Why did spies visit Rahab in Jericho?

Historical and Geographical Context

Jericho was a fortified city located just west of the Jordan River. Archaeological findings have consistently identified tells (or mounds) near the modern city of Jericho that indicate settlements dating back many centuries prior to the Israelite arrival. Multiple excavations, including those by John Garstang (1930s) and later research by Bryant Wood, have found collapsed walls and storage jars with grain in layers they date to the approximate timeframe of the biblical conquest. These findings suggest a sudden destruction of the city, aligning with the account in the Book of Joshua.

From the chronology adopted in many biblical timelines, this event took place roughly in the mid-15th century BC. Jericho’s strategic location controlled access to the hill country of Canaan, making it a key target following the Israelites’ crossing of the Jordan. It was also the first major stronghold encountered by the Israelites after their 40-year wilderness journey (cf. Joshua 4:19; 5:10).

The Biblical Narrative (Joshua 2)

In the scriptural record, specifically in Joshua 2, the Israelites were camped east of the Jordan, preparing to enter the Promised Land. Joshua, who succeeded Moses, selected two spies to scout Jericho’s fortifications and assess the morale of its inhabitants:

“Then Joshua son of Nun secretly sent two spies from Shittim, saying, ‘Go, spy out the land, especially Jericho.’ So they went and entered the house of a prostitute named Rahab and stayed there.” (Joshua 2:1)

These two unnamed spies entered Jericho and eventually took refuge in the house of Rahab. Her resourcefulness in hiding them influenced the successful intelligence-gathering mission and ultimately preserved her family from destruction.

Reasons for Sending the Spies

1. Military Strategy: With Jericho standing as the initial obstacle for the Israelite movement into Canaan, Joshua’s instructions (Joshua 2:1) suggest he wanted a current and firsthand look at the city’s defenses, troop dispositions, and logistical setups. Although the conquering of Jericho would be a miraculous event, intelligence on the city’s condition provided a practical benefit.

2. Assessment of Fear and Morale: Joshua had earlier witnessed the effect that discouraging reports could have on the Israelite community (Numbers 13–14). This time, acquiring truthful information—especially about the widespread fear of the Israelites—served to bolster Israel’s resolve. Rahab confirmed that Jericho’s residents were terror-stricken because of the wonders God had already performed (Joshua 2:9–11).

3. Divine Appointment: The spies’ contact with Rahab was no coincidence. Her testimony, “I know that the LORD has given you this land…for the LORD your God is God in heaven above and on earth below” (Joshua 2:9, 11), shows her recognition of the one true God. God’s providence is a recurring theme through biblical narratives, and this encounter highlights how the mission was coordinated to bring about salvation for Rahab and her household (Joshua 2:12–14).

Rahab’s Role

1. Hospitality and Protection: Though Rahab’s profession was to run an inn or lodging establishment (and labeled “a prostitute” or “harlot” in many translations), her quick thinking and bravery were crucial. She hid the spies on her roof under stalks of flax (Joshua 2:6). She also misdirected the king’s men, convincing them the spies had already fled.

2. Confession of Faith: Her plea in Joshua 2:11, “the LORD your God is God in heaven above and on earth below,” shows a remarkable confession that matched her action of protecting the men of Israel. This confession prefigures her inclusion among God’s people. Later passages highlight Rahab as a paragon of faith: Hebrews 11:31 commends her faith, and James 2:25 praises her works.

3. Ancestral Link to the Messiah: According to Matthew 1:5, Rahab became part of the lineage that leads to King David and eventually to the Messiah. This stands as a powerful example of divine grace—showing that faith, not birth status alone, includes a person among God’s people.

Archaeological and Cultural Evidence

1. Collapsed Walls: Notable excavations revealed walls that appear to have fallen outwards. While interpretations vary, some archaeologists, such as the late Kathleen Kenyon, dated certain remains differently. However, individuals like Bryant Wood argue that evidence (including pottery, grain stores, and the nature of the wall collapse) is consistent with a dramatic destruction around the same period described in Joshua.

2. Cultural Practices: Texts from the second millennium BC confirm the presence of city fortifications, watchtowers, and defensive walls in the region. Jericho’s reliance on defensive architecture corresponds well with the biblical depiction of a walled city that needed thorough reconnaissance by the Israelites.

3. Manuscript Reliability: The historicity of Joshua 2 across biblical manuscripts stands on strong textual foundations. Manuscript fragments found among the Dead Sea Scrolls (particularly from the books of Moses and Joshua) preserve passages reflecting events consistent with later received texts. This aligns with other textual families — such as the Septuagint (LXX) — which mirror the same storyline.

Spiritual Significance

1. God’s Sovereign Plan: The visit reveals that Israel’s conquests were not merely military maneuvers but also divine appointments showing God’s mercy. Rahab’s household experienced salvation due to her faith (Joshua 6:25).

2. A Model of Faith Under Pressure: Rahab believed the accounts of the exodus and the miracles leading up to Jericho. Her immediate trust guides modern readers, demonstrating how faith climaxed in courageous action.

3. A Foretaste of Redemption: Rahab’s story foreshadows how those who trust in the living God, regardless of their background, become part of God’s covenant people. Her red cord in the window (Joshua 2:18) symbolized deliverance—an echo of deliverance themes found throughout Scripture, culminating in what the resurrection of Christ offers on a global scale of redemption.

Conclusion

Spies visited Rahab in Jericho for multiple interwoven reasons aligned with both strategic and divine purposes. On the surface, Joshua sent them to gauge Jericho’s defenses. Beneath that, a divine orchestration was at work, evident in Rahab’s confession of faith and her vital role in preserving the spies. Archaeological evidence supports the plausibility of Jericho’s existence and destruction as portrayed in the Bible. The historical manuscripts affirm the reliability of the narrative.

Rahab’s faith continues to resonate through Scripture as a testimony to transformation. Though labeled an outcast from an idolatrous city, she became a critical figure among God’s chosen people and contributed to the line that led to the Messiah. In every sense, the two spies’ mission underscores the intersection of God’s sovereignty, human faith, and the surety of God’s word.