Joshua 2
יהושע פרק ב׳
Section: נביאים · נביאים ראשונים | Book: Joshua | Chapter: 2 of 24 | Day: 2 of 742
Date: February 13, 2026
קלאוד על הנ״ך
Joshua chapter 2 tells the dramatic story of the two spies sent to reconnoiter Jericho and their encounter with Rahab. Joshua secretly dispatches two men from Shittim to scout the land, particularly Jericho—the fortified city that stands as the first obstacle to the Israelite conquest. The spies find lodging at the house of Rahab, a woman described as a זונה (traditionally translated as “innkeeper” or “prostitute”), whose home was built into the city wall.
When the king of Jericho learns of the Israelite spies, he sends men to capture them. Rahab hides the spies on her roof under stalks of flax and misdirects the king’s men, claiming the spies had already left. Her bold act of deception and protection stems from a remarkable confession of faith: she declares that she knows God has given the land to Israel, recounting how the peoples of Canaan have heard of the splitting of the Red Sea and Israel’s victories over the Amorite kings. “The LORD your God is God in heaven above and on earth below,” she proclaims—a statement of monotheistic faith from a Canaanite woman.
In exchange for her protection, Rahab secures an oath from the spies: when Israel conquers Jericho, she and her family will be spared. The spies instruct her to tie a crimson cord (תִּקְוַת חוּט הַשָּׁנִי) in her window and gather her family inside during the attack. She helps them escape by lowering them through the window, and they hide in the hills for three days before returning to Joshua with an encouraging report: “Truly God has delivered the whole land into our hands; all the inhabitants are quaking before us.”
This chapter introduces themes of unexpected faith, divine providence working through unlikely vessels, and the power of testimony about God’s mighty acts. Rahab’s story demonstrates that ancestry does not determine destiny—her faith and actions lead to her inclusion in Israel, and Jewish tradition counts her among the righteous converts. The crimson cord foreshadows themes of redemption and protection that echo throughout scripture.
פרק ב׳ · Chapter 2
פסוק א׳ · Verse 1
Hebrew:
וַיִּשְׁלַ֣ח יְהוֹשֻֽׁעַ־בִּן־נ֠וּן מִֽן־הַשִּׁטִּ֞ים שְׁנַֽיִם־אֲנָשִׁ֤ים מְרַגְּלִים֙ חֶ֣רֶשׁ לֵאמֹ֔ר לְכ֛וּ רְא֥וּ אֶת־הָאָ֖רֶץ וְאֶת־יְרִיח֑וֹ וַיֵּ֨לְכ֜וּ וַ֠יָּבֹ֠אוּ בֵּית־אִשָּׁ֥ה זוֹנָ֛ה וּשְׁמָ֥הּ רָחָ֖ב וַיִּשְׁכְּבוּ־שָֽׁמָּה׃
English:
Joshua son of Nun secretly sent two men from Shittim as spies, saying, “Go, reconnoiter the region of Jericho.” So they set out, and they came to the house of a certain prostitute named Rahab and lodged there.
פסוק ב׳ · Verse 2
Hebrew:
וַיֵּ֣אָמַ֔ר לְמֶ֥לֶךְ יְרִיח֖וֹ לֵאמֹ֑ר הִנֵּ֣ה אֲ֠נָשִׁ֠ים בָּ֣אוּ הֵ֧נָּה הַלַּ֛יְלָה מִבְּנֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל לַחְפֹּ֥ר אֶת־הָאָֽרֶץ׃
English:
The king of Jericho was told, “Some men have come here tonight, Israelites, to spy out the country.”
פסוק ג׳ · Verse 3
Hebrew:
וַיִּשְׁלַח֙ מֶ֣לֶךְ יְרִיח֔וֹ אֶל־רָחָ֖ב לֵאמֹ֑ר ה֠וֹצִ֠יאִי הָאֲנָשִׁ֨ים הַבָּאִ֤ים אֵלַ֙יִךְ֙ אֲשֶׁר־בָּ֣אוּ לְבֵיתֵ֔ךְ כִּ֛י לַחְפֹּ֥ר אֶת־כׇּל־הָאָ֖רֶץ בָּֽאוּ׃
English:
The king of Jericho thereupon sent orders to Rahab: “Produce the men who came to you and entered your house, for they have come to spy out the whole country.”
פסוק ד׳ · Verse 4
Hebrew:
וַתִּקַּ֧ח הָאִשָּׁ֛ה אֶת־שְׁנֵ֥י הָאֲנָשִׁ֖ים וַֽתִּצְפְּנ֑וֹ וַתֹּ֣אמֶר ׀ כֵּ֗ן בָּ֤אוּ אֵלַי֙ הָאֲנָשִׁ֔ים וְלֹ֥א יָדַ֖עְתִּי מֵאַ֥יִן הֵֽמָּה׃
English:
The woman, however, had taken the two men and hidden them. “It is true,” she said, “the men did come to me, but I didn’t know where they were from.
