What is the meaning of Joshua 2:20? And if you report our mission • The spies are laying down a straightforward condition: silence equals salvation, disclosure equals forfeiture. • Rahab’s agreement to keep the mission secret is a demonstration of her faith in the God of Israel (Hebrews 11:31). • Similar emphasis on faithful confidentiality appears in Joshua 2:14, “If you do not report our mission, we will treat you kindly and faithfully”, and Proverbs 11:13, “A gossip reveals secrets, but a trustworthy person keeps a matter hidden”. • The statement reminds us that faith is proved by actions (James 2:25). Rahab’s silence will be the tangible evidence of her trust. we will be released • The spies acknowledge that their obligation is conditional. If Rahab breaks her side, they are freed from theirs. • Vows in Scripture are binding only so long as the stated terms are met (Genesis 24:8; Numbers 30:2). • This clause highlights personal accountability: each party bears responsibility for upholding covenant terms (Deuteronomy 23:21–22). from the oath • “The oath” points back to the solemn promise made in God’s name (Joshua 2:12). Such oaths carried divine weight; breaking them invited judgment (Leviticus 19:12; Psalm 15:4). • By specifying release “from the oath,” the spies make clear that God Himself will no longer hold them to it if Rahab betrays them. This underscores the seriousness with which believers must approach promises made before the Lord (Ecclesiastes 5:4–5; Matthew 5:33–37). you made us swear • Rahab initiated the oath, showing her earnest desire for deliverance (Joshua 2:12–13). The spies simply responded to her request. • Although Rahab is an outsider, her faith moves her to seek covenant protection, just as God later welcomes all who come to Him through Christ (Ephesians 2:12–13). • Her insistence on an oath demonstrates both her understanding of Israel’s God and her certainty that Jericho will fall (Joshua 6:25). summary Joshua 2:20 teaches that divine covenants involve clear conditions, personal accountability, and unwavering faithfulness. The spies promise safety to Rahab, but only if she remains loyal to them by keeping their mission secret. Should she fail, they are absolved of their vow. The verse underscores the gravity of oaths made before God and illustrates how genuine faith expresses itself through obedient action. |
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