Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version But the woman had taken the two men and hidden them. She said, “Yes, the men came to me, but I did not know where they had come from. New Living Translation Rahab had hidden the two men, but she replied, “Yes, the men were here earlier, but I didn’t know where they were from. English Standard Version But the woman had taken the two men and hidden them. And she said, “True, the men came to me, but I did not know where they were from. Berean Standard Bible But the woman had taken the two men and hidden them. So she said, “Yes, the men did come to me, but I did not know where they had come from. King James Bible And the woman took the two men, and hid them, and said thus, There came men unto me, but I wist not whence they were: New King James Version Then the woman took the two men and hid them. So she said, “Yes, the men came to me, but I did not know where they were from. New American Standard Bible But the woman had taken the two men and hidden them, and she said, “Yes, the men came to me, but I did not know where they were from. NASB 1995 But the woman had taken the two men and hidden them, and she said, “Yes, the men came to me, but I did not know where they were from. NASB 1977 But the woman had taken the two men and hidden them, and she said, “Yes, the men came to me, but I did not know where they were from. Legacy Standard Bible But the woman had taken the two men and hidden them, and she said, “Yes, the men came to me, but I did not know where they were from. Amplified Bible But the woman had taken the two men and hidden them; so she said, “Yes, two men came to me, but I did not know where they were from. Christian Standard Bible But the woman had taken the two men and hidden them. So she said, “Yes, the men did come to me, but I didn’t know where they were from. Holman Christian Standard Bible But the woman had taken the two men and hidden them. So she said, “Yes, the men did come to me, but I didn’t know where they were from. American Standard Version And the woman took the two men, and hid them; and she said, Yea, the men came unto me, but I knew not whence they were: English Revised Version And the woman took the two men, and hid them; and she said, Yea, the men came unto me, but I wist not whence they were: GOD'S WORD® Translation But the woman had already taken the two men inside and hidden them. So she said, "Yes, the men did come here. But I didn't know where they had come from. International Standard Version Now the woman had taken the two men and hid them. So she replied, "The men really did come to me, but I didn't know from where they came. Majority Standard Bible But the woman had taken the two men and hidden them. So she said, ?Yes, the men did come to me, but I did not know where they had come from. NET Bible But the woman hid the two men and replied, "Yes, these men were clients of mine, but I didn't know where they came from. New Heart English Bible The woman took the two men and hid them. Then she said, "Yes, the men came to me, but I did not know where they came from. Webster's Bible Translation And the woman took the two men, and hid them, and said thus, There came men to me, but I knew not whence they were: World English Bible The woman took the two men and hid them. Then she said, “Yes, the men came to me, but I didn’t know where they came from. Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionAnd the woman takes the two men, and hides them, and says thus: “The men came to me, and I have not known where they [are] from; Young's Literal Translation And the woman taketh the two men, and hideth them, and saith thus: 'The men came in unto me, and I have not known whence they are; Smith's Literal Translation And the woman will take the two men and hide them, and will say thus, Two men came to me, and I knew not from whence they were. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleAnd the woman taking the men, hid them, and said: I confess they came to me, but I knew not whence they were: Catholic Public Domain Version And the woman, taking the men, hid them. And she said: “I admit that they came to me, but I did not know where they were from. New American Bible The woman had taken the two men and hidden them, so she said, “True, the men you speak of came to me, but I did not know where they came from. New Revised Standard Version But the woman took the two men and hid them. Then she said, “True, the men came to me, but I did not know where they came from. Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleAnd the woman took the two men, and hid them, and said, Truly the men came to me, but I did not know where they came from; Peshitta Holy Bible Translated And the woman brought both men and she hid them and she said: “Truly, men came to me and I did not know from where they are. OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917And the woman took the two men, and hid them; and she said: 'Yea, the men came unto me, but I knew not whence they were; Brenton Septuagint Translation And the woman took the two men and hid them; and she spoke to the messengers, saying, The men came in to me, Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context Rahab Welcomes the Spies…3So the king of Jericho sent to Rahab and said, “Bring out the men who came to you and entered your house, for they have come to spy out the whole land.” 4But the woman had taken the two men and hidden them. So she said, “Yes, the men did come to me, but I did not know where they had come from. 5At dusk, when the gate was about to close, the men went out, and I do not know which way they went. Pursue them quickly, and you may catch them!”