Joshua 2:1 Meaning and Explanation
“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.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Joshua quietly sends two spies from the Israelite camp to survey Jericho, and they take shelter in the house of Rahab.
What Does Joshua 2:1 Mean?
Israel is camped at Shittim, east of the Jordan, on the verge of entering the land long promised to them. Before the crossing, Joshua sends two men to scout Jericho, the first walled city in their path. They enter the house of Rahab, whose home offered lodging at the edge of the city.
The mission begins not with armies but with two unnamed men and a single open door. God so often advances His purposes through hidden, ordinary steps. That the spies are led to Rahab, of all people, is no accident; the Lord was already at work in a heart the world had written off, preparing a place of refuge before the walls ever fell.
Joshua 2:1 in the Original Language
Shittim (שִׁטִּים), 'acacias' -- the place name recalls the acacia trees that grew there.
Frequently Asked Questions About Joshua 2:1
What does Joshua 2:1 mean?
Joshua quietly sends two spies from the Israelite camp to survey Jericho, and they take shelter in the house of Rahab.