels. Rahab, having hidden the spies on her roof, gives them a false trail, claiming they left just before dark.
Rahab lies to save the spies, a risky move that placed her life and family in grave danger. Was this simply deceit, or something more profound?
Rahab's actions are a complex mix of espionage, faith, and what some might call a 'necessary lie'.
Ask a follow-up
Why was Jericho such a crucial target, and what does the pursuit towards its fords tell us about the military situation?
The pursuit towards the Jordan River fords highlights Jericho's strategic position and the spies' objective.
c. 1406 BC— this verse
Israelites Cross the Jordan River
The Israelites, after 40 years in the wilderness, miraculously cross the Jordan River into the Promised Land near Jericho, signifying the beginning of their conquest.
c. 1406 BC
Joshua Sends Spies to Jericho
Joshua, the new leader of Israel, sends two spies to scout the city of Jericho, the first major obstacle in their path to conquering Canaan.
c. 1406 BC
Spies Hide in Rahab's House
The spies seek refuge in the house of Rahab, a Canaanite woman, who hides them from the king's men and begins to show faith in the God of Israel.
c. 1406 BC
Jericho's Gate is Shut
After the pursuers leave the city in search of the spies, the gates of Jericho are shut, trapping the spies inside and increasing their peril.
c. 1406 BC
Fall of Jericho
Following divine instructions, the Israelites march around Jericho for seven days, and on the seventh day, the city walls miraculously collapse, leading to its destruction.
This passage parallels Rahab's knowledge of God's power in parting the Red Sea, showing a consistent theme of God's miraculous intervention in leading His people.
Deuteronomy 2:25It highlights the fear that fell upon the inhabitants of Canaan when they heard of Israel's approach, a fear Rahab articulates as the reason for her actions.
Hebrews 11:31This verse directly commends Rahab's faith for her actions, including hiding the spies, which indirectly relates to the pursuit and the city's gates being shut.
Joshua 6:25This shows the ultimate fulfillment of the promise made to Rahab, linking her act of faith and the spies' escape to the future salvation of her household during Jericho's fall.
1 Samuel 14:11This passage describes a similar scenario where a gate of a garrison was opened for the spies, demonstrating a recurring motif of hidden intelligence gathering and the use of strategic entry points.
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…
gillJoshua 2:7: "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."
And the men pursued after them,.... As they thought: the way to Jordan; on the other side of which the people of Israel lay encamped, to which they supposed, according to Rahab's account, these two men directed their course: unto the fords; the fords of Jordan, the passages through it; for in some places, and at some times, it was fordabl…
What's easily missed here is the urgency and finality of the gate being shut. It wasn't just a routine closing; it happened "as soon as" the pursuers were gone, effectively trapping anyone left inside and sealing the city against the approaching Israelites. This detail emphasizes how close the spies came to being caught and highlights the immediate danger Rahab and the spies were in.
The king's men, tipped off about the Israelite spies in Jericho, rush to Rahab's house to apprehend them. After Rahab cleverly hides the spies on her roof and misdirects the pursuers, they set off in a frantic chase towards the Jordan River, hoping to catch the men before they can escape across the water. As soon as the king's men leave the city in pursuit, the gates are shut, trapping anyone still inside and cutting off further escape.
The king's men, tipped off about the Israelite spies in Jericho, rush to Rahab's house to apprehend them. After Rahab cleverly hides the spies on her roof and misdirects the pursuers, they set off in a frantic chase towards the Jordan River, hoping to catch the men before they can escape across the water. As soon as the king's men leave the city in pursuit, the gates are shut, trapping anyone still inside and cutting off further escape.
"So the men pursued after them on the way to the Jordan as far as the fords. And the gate was shut as soon as the pursuers had gone out." — What's easily missed here is the urgency and finality of the gate being shut. It wasn't just a routine closing; it happened "as soon as" the pursuers were gone, effectively trapping anyone left insid…
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Last reviewed October 2026