פסוק ה׳ · Verse 5
Hebrew:
וַיְהִ֨י הַשַּׁ֜עַר לִסְגּ֗וֹר בַּחֹ֙שֶׁךְ֙ וְהָאֲנָשִׁ֣ים יָצָ֔אוּ לֹ֣א יָדַ֔עְתִּי אָ֥נָה הָלְכ֖וּ הָאֲנָשִׁ֑ים רִדְפ֥וּ מַהֵ֛ר אַחֲרֵיהֶ֖ם כִּ֥י תַשִּׂיגֽוּם׃
English:
And at dark, when the gate was about to be closed, the men left; and I don’t know where the men went. Quick, go after them, for you can overtake them.”—
פסוק ו׳ · Verse 6
Hebrew:
וְהִ֖יא הֶעֱלָ֣תַם הַגָּ֑גָה וַֽתִּטְמְנֵם֙ בְּפִשְׁתֵּ֣י הָעֵ֔ץ הָעֲרֻכ֥וֹת לָ֖הּ עַל־הַגָּֽג׃
English:
Now she had taken them up to the roof and hidden them under some stalks of flax that she had lying on the roof.—
פסוק ז׳ · Verse 7
Hebrew:
וְהָאֲנָשִׁ֗ים רָדְפ֤וּ אַֽחֲרֵיהֶם֙ דֶּ֣רֶךְ הַיַּרְדֵּ֔ן עַ֖ל הַֽמַּעְבְּר֑וֹת וְהַשַּׁ֣עַר סָגָ֔רוּ אַחֲרֵ֕י כַּאֲשֶׁ֛ר יָצְא֥וּ הָרֹדְפִ֖ים אַחֲרֵיהֶֽם׃
English:
So the men pursued them in the direction of the Jordan down to the fords; and no sooner had the pursuers gone out than the gate was shut behind them.
פסוק ח׳ · Verse 8
Hebrew:
וְהֵ֖מָּה טֶ֣רֶם יִשְׁכָּב֑וּן וְהִ֛יא עָלְתָ֥ה עֲלֵיהֶ֖ם עַל־הַגָּֽג׃
English:
The spiesaThe spies Heb. “They.” had not yet gone to sleep when she came up to them on the roof.
פסוק ט׳ · Verse 9
Hebrew:
וַתֹּ֙אמֶר֙ אֶל־הָ֣אֲנָשִׁ֔ים יָדַ֕עְתִּי כִּֽי־נָתַ֧ן יְהֹוָ֛ה לָכֶ֖ם אֶת־הָאָ֑רֶץ וְכִֽי־נָפְלָ֤ה אֵֽימַתְכֶם֙ עָלֵ֔ינוּ וְכִ֥י נָמֹ֛גוּ כׇּל־יֹשְׁבֵ֥י הָאָ֖רֶץ מִפְּנֵיכֶֽם׃
English:
She said to the men, “I know that GOD has given the country to you, because dread of you has fallen upon us, and all the inhabitants of the land are quaking before you.
פסוק י״ · Verse 10
Hebrew:
כִּ֣י שָׁמַ֗עְנוּ אֵ֠ת אֲשֶׁר־הוֹבִ֨ישׁ יְהֹוָ֜ה אֶת־מֵ֤י יַם־סוּף֙ מִפְּנֵיכֶ֔ם בְּצֵאתְכֶ֖ם מִמִּצְרָ֑יִם וַאֲשֶׁ֣ר עֲשִׂיתֶ֡ם לִשְׁנֵי֩ מַלְכֵ֨י הָאֱמֹרִ֜י אֲשֶׁ֨ר בְּעֵ֤בֶר הַיַּרְדֵּן֙ לְסִיחֹ֣ן וּלְע֔וֹג אֲשֶׁ֥ר הֶחֱרַמְתֶּ֖ם אוֹתָֽם׃
English:
For we have heard how GOD dried up the waters of the Sea of Reeds for you when you left Egypt, and what you did to Sihon and Og, the two Amorite kings across the Jordan, whom you doomed.bdoomed I.e., placed under ḥerem, which meant the annihilation of the inhabitants. Cf. Deut. 2.34ff.
