Joshua 2:4

2 And it was reported to the king of Jericho: “Behold, some men of Israel have come here tonight to spy out the land.”

3 So the king of Jericho sent to Rahab and said, “Bring out the men who came to you and entered your house, for they have come to spy out the whole land.”

But the woman had taken the two men and hidden them. So she said, “Yes, the men did come to me, but I did not know where they had come from.

5 At dusk, when the gate was about to close, the men went out, and I do not know which way they went. Pursue them quickly, and you may catch them!”

6 (But Rahab had taken them up to the roof and hidden them among the stalks of flax that she had laid out there.)

Here the Bible tells a story about someone else. Ask yourself what it can say to us today. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB
But the woman had taken the two men and hidden them. So she said, “Yes, the men did come to me, but I did not know where they had come from.
KJV
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:
WEB
The woman took the two men and hid them. Then she said, “Yes, the men came to me, but I didn’t know where they came from.
ASV
And the woman took the two men, and hid them; and she said, Yea, the men came unto me, but I knew not whence they were:
DARBY
And the woman had taken and concealed the two men; and she said, Yes, the men did come unto me, but I knew not whence they were;
BLB
And the woman took the two men and hid them, and she said, “Indeed, the men came to me; I did not know from where they [were].
ÅB
Men kvinnen tok og skjulte de to menn, og så sa hun: Det er så at disse menn kom til meg, men jeg visste ikke hvor de var fra;
OTB
Men kvinnen hadde tatt de to mennene og gjemt dem. Hun svarte: “Ja, mennene kom til meg, men jeg visste ikke hvor de var fra.
B1930
Men kvinnen tok og skjulte de to menn, og så sa hun: Det er så at disse menn kom til mig, men jeg visste ikke hvor de var fra;

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • 2 Kings 6:19

    And Elisha told them, “This is not the way, and this is not the city. Follow me, and I will take you to the man you are seeking.” And he led them to Samaria.

    Read in context
  • 2 Samuel 17:19–20

    Then the man’s wife took a covering and spread it over the mouth of the well, scattering grain over it so nobody would know a thing.

    Read in context
  • 2 Samuel 16:18–19

    “Not at all,” Hushai answered. “For the one chosen by the LORD, by the people, and by all the men of Israel—his I will be, and with him I will remain.

    Read in context
  • Exodus 1:19

    The midwives answered Pharaoh, “The Hebrew women are not like the Egyptian women, for they are vigorous and give birth before a midwife arrives.”

    Read in context