… Cross References Hebrews 11:31 By faith the prostitute Rahab, because she welcomed the spies in peace, did not perish with those who were disobedient. James 2:25 In the same way, was not even Rahab the prostitute justified by her actions when she welcomed the spies and sent them off on another route? Exodus 1:19-20 The midwives answered Pharaoh, “The Hebrew women are not like the Egyptian women, for they are vigorous and give birth before a midwife arrives.” / So God was good to the midwives, and the people multiplied and became even more numerous. 1 Samuel 19:11-17 Then Saul sent messengers to David’s house to watch him and kill him in the morning. But David’s wife Michal warned him, “If you do not run for your life tonight, tomorrow you will be dead!” / So Michal lowered David from the window, and he ran away and escaped. / Then Michal took a household idol and laid it in the bed, placed some goat hair on its head, and covered it with a garment. ... 1 Kings 18:4 for when Jezebel had slaughtered the prophets of the LORD, Obadiah had taken a hundred prophets and hidden them, fifty men per cave, providing them with food and water.) 2 Samuel 17:19-20 Then the man’s wife took a covering, spread it over the mouth of the well, and scattered grain over it so nobody would know a thing. / When Absalom’s servants came to the woman at the house, they asked, “Where are Ahimaaz and Jonathan?” “They have crossed over the brook,” she replied. The men searched but did not find them, so they returned to Jerusalem. Matthew 1:5 Salmon was the father of Boaz by Rahab, Boaz the father of Obed by Ruth, Obed the father of Jesse, Acts 9:25 One night, however, his disciples took him and lowered him in a basket through a window in the wall. 2 Corinthians 11:32-33 In Damascus, the governor under King Aretas secured the city of the Damascenes in order to arrest me. / But I was lowered in a basket through a window in the wall and escaped his grasp. Judges 4:17-21 Meanwhile, Sisera had fled on foot to the tent of Jael, the wife of Heber the Kenite, because there was peace between Jabin king of Hazor and the house of Heber the Kenite. / Jael went out to greet Sisera and said to him, “Come in, my lord. Come in with me. Do not be afraid.” So he entered her tent, and she covered him with a blanket. / Sisera said to her, “Please give me a little water to drink, for I am thirsty.” So she opened a container of milk, gave him a drink, and covered him again. ... Genesis 26:7 But when the men of that place asked about his wife, he said, “She is my sister.” For he was afraid to say, “She is my wife,” since he thought to himself, “The men of this place will kill me on account of Rebekah, because she is so beautiful.” Genesis 20:2 Abraham said of his wife Sarah, “She is my sister.” So Abimelech king of Gerar had Sarah brought to him. Genesis 12:13 Please say you are my sister, so that I will be treated well for your sake, and on account of you my life will be spared.” 1 Samuel 21:2 “The king has given me a mission,” David replied. “He told me no one is to know about the mission on which I am sending you. And I have directed my young men to meet me at a certain place. 1 Samuel 27:10-12 who would ask him, “What have you raided today?” And David would reply, “The Negev of Judah,” or “The Negev of Jerahmeel,” or “The Negev of the Kenites.” / David did not leave a man or woman alive to be brought to Gath, for he said, “Otherwise they will report us, saying, ‘This is what David did.’” And this was David’s custom the whole time he lived in Philistine territory. / So Achish trusted David, thinking, “Since he has made himself an utter stench to his people Israel, he will be my servant forever.” Treasury of Scripture And the woman took the two men, and hid them, and said thus, There came men to me, but I knew not from where they were: Exodus 1:19 And the midwives said unto Pharaoh, Because the Hebrew women are not as the Egyptian women; for they are lively, and are delivered ere the midwives come in unto them. 2 Samuel 16:18,19 And Hushai said unto Absalom, Nay; but whom the LORD, and this people, and all the men of Israel, choose, his will I be, and with him will I abide… 2 Samuel 17:19,20 And the woman took and spread a covering over the well's mouth, and spread ground corn thereon; and the thing was not known… Jump to Previous Concealed Hid Hidden Hideth Idea Secret True. Whence WistJump to Next Concealed Hid Hidden Hideth Idea Secret True. Whence WistJoshua 2 1. Rahab receives and conceals the two spies sent from Shittim8. The covenant between her and them 23. Their