פסוק י״א · Verse 11
Hebrew:
וַנִּשְׁמַע֙ וַיִּמַּ֣ס לְבָבֵ֔נוּ וְלֹא־קָ֨מָה ע֥וֹד ר֛וּחַ בְּאִ֖ישׁ מִפְּנֵיכֶ֑ם כִּ֚י יְהֹוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֵיכֶ֔ם ה֤וּא אֱלֹהִים֙ בַּשָּׁמַ֣יִם מִמַּ֔עַל וְעַל־הָאָ֖רֶץ מִתָּֽחַת׃
English:
When we heard about it, we lost heart, and no one had any more spirit left because of you; for the ETERNAL your God is the only God in heaven above and on earth below.
פסוק י״ב · Verse 12
Hebrew:
וְעַתָּ֗ה הִשָּֽׁבְעוּ־נָ֥א לִי֙ בַּֽיהֹוָ֔ה כִּֽי־עָשִׂ֥יתִי עִמָּכֶ֖ם חָ֑סֶד וַעֲשִׂיתֶ֨ם גַּם־אַתֶּ֜ם עִם־בֵּ֤ית אָבִי֙ חֶ֔סֶד וּנְתַתֶּ֥ם לִ֖י א֥וֹת אֱמֶֽת׃
English:
Now, since I have shown loyalty to you, swear to me by GOD that you in turn will show loyalty to my family.cfamily Lit. “father’s house.” Provide me with a reliable sign
פסוק י״ג · Verse 13
Hebrew:
וְהַחֲיִתֶ֞ם אֶת־אָבִ֣י וְאֶת־אִמִּ֗י וְאֶת־אַחַי֙ וְאֶת־[אַחְיוֹתַ֔י] (אחותי) וְאֵ֖ת כׇּל־אֲשֶׁ֣ר לָהֶ֑ם וְהִצַּלְתֶּ֥ם אֶת־נַפְשֹׁתֵ֖ינוּ מִמָּֽוֶת׃
English:
that you will spare the lives of my father and mother, my brothers and sisters, and all who belong to them, and save us from death.”
פסוק י״ד · Verse 14
Hebrew:
וַיֹּ֧אמְרוּ לָ֣הּ הָאֲנָשִׁ֗ים נַפְשֵׁ֤נוּ תַחְתֵּיכֶם֙ לָמ֔וּת אִ֚ם לֹ֣א תַגִּ֔ידוּ אֶת־דְּבָרֵ֖נוּ זֶ֑ה וְהָיָ֗ה בְּתֵת־יְהֹוָ֥ה לָ֙נוּ֙ אֶת־הָאָ֔רֶץ וְעָשִׂ֥ינוּ עִמָּ֖ךְ חֶ֥סֶד וֶאֱמֶֽת׃
English:
The men answered her, “Our lives are pledged for yours, even to death! If you do not disclose this mission of ours, we will show you true loyalty when GOD gives us the land.”
פסוק ט״ו · Verse 15
Hebrew:
וַתּוֹרִדֵ֥ם בַּחֶ֖בֶל בְּעַ֣ד הַחַלּ֑וֹן כִּ֤י בֵיתָהּ֙ בְּקִ֣יר הַחוֹמָ֔ה וּבַחוֹמָ֖ה הִ֥יא יוֹשָֽׁבֶת׃
English:
She let them down by a rope through the window—for her dwelling was at the outer side of the city wall and she lived in the actual wall.
פסוק ט״ז · Verse 16
Hebrew:
וַתֹּ֤אמֶר לָהֶם֙ הָהָ֣רָה לֵּ֔כוּ פֶּֽן־יִפְגְּע֥וּ בָכֶ֖ם הָרֹֽדְפִ֑ים וְנַחְבֵּתֶ֨ם שָׁ֜מָּה שְׁלֹ֣שֶׁת יָמִ֗ים עַ֚ד שׁ֣וֹב הָרֹֽדְפִ֔ים וְאַחַ֖ר תֵּלְכ֥וּ לְדַרְכְּכֶֽם׃
English:
She said to them, “Make for the hills, so that the pursuers may not come upon you. Stay there in hiding three days, until the pursuers return; then go your way.”
