John Gill's Bible Commentary Ver. 9. And she said unto the men , etc.] The two spies: I know that the Lord hath given you the land ; the land of Canaan, of which she was an inhabitant, and in which they now were; this she knew either by some tradition that was among them; or by divine revelation, a supernatural impulse upon her mind: or by observing what the Lord had done already, in putting the land of the Amorites into their hands, which were one of the seven nations of Canaan; and by this it also appears, and more clearly by what follows, that she had knowledge of the Lord God, the God of Israel: and that your terror is fallen upon us ; which was another token or sign by which she knew the land would be delivered to them; that they who were a formidable people, and struck terror into others, now were terrified themselves, at the rumour of Israel being come to invade them; this was what the Lord said should be the case, ( Deuteronomy 11:25); and that all the inhabitants of the land faint because of you ; or “melt” f30 , like wax before the fire, as Moses had predicted, ( Exodus 15:15).
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 8-21 - Rahab had heard of the miracles the Lord wrought for Israel. Sh believed that his promises would certainly be fulfilled, and his threatenings take effect; and that there was no way of escape but by submitting to him, and joining with his people. The conduct of Raha proved that she had the real principle of Divine faith. Observe the promises the spies made to her. The goodness of God is often expresse by his kindness and truth, Ps 117:2; in both these we must be follower of him. Those who will be conscientious in keeping promises, ar cautious in making them. The spies make needful conditions. The scarle cord, like the blood upon the doorpost at the passover, recalls to remembrance the sinner's security under the atoning blood of Christ and that we are to flee thereto for refuge from the wrath of a justl offended God. The same cord Rahab used for the saving of thes Israelites, was to be used for her own safety. What we serve and honou God with, we may expect he will bless, and make useful to us.
Original Hebrew ותאמר559 אל413 האנשׁים376 ידעתי3045 כי3588 נתן5414 יהוה3068 לכם את853 הארץ776 וכי3588 נפלה5307 אימתכם367 עלינו5921 וכי3588 נמגו4127 כל3605 ישׁבי3427 הארץ776 מפניכם׃6440
