John Gill's Bible Commentary Ver. 6. But she had brought them up to the roof of the house , etc.] Before the messengers came; though Abarbinel thinks it was after they were gone, when she took them from the place of their concealment, and had them to the roof of the house, where she thought they would be safe and secure, should the messengers return, or others come in search of them, who would not, as she imagined, look for them there: and hid them with the stalks of flax ; that is, under them, or “in flax of wood”, or “a tree” f26 ; which may with as much propriety, or more, be called a tree than hyssop, ( 1 Kings 4:33); as it is in the Misnah f27 .
Moreover, there was a sort of flax which grew in the upper part of Egypt towards Arabia, as Pliny says f28 , which they called “xylon”, or wood, of which were made “lina xylina”: though the words may be rightly transposed, as by as, “stalks of flax”, which are large and strong before the flax is stripped or beaten off of them; the Targum renders it bundles of flax, or handfuls and sheaves of them, as they were when cut down and gathered: which she had laid in order upon the roof ; to be dried, as Kimchi observes; and Pliny speaks of flax being bound up in bundles, and hung up and dried in the sun; which was done that it might be more easily stripped and beaten off; and the roofs of houses in those countries being flat, were very fit for such a purpose; (see Gill on “ Deuteronomy 22:8”); and these being now laid there were very suitable and convenient to conceal the men under them. This seems to be in favour of Rahab, as being a virtuous and industrious woman; (see Proverbs 31:13,19,24).
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 1-7 - Faith in God's promises ought not to do away, but to encourage ou diligence in the use of proper means. The providence of God directe the spies to the house of Rahab. God knew where there was one tha would be true to them, though they did not. Rahab appears to have bee an innkeeper; and if she had formerly been one of bad life, which i doubtful, she had left her evil courses. That which seems to us mos accidental, is often overruled by the Divine providence to serve grea ends. It was by faith that Rahab received those with peace, agains whom her king and country had war. We are sure this was a good work; it is so spoken of by the apostle, Jas 2:25; and she did it by faith, suc a faith as set her above the fear of man. Those only are tru believers, who find in their hearts to venture for God; they take his people for their people, and cast in their lot among them. The spie were led by the special providence of God, and Rahab entertained the out of regard to Israel and Israel's God, and not for lucre or for an evil purpose. Though excuses may be offered for the guilt of Rahab' falsehood, it seems best to admit nothing which tends to explain i away. Her views of the Divine law must have been very dim: a falsehoo like this, told by those who enjoy the light of revelation, whateve the motive, would deserve heavy censure.
Original Hebrew והיא1931 העלתם5927 הגגה1406 ותטמנם2934 בפשׁתי6593 העץ6086 הערכות6186 לה על5921 הגג׃1406