return and description of events But the woman had taken the two men and hidden them. Rahab, a resident of Jericho, took a significant risk by hiding the Israelite spies. This act of protection is pivotal in the narrative, demonstrating her faith and aligning her with God's purposes. In the cultural context of ancient Near Eastern societies, hospitality was a sacred duty, but Rahab's actions went beyond mere hospitality, indicating a recognition of the God of Israel's power. Her actions prefigure the concept of faith leading to righteousness, as later highlighted in Hebrews 11:31 and James 2:25, where Rahab is commended for her faith and works. So she said, “Yes, the men did come to me, but I did not know where they had come from. Persons / Places / Events 1. RahabA Canaanite woman living in Jericho, known for her occupation as a prostitute. She plays a crucial role in the Israelite spies' mission by hiding them and later helping them escape. 2. The Two Spies Sent by Joshua to scout the land of Jericho. Their mission is to gather intelligence on the city and its defenses. 3. Jericho A fortified city in Canaan, significant for being the first city conquered by the Israelites as they entered the Promised Land. 4. The King of Jericho Represents the authority of Jericho, who seeks to capture the spies upon learning of their presence. 5. The Event of Hiding Rahab's act of hiding the spies is a pivotal moment that demonstrates her faith and allegiance to the God of Israel over her own people. Teaching Points Faith in ActionRahab's decision to hide the spies demonstrates that true faith often requires taking risks and making difficult choices. Her actions show that faith is not passive but active and courageous. God's Sovereignty and Grace Rahab, a non-Israelite and a woman of questionable reputation, is used by God to fulfill His purposes. This highlights God's sovereignty and grace, showing that He can use anyone, regardless of their past, for His glory. The Importance of Truth and Deception Rahab's lie to protect the spies raises questions about the morality of deception in certain situations. It invites believers to consider the complexities of truth-telling and the higher moral law of protecting life. Allegiance to God Over Culture Rahab's choice to side with the God of Israel over her own people challenges believers to consider where their ultimate allegiance lies, especially when cultural norms conflict with God's commands.Verse 4. - And the woman took the two men. The majority of commentators are of opinion that here, as in ver. 1, we must render by the pluperfect. For, as Calvin remarks, Rahab would hardly have dared to lie so coolly had she not previously taken precautions to conceal her guests. And therefore she must have told a twofold falsehood. She must have discovered, or been made acquainted with, their errand, and therefore have "known whence they were," in addition to her assertion that she did not know where they were now. And hid them. The original is remarkable and very vivid. And hid him, i.e., each one in a separate place. No doubt the detail comes from an eyewitness, so that if the Book of Joshua he not a contemporary work, the writer must have had access to some contemporary document. Parallel Commentaries ... Hebrew But the womanהָֽאִשָּׁ֛ה (hā·’iš·šāh) Article | Noun - feminine singular Strong's 802: Woman, wife, female had taken וַתִּקַּ֧ח (wat·tiq·qaḥ) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular Strong's 3947: To take the two שְׁנֵ֥י (šə·nê) Number - mdc Strong's 8147: Two (a cardinal number) men הָאֲנָשִׁ֖ים (hā·’ă·nā·šîm) Article | Noun - masculine plural Strong's 376: A man as an individual, a male person and hidden them. וַֽתִּצְפְּנ֑וֹ (wat·tiṣ·pə·nōw) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular | third person masculine singular Strong's 6845: To hide, to hoard, reserve, to deny, to protect, to lurk So she said, וַתֹּ֣אמֶר ׀ (wat·tō·mer) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular Strong's 559: To utter, say “Yes, כֵּ֗ן (kên) Adjective - masculine singular Strong's 3651: So -- thus the men הָֽאֲנָשִׁ֔ים (hā·’ă·nā·šîm) Article | Noun - masculine plural Strong's 376: A man as an individual, a male person did come בָּ֤אוּ (bā·’ū) Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural Strong's 935: To come in, come, go in, go to me, אֵלַי֙ (’ê·lay) Preposition | first person common singular Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to but I did not וְלֹ֥א (wə·lō) Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particle Strong's 3808: Not, no know יָדַ֖עְתִּי (yā·ḏa‘·tî) Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular Strong's 3045: To know where מֵאַ֥יִן (mê·’a·yin) Preposition-m | Adverb Strong's 370: Whence? they had come from. הֵֽמָּה׃ (hêm·māh) Pronoun - third person masculine plural Strong's 1992: They Links Joshua 2:4 NIVJoshua 2:4 NLT Joshua 2:4 ESV Joshua 2:4 NASB Joshua 2:4 KJV Joshua 2:4 BibleApps.com Joshua 2:4 Biblia Paralela Joshua 2:4 Chinese Bible Joshua 2:4 French Bible Joshua 2:4 Catholic Bible OT History: Joshua 2:4 The woman took the two men (Josh. Jos) |
    |