Text -- Joshua 2:18-24 (NET)

2:18 When we invade the land, tie this red rope in the window through which you let us down, and gather together in your house your father, mother, brothers, and all who live in your father’s house. 2:19 Anyone who leaves your house will be responsible for his own death– we are innocent in that case! But if anyone with you in the house is harmed, we will be responsible. 2:20 If you should report what we’ve been up to, we are not bound by this oath you made us swear.” 2:21 She said, “I agree to these conditions.” She sent them on their way and then tied the red rope in the window. 2:22 They went to the hill country and stayed there for three days, long enough for those chasing them to return. Their pursuers looked all along the way but did not find them. 2:23 Then the two men returned– they came down from the hills, crossed the river, came to Joshua son of Nun, and reported to him all they had discovered. 2:24 They told Joshua, “Surely the Lord is handing over all the land to us! All who live in the land are cringing before us!”

Commentary -- Verse Notes / Footnotes

NET Notes: Jos 2:18

¹ tn Heb “Look! We are about to enter the land.”

² tn Heb “the cord of this red thread.”

³ tn Heb “and your father and your mother and your brothers and all the house of your father gather to yourself to the house.”

NET Notes: Jos 2:19

¹ tn Heb “Anyone who goes out from the doors of your house to the outside, his blood is on his head. We are innocent.”

² tn Heb “But anyone who is with you in the house, his blood is on our head if a hand should be on him.”

NET Notes: Jos 2:20

¹ tn Heb “and if you report this matter of ours.”

NET Notes: Jos 2:21

¹ tn Heb “According to your words, so it [will be].”

² tn Heb “she sent them away and they went.”

NET Notes: Jos 2:22

¹ tn Heb “they went and came.”

² tn Heb “the pursuers.” The object (“them”) is added for clarification.

³ tn Heb “the ones chasing them.” This has been rendered as “their pursuers” in the translation to avoid redundancy with the preceding clause.

⁴ tn Heb “The pursuers looked in all the way and did not find [them].”

NET Notes: Jos 2:23

¹ tn The words “the river,” though not in the Hebrew text, are added for clarification.

NET Notes: Jos 2:24

¹ tn Heb “Surely the Lord has given into our hand all the land.” The report by the spies uses the Hebrew perfect, suggesting certitude.

² tn Heb “are melting away because of us.”