Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Joshua 2:18
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.
18. this line of scarlet thread ] The line was spun out of crimson thread, the crimson colour produced by the coccus ilicis, Linn., a cochineal insect, living on the holm oak, the larv of which yield the crimson dye.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
The line or cord was spun of threads dyed with cochineal: i. e., of a deep and bright scarlet color. The color would catch the eye at once, and supplied an obvious token by which the house of Rahab might be distinguished. The use of scarlet in the Levitical rites, especially in those more closely connected with the idea of putting away of sin and its consequences (compare e. g., Lev 14:4, Lev 14:6,Lev 14:51; Num 19:6), naturally led the fathers, from Clement of Rome onward, to see in this scarlet thread, no less than in the blood of the Passover (Exo 12:7, Exo 12:13, etc.), an emblem of salvation by the Blood of Christ; a salvation common alike to Christs messengers and to those whom they visit.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 18. This line of scarlet thread] tikvath chut hashshani. Probably this may mean, this piece of scarlet cloth, or, this cloth (made) of scarlet thread. When the Israelites took the city this piece of red cloth seems to have been hung out of the window by way of flag; and this was the sign on which she and the spies had agreed.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
Into the land, i.e. over Jordan, and near the city.
Bind this line of scarlet thread in the window, that it may be easily discerned by our soldiers.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
Behold, [when] we come into the land,…. The land of Canaan, and into this city, into that part of it, as the Septuagint, where her house was, meaning not themselves only, but the people of Israel they belonged to:
thou shall bind this line of scarlet thread in the window which thou didst let us down by; the word by refers either to the scarlet thread they were let down by, said to be a cord, Jos 2:15; and therefore must be a line twisted with various scarlet threads, as Kimchi; who observes, that according to the Targum, it was the border of a red garment; or to the window through which they were let down, as the Septuagint version; it may refer to both, and the sense be, that the same twisted cord of scarlet thread they were let down by should be bound to the same window they were let down through; only this objection there is to the same window, that it was not towards the city, and so not to be seen when they came into it, but looked over the wall without the city: now as Rahab was an instance of the salvation of sinners by the grace of God, for she was a sinner by birth, by practice, and a notorious one; she was an instance of distinguishing grace, of free and efficacious grace, a singular instance of it; and became a true penitent, a real believer, was a justified person, and saved: so the scarlet thread was an emblem of the blood of Christ, by which salvation is; redemption and all the blessings of grace are through it; justification, remission of sin, reconciliation, and atonement, and safety, and protection from avenging justice, and wrath to come, are only by it: likewise the spies, who are also called “messengers”, Jas 2:25; may represent the ministers of the Gospel, who are the messengers of Christ, and the churches, are sent out by him the antitypical Joshua, men of wisdom, courage, and valour, and are sent as spies to bring to light men and things, who direct to the way of salvation and give the same token of it, Mr 16:16;
and thou shall bring thy father, and thy mother, and thy brethren, and all thy father’s household home unto thee; into her house, where the scarlet thread was bound, and where only they would be safe, as the Israelites were in the houses where the blood of the paschal lamb was sprinkled, Ex 12:23; and so they are safe, and they only, who are under the blood of sprinkling, and partake of the virtue of it.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(18) The window which thou didst let us down by.It seems almost needless to observe that the scarlet line and the cord by which the men were lowered are not the same thing, but described by different words in the original. It would have been preposterous to require Rahab to display in her window the means by which the spies had escaped. It would at once have declared the tale to all beholdersthe very thing Rahab was pledged not to do. The line of scarlet thread and the stalks of flax on the roof were probably parts of the same business, and thus there would be nothing unusual in what was exhibited at the window, although it would be a sufficient token to those who were in the secret, to enable them to identify the house.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
18. Thou shalt bind this line of scarlet thread in the window A small rope or cord composed of crimson threads. The English version conveys the idea that this cord was used in letting down the spies. But the Hebrew, Septuagint, and Vulgate make the window the antecedent of which, thus the window through which thou didst let us down. The scarlet cord was probably the token (Jos 2:12) given to Rahab in proof of their oath. But the scarlet of the thread by which she and her house were to be saved, though a suggestive emblem of the blood of the atonement, (as advanced by St. Clement,) can hardly be considered, like the blood of the paschal lamb on the door post, an appointed type.
And thou shall bring thy father The persons to whom deliverance is pledged must be separated front the mass of the people and gathered within the house of Rahab, otherwise they must perish in the impending universal destruction. So must those who hope to escape the general doom of this sinful world be gathered into the house of God, the Church of Jesus Christ.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
“ Behold, when we come into the land, you will bind this line of scarlet cord in the window which you let us down by, and you will gather into your house your father, and your mother, and your brothers, and all your father’s household, and it shall be that whoever shall go out of the door of your house into the street, his blood shall be on his own head, and we will be guiltless, and whoever shall be with you in the house, his blood shall be on our head, if any hand be upon him.”
The piece of scarlet cord seems to have been a regular recognised token, possibly a love or commitment token somewhat like an engagement or eternity ring (Gen 38:28; Gen 38:30; Son 4:3) worn round the neck, which was sometimes used as a guarantee and may have borne a seal so that it was recognisable (compare Gen 38:18). One of the men handed over his token as their guarantee and commitment that the woman would be secure, along with all who were in the house.
The scarlet thread was to be placed on the window on the wall of the city. It was in some ways similar to the blood of the Passover lamb (Exodus 12), for it would protect from YHWH’s avengers. The protection of the building itself was not the original intention for the spies did not know how God would open up the city, but it achieved this as well (Jos 6:22-23). Note that it was placed on the window on the wall of the city, not on the door of the house, so that in any attack on the walls that area would be spared. This practical note is a sign of authenticity, even though in the event it was not necessary. The walls were not attacked.
The warning that only those who remained within the house would be safe was again similar to the Passover (Exo 12:22). It was the only way in this case in which the people could be identified. By it they were sanctified (set apart as holy and untouchable) to YHWH under the sign of the scarlet thread.
The two spies stated that they would bear blood guilt if anyone within the house under the sign of the scarlet cord should die. On the other hand any who refused that protection and left the house would bear their own guilt.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
Jos 2:18 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.
Ver. 18. And thou shalt bring thy father, &c. ] Who, if not there found when we storm the town, shall perish at their own peril. So shall all not found to be of the family of faith, and within God’s doors. The devil sweeps all that are out of the covenant.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Behold. Figure of speech Asterismos. App-6.
line. Hebrew “hope”, put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Adjunct), App-6, for the line which was the token of it.
by = through: referring to the window. Compare o. 21.
bring = gather.
home = unto the hour. The “line” was outside, for Joshua to see; not for the inmates. Compare Exo 12:13,
When I see, &c. So the ground of our assurance is not experience within, but the token without.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
scarlet thread: Jos 2:21, Lev 14:4, Num 4:8, Num 19:6, Heb 9:19
bring: Heb. gather
thy father: Jos 2:13, Jos 6:23, Gen 7:1, Gen 12:2, Gen 19:12-17, Est 8:6, Luk 19:9, Act 10:27, Act 10:33, Act 11:14, 2Ti 1:16
Reciprocal: Jos 2:12 – give me Son 4:3 – scarlet Eze 9:6 – but 2Co 11:33 – I let
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Jos 2:18. When we come into the land That is, over Jordan, and near the city. This line of scarlet The Hebrew word, , tickvath, more properly means, rope, riband, or web. Probably the same with which she was about to let them down. Window That it may be easily discerned by our soldiers.