Joshua 1:1-2,5-6, 8- Now after the death of Moses the servant of the LORD it came to pass, that the LORD spake unto Joshua the son of Nun, Moses' minister, saying, Moses my servant is dead; now therefore arise, go over this Jordan, thou, and all this people, unto the land which I do give to them, even to the children of Israel. There shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life: as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee. Be strong and of a good courage: for unto this people shalt thou divide for an inheritance the land, which I sware unto their fathers to give them. This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.
God spoke to Joshua and told him that he was chosen to lead the children of Israel into the promised land. God promised that He would help them to conquer their enemies if they would be courageous and obedient.
Now, the Israelites were not IN the promised land yet. They were on the East side of it. There was a large river, the Jordan River, that separated them from the promised land.
There wasn't a bridge to cross this river. And there wasn't a boat big enough to carry them and their possessions across. How do you think Joshua was going to cross it?
First, Joshua told everyone to get ready to cross the Jordan River. He gave them 3 days to prepare everything to be moved.
Then, he reminded the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half tribe of Manasseh that they were to go over with them and help them fight. If they helped them fight, then they could keep the land on the East side of the Jordan River as their homeland.
Joshua 1:16-18- And they answered Joshua, saying, All that thou commandest us we will do, and whithersoever thou sendest us, we will go. According as we hearkened unto Moses in all things, so will we hearken unto thee: only the LORD thy God be with thee, as he was with Moses. Whosoever [he be] that doth rebel against thy commandment, and will not hearken unto thy words in all that thou commandest him, he shall be put to death: only be strong and of a good courage.
The people promised to help Joshua. They would follow him wherever he lead and they would obey him.
Joshua sent spies to see what was across the river. He wanted to know what they would run into once they got across.
Joshua 2:1-5- And Joshua the son of Nun sent out of Shittim two men to spy secretly, saying, Go view the land, even Jericho. And they went, and came into an harlot's house, named Rahab, and lodged there. And it was told the king of Jericho, saying, Behold, there came men in hither to night of the children of Israel to search out the country. And the king of Jericho sent unto Rahab, saying, Bring forth the men that are come to thee, which are entered into thine house: for they be come to search out all the country. 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: And it came to pass about the time of shutting of the gate, when it was dark, that the men went out: whither the men went I wot not: pursue after them quickly; for ye shall overtake them.
The spies went into the great city of Jericho. Jericho had very high walls all the way around the city. The walls were so wide that houses were built into them. People could walk around on the top without fear of falling off.
A woman named Rahab met the spies and told them that they could have a place to sleep. But, the king of Jericho, also, heard about the spies. He sent soldiers to Rahab's house to get them.
Rahab told the soldiers that the spies had left. But, she had hidden them.
Joshua 2:6-7- But she had brought them up to the roof of the house, and hid them with the stalks of flax, which she had laid in order upon the roof. And the men pursued after them the way to Jordan unto the fords: and as soon as they which pursued after them were gone out, they shut the gate.
The woman took the spies and hid them under some plants that she had drying on the roof of her house.
The soldiers went on a manhunt to find the spies. Once they left the city and began their search, the gates of the city were shut up tightly. The only way out of the city was by going over the huge wall!
Joshua 2:8-10- And before they were laid down, she came up unto them upon the roof; And she said unto the men, I know that the LORD hath given you the land, and that your terror is fallen upon us, and that all the inhabitants of the land faint because of you. For we have heard how the LORD dried up the water of the Red sea for you, when ye came out of Egypt; and what ye did unto the two kings of the Amorites, that were on the other side Jordan, Sihon and Og, whom ye utterly destroyed.
Rahab came up to the roof around bedtime and began talking to the spies. She told them that stories of Moses and the ten plagues had reached their city. They had also heard tell of how the Red Sea parted for them to escape Egypt. And, the whole city began to fear when they found out that the two mighty Amorite armies were defeated by the Israelites.
Joshua 2:12-13- Now therefore, I pray you, swear unto me by the LORD, since I have shewed you kindness, that ye will also shew kindness unto my father's house, and give me a true token: And that ye will save alive my father, and my mother, and my brethren, and my sisters, and all that they have, and deliver our lives from death.
Rahab had helped the spies in hopes that they would spare her and her family went they came in and battled the army of Jericho.
Joshua 2:14-15- And the men answered her, Our life for yours, if ye utter not this our business. And it shall be, when the LORD hath given us the land, that we will deal kindly and truly with thee. Then she let them down by a cord through the window: for her house was upon the town wall, and she dwelt upon the wall.
The spies promised to protect them woman and her family. Then, she tied a dark red rope out her window and let them climb down the side of Jericho's wall.
Joshua 2:16-20- And she said unto them, Get you to the mountain, lest the pursuers meet you; and hide yourselves there three days, until the pursuers be returned: and afterward may ye go your way. And the men said unto her, We will be blameless of this thine oath which thou hast made us swear. Behold, when we come into the land, thou shalt bind this line of scarlet thread in the window which thou didst let us down by: and thou shalt bring thy father, and thy mother, and thy brethren, and all thy father's household, home unto thee. And it shall be, that whosoever shall go out of the doors of thy house into the street, his blood shall be upon his head, and we will be guiltless: and whosoever shall be with thee in the house, his blood shall be on our head, if any hand be upon him. And if thou utter this our business, then we will be quit of thine oath which thou hast made us to swear.
She told the spies where to hide so that the soldiers on the manhunt wouldn't find them.
Then, they told her to gather all her family into her house when the battle started. She would hang the red rope in her window, and that would show the Israelite army which house not to attack. But, they warned her not to tell anyone or else they couldn't keep their promise.
Joshua 2:21-23- And she said, According unto your words, so be it. And she sent them away, and they departed: and she bound the scarlet line in the window. And they went, and came unto the mountain, and abode there three days, until the pursuers were returned: and the pursuers sought them throughout all the way, but found them not. So the two men returned, and descended from the mountain, and passed over, and came to Joshua the son of Nun, and told him all things that befell them:
