Joshua 6:22-23
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What's easily missed here is Joshua's insistence on honoring an oath made to Rahab, even amid the utter destruction of Jericho. This shows that God's judgment, while complete, doesn't override His commitment to faithfulness, even for someone outside His chosen people. Joshua’s command isn't just about saving Rahab; it's a profound statement about the integrity of God's promises.
But to the two men who had spied out the land, Joshua said, “Go into the prostitute’s house and bring out from there the woman and all who belong to her, as you swore to her.” So the young men who had been spies went in and brought out Rahab and her father and mother and brothers and all who belonged to her. And they brought all her relatives and put them outside the camp of Israel.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Just moments after the mighty walls of Jericho have miraculously crumbled, Joshua turns to the two spies he sent ahead. He instructs them to enter the house of Rahab, the woman who had sheltered them, and to bring her and her entire household out safely, honoring the oath the spies swore to her. This act of preservation stands in stark contrast to the total destruction the rest of the city and its inhabitants face.
In the midst of total destruction, Joshua remembers a promise. What does this tell us about God's character and Joshua's leadership?
Joshua, a man of God, upholds a promise made by his spies. This wasn't just a polite gesture; it was a sworn oath.
Integrity in Leadership
Joshua’s command to rescue Rahab and her family highlights his commitment to honoring their word. Even in the face of overwhelming victory and divine command for annihilation, he ensures a promise made in secret is kept publicly. This shows that God's justice and mercy can coexist, and that integrity is paramount.
God's Faithfulness to the Faithful
The spies’ lives were saved because Rahab hid them. By rescuing her, Joshua, acting on God’s behalf, demonstrates that faithfulness to God, even by those outside the covenant community, is remembered and rewarded. God’s people are called to be oathkeepers, reflecting His own steadfast faithfulness.
Jericho’s walls crumbled to dust, yet one house remained. What made Rahab's home a sanctuary when everything else was destroyed?
The destruction of Jericho was absolute, a judgment from God. Yet, Rahab’s house, built into the city wall, was miraculously preserved.
Divine Preservation
This wasn’t accidental. Rahab's house stood because of her faith and her act of hiding the Israelite spies. Her 'faith,' as the New Testament calls it, was the reason she and her household were spared from the curse upon the city.
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A Haven of Faith
While the rest of Jericho represented defiance and judgment, Rahab's home became a symbol of salvation. It was a place where God's mercy intersected with human faith, demonstrating that even in the midst of divine wrath, a place of safety can be found through belief and obedience.
Understand the original words
zonah · Hebrew Noun
A woman who engages in sexual activity for payment. In the biblical context, Rahab is noted not only for her past life but for her faith and inclusion into the genealogy of the Messiah.
shaba' · Hebrew Verb
A solemn promise or declaration, often made in the presence of God, to perform a specific action. Breaking such an oath is considered a grave offense, as it invokes the name of the Lord.
c. 1400 BC
Israelites Cross the Jordan River
After 40 years in the wilderness, the Israelites, led by Joshua, cross the Jordan River, entering the Promised Land. This marks the beginning of their military campaign to conquer Canaan.
c. 1400 BC— this verse
Spies Sent to Jericho
Joshua sends two spies into Jericho to scout the city. They are hidden by Rahab, a prostitute, who believes in the God of Israel and fears the impending conquest.
c. 1400 BC
Fall of Jericho
The walls of Jericho miraculously collapse after the Israelites march around the city for seven days, shouting and blowing trumpets as God commanded. The city is then utterly destroyed.
c. 1400 BC
Rahab and her Household Saved
The two spies return to Rahab's house as promised, rescuing her and her entire family from the destruction of Jericho, fulfilling their oath.
c. 1400 BC
Rahab Settles with Israel
Rahab and her family are brought out of Jericho and settled outside the Israelite camp. She is incorporated into the community of Israel, a testament to her faith.
This passage highlights Rahab's faith, directly linking her salvation and the preservation of her house to her act of hiding the spies, underscoring the divine approval of her actions.
James 2:25This verse explicitly states that Rahab was justified by her works after she welcomed the messengers and sent them out by another way, reinforcing the idea that her faith was demonstrated through concrete actions of protection and deception.
Matthew 1:5This genealogy shows Rahab as an ancestor of Jesus, demonstrating that God can use anyone, regardless of their past, to fulfill His purposes and include them in His redemptive plan.
Joshua 2:14This earlier passage details the oath the spies made to Rahab, providing the direct promise that Joshua is now fulfilling, showing the importance of integrity and keeping one's word, even in warfare.
cambridgeJoshua 6:22: "But Joshua had said unto the two men that had spied out the country, Go into the harlot's house, and bring out thence the woman, and all that she hath, as ye sware unto her."
22–25. The Rescue of Rahab 22 . Go into the harlot’s house ] We are told that Rahab’s house was upon the town wall , and that she dwelt upon the wall . But though the walls of Jericho fell down flat, her house was preserved. They fell by faith , and she was saved by faith ( Hebrews 11:30-31 ). as ye sware unt…
gillJoshua 6:22: "But Joshua had said unto the two men that had spied out the country, Go into the harlot's house, and bring out thence the woman, and all that she hath, as ye sware unto her."
But Joshua had said unto the two men that had spied out the country,.... Whom he had sent on that errand, Joshua 2:1 ; and what follows he had said unto them before the people entered into the city, and perhaps before the walls of it fell; and indeed from Joshua 6:16 , it appears to have been said at the time…
What's easily missed here is Joshua's insistence on honoring an oath made to Rahab, even amid the utter destruction of Jericho. This shows that God's judgment, while complete, doesn't override His commitment to faithfulness, even for someone outside His chosen people. Joshua’s command isn't just about saving Rahab; it's a profound statement about the integrity of God's promises.
Just moments after the mighty walls of Jericho have miraculously crumbled, Joshua turns to the two spies he sent ahead. He instructs them to enter the house of Rahab, the woman who had sheltered them, and to bring her and her entire household out safely, honoring the oath the spies swore to her. This act of preservation stands in stark contrast to the total destruction the rest of the city and its inhabitants face.
Just moments after the mighty walls of Jericho have miraculously crumbled, Joshua turns to the two spies he sent ahead. He instructs them to enter the house of Rahab, the woman who had sheltered them, and to bring her and her entire household out safely, honoring the oath the spies swore to her. This act of preservation stands in stark contrast to the total destruction the rest of the city and its inhabitants face.
"But to the two men who had spied out the land, Joshua said, “Go into the prostitute’s house and bring out from there the woman and all who belong to her, as you swore to her.” So the young men who had been spies went in and brought out Rah…" — What's easily missed here is Joshua's insistence on honoring an oath made to Rahab, even amid the utter destruction of Jericho. This shows that God's judgment, while complete, doesn't override His…
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Last reviewed October 2026
