Rahab and the Scarlet Cord

The words

1. Cord

   A rope, in the NET Bible’s rendering.

   Rahab lowers the spies by a cord through her window because her house is on the town wall.

   Joshua 2:15 (opens a new tab) · NET Bible: Joshua 2:15 (opens a new tab)

2. Flax

   The plant used to make linen.

   Rahab has stalks of flax arranged on her roof and uses them to conceal the men sent by Joshua.

   Joshua 2:1 (opens a new tab) · Joshua 2:3–6 (opens a new tab) · Webster’s 1828: flax (opens a new tab)

3. Joshua

   Joshua son of Nun sends two spies secretly from Shittim to view the land, especially Jericho.

   Did you know?

   Numbers says Moses gave Oshea son of Nun the name Jehoshua; the NET Bible renders the new name Joshua.

   Joshua 2:1 (opens a new tab) · Numbers 13:16 (opens a new tab) · NET Bible: Numbers 13:16 (opens a new tab)

4. Kindness

   Rahab asks the spies to repay her kindness by saving her parents, brothers and sisters, and delivering her household from death.

   Joshua 2:12–13 (opens a new tab)

5. Melt

   Rahab says Jericho’s inhabitants lost courage after hearing about the Red Sea crossing and Israel’s destruction of the Amorite kings Sihon and Og.

   Joshua 2:9–11 (opens a new tab)

6. Mountain

   Rahab tells the spies to hide in the mountain for three days, until the pursuers have returned, before continuing on their way.

   Joshua 2:16 (opens a new tab)

7. Pursuers

   The king’s men pursue the spies toward the Jordan’s fords, but the spies remain hidden in the mountain until the searchers return.

   Joshua 2:3–7 (opens a new tab) · Joshua 2:22 (opens a new tab)

8. Rahab

   Rahab, called a harlot in the KJV, hides the spies under flax on her roof and seeks protection for her family.

   Joshua 2:1 (opens a new tab) · Joshua 2:6 (opens a new tab) · Joshua 2:12–13 (opens a new tab)

9. Roof

   Rahab takes the spies onto her roof and hides them beneath stalks of flax laid there, while the king’s men seek them.

   Joshua 2:3–7 (opens a new tab)

10. Scarlet

    The spies require a line of scarlet thread in Rahab’s window, with her family gathered inside when Israel enters the land.

    Joshua 2:17–19 (opens a new tab)

11. Shittim

    Shittim is Joshua’s starting point when he secretly sends the two men to view the land and Jericho before Israel crosses the Jordan.

    Did you know?

    The next chapter opens with Israel leaving Shittim and reaching the Jordan, where the people lodge before crossing.

    Joshua 2:1 (opens a new tab) · Joshua 3:1 (opens a new tab)

12. Spies

    Joshua sends two men secretly to view Jericho; they lodge with Rahab and later report that the country’s inhabitants have lost courage.

    Joshua 2:1 (opens a new tab) · Joshua 2:23–24 (opens a new tab)

13. Three Days

    The spies stay in the mountain for three days while pursuers search for them, then cross back and report to Joshua.

    Joshua 2:22–23 (opens a new tab)

14. Town Wall

    Joshua places Rahab’s house on the town wall, explaining how she can lower the spies through a window to the outside.

    Joshua 2:15 (opens a new tab)

15. True Token

    A solemn pledge, in the NET Bible’s rendering.

    Rahab asks the spies to swear by the LORD and give a true token that her family’s lives will be spared.

    Joshua 2:12–13 (opens a new tab) · NET Bible: Joshua 2:12 (opens a new tab)