Joshua 2 Summary - 5 Minute Bible Study

Joshua 2 Summary - A Quick Overview

WHEN:

• The book of Joshua picks up where Deuteronomy left off. The Israelites were just about to enter the Promised Land after wandering in the wilderness for 40 years.

• The Israelites were in the wilderness from approximately 1490-1450 B.C., which places the events recorded in Joshua 2 at approximately 1450 B.C.

CHARACTERS:

• Joshua - Moses’ assistant while he led the people in the wilderness. God selected Joshua to lead the Israelites after Moses’ death.

• Rahab – A harlot who lived in the city of Jericho.

• Two Spies – Joshua sent two Israelite spies across the Jordan River to spy out the land and the city of Jericho.

WHERE:

• Deuteronomy 1:5 tells us Moses spoke the words recorded in Deuteronomy while in Moab.

• Moses died on Mount Nebo (at the top of Pisgah). The Book of Joshua begins at the Israelites’ encampment near the mountain. The exact location of their camp appears to be a place called Shittim (3:1).   

OUTLINE:

• JOSHUA’S TWO SPIES MEET RAHAB IN JERICHO (2:1-24):

  • Joshua sent two spies across the Jordan river to spy out the land and the city of Jericho.

  • After entering Jericho, the spies went into a prostitute’s house. The prostitute’s name was Rahab.

  • That evening, it came to the attention of Jericho’s king that spies had entered his city and were seen going into Rahab’s place.

  • When the king’s men arrived to question Rahab, she told them the spies exited the city just before the gate closed and that, if they hurried, they could catch up with them.

  • In reality, Rahab had hidden the spies on her roof to protect them.

  • As the king’s men raced to catch the spies, Rahab went up to her roof to speak with them and asked them to spare her and her family when Israel came to conquer Jericho.

  • She had heard about the great works of God, and she feared the Lord of Israel.

  • All the Canaanites feared Israel because they had heard about their Red Sea crossing (Exodus 14) and their defeat of king Sihon and Og (Numbers 21).

  • The spies promised to save Rahab and anyone in her house when they came to conquer Jericho.  

  • They told her to tie a scarlet cord in her window so the army would know which house was hers.

  • The text tells us Rahab’s house was connected to the city wall, which allowed her to get the spies out of the city even when the gates were closed.

  • Using a rope, she lowered the spies from her window to the ground.

  • The two spies hid in the hills for three days before returning to Joshua.
    

APPLICATION:

• It’s never too late and your past is never too bad to give your life to God.

• The Bible is full of stories of sinful people realizing they need salvation and God using them in incredible ways.

• Rahab is a perfect example.

• Did you know Rahab became a really important person in the history of Israel?

• She was the mother of Boaz who is featured in the book of Ruth.

• She was the great-great-grandmother of king David.

• She is listed as one of the ancestors of Jesus in Matthew 1:5.

• What is the application for us? If your past is filled with sins, it doesn’t disqualify you from honoring God with the rest of your years.

• God can take whatever years you have left and use them to great effect.

• God can do as much with 5 years as He can do with 50 years. Time is not a problem for God!