פסוק י״ז · Verse 17
Hebrew:
וַיֹּאמְר֥וּ אֵלֶ֖יהָ הָאֲנָשִׁ֑ים נְקִיִּ֣ם אֲנַ֔חְנוּ מִשְּׁבֻעָתֵ֥ךְ הַזֶּ֖ה אֲשֶׁ֥ר הִשְׁבַּעְתָּֽנוּ׃
English:
But the men warned her, “We will be released from this oath that you have made us take
פסוק י״ח · Verse 18
Hebrew:
הִנֵּ֛ה אֲנַ֥חְנוּ בָאִ֖ים בָּאָ֑רֶץ אֶת־תִּקְוַ֡ת חוּט֩ הַשָּׁנִ֨י הַזֶּ֜ה תִּקְשְׁרִ֗י בַּֽחַלּוֹן֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר הוֹרַדְתֵּ֣נוּ ב֔וֹ וְאֶת־אָבִ֨יךְ וְאֶת־אִמֵּ֜ךְ וְאֶת־אַחַ֗יִךְ וְאֵת֙ כׇּל־בֵּ֣ית אָבִ֔יךְ תַּאַסְפִ֥י אֵלַ֖יִךְ הַבָּֽיְתָה׃
English:
[unless,] when we invade the country, you tie this length of crimson cord to the window through which you let us down. Bring your father, your mother, your brothers, and all your family together in your house;
פסוק י״ט · Verse 19
Hebrew:
וְהָיָ֡ה כֹּ֣ל אֲשֶׁר־יֵצֵא֩ מִדַּל��תֵ֨י בֵיתֵ֧ךְ ׀ הַח֛וּצָה דָּמ֥וֹ בְרֹאשׁ֖וֹ וַאֲנַ֣חְנוּ נְקִיִּ֑ם וְ֠כֹ֠ל אֲשֶׁ֨ר יִֽהְיֶ֤ה אִתָּךְ֙ בַּבַּ֔יִת דָּמ֣וֹ בְרֹאשֵׁ֔נוּ אִם־יָ֖ד תִּֽהְיֶה־בּֽוֹ׃
English:
and if anyone ventures outside the doors of your house, their blood will be on their head,dtheir blood will be on their head I.e., they shall be responsible for their own death. and we shall be clear. But if a hand is laid on anyone who remains in the house with you, their blood shall be on our heads.
פסוק כ׳ · Verse 20
Hebrew:
וְאִם־תַּגִּ֖ידִי אֶת־דְּבָרֵ֣נוּ זֶ֑ה וְהָיִ֣ינוּ נְקִיִּ֔ם מִשְּׁבֻעָתֵ֖ךְ אֲשֶׁ֥ר הִשְׁבַּעְתָּֽנוּ׃
English:
And if you disclose this mission of ours, we shall likewise be released from the oath that you made us take.”
פסוק כ״א · Verse 21
Hebrew:
וַתֹּ֙אמֶר֙ כְּדִבְרֵיכֶ֣ם כֶּן־ה֔וּא וַֽתְּשַׁלְּחֵ֖ם וַיֵּלֵ֑כוּ וַתִּקְשֹׁ֛ר אֶת־תִּקְוַ֥ת הַשָּׁנִ֖י בַּחַלּֽוֹן׃
English:
She replied, “Let it be as you say.”She sent them on their way, and they left; and she tied the crimson cord to the window.
פסוק כ״ב · Verse 22
Hebrew:
וַיֵּֽלְכוּ֙ וַיָּבֹ֣אוּ הָהָ֔רָה וַיֵּ֤שְׁבוּ שָׁם֙ שְׁלֹ֣שֶׁת יָמִ֔ים עַד־שָׁ֖בוּ הָרֹֽדְפִ֑ים וַיְבַקְשׁ֧וּ הָרֹדְפִ֛ים בְּכׇל־הַדֶּ֖רֶךְ וְלֹ֥א מָצָֽאוּ׃
English:
They went straight to the hills and stayed there three days, until the pursuers turned back. And so the pursuers, searching all along the road, did not find them.
פסוק כ״ג · Verse 23
Hebrew:
וַיָּשֻׁ֜בוּ שְׁנֵ֤י הָֽאֲנָשִׁים֙ וַיֵּרְד֣וּ מֵֽהָהָ֔ר וַיַּֽעַבְרוּ֙ וַיָּבֹ֔אוּ אֶל־יְהוֹשֻׁ֖עַ בִּן־נ֑וּן וַ֨יְסַפְּרוּ־ל֔וֹ אֵ֥ת כׇּל־הַמֹּצְא֖וֹת אוֹתָֽם׃
English:
Then the two men came down again from the hills and crossed over. They came to Joshua son of Nun and reported to him all that had happened to them.
פסוק כ״ד · Verse 24
Hebrew:
וַיֹּֽאמְרוּ֙ אֶל־יְהוֹשֻׁ֔עַ כִּֽי־נָתַ֧ן יְהֹוָ֛ה בְּיָדֵ֖נוּ אֶת־כׇּל־הָאָ֑רֶץ וְגַם־נָמֹ֛גוּ כׇּל־יֹשְׁבֵ֥י הָאָ֖רֶץ מִפָּנֵֽינוּ׃ {ס}
English:
They said to Joshua, “GOD has delivered the whole land into our power; in fact, all the inhabitants of the land are quaking before us.”