Joshua 6:23
And the young men that were spies went in, and brought out Rahab, and her father, and her mother, and her brethren, and all that she had; and they brought out all her kindred, and left them without the camp of Israel.
And the young men {H5288} that were spies {H7270} went in {H935}, and brought out {H3318} Rahab {H7343}, and her father {H1}, and her mother {H517}, and her brethren {H251}, and all that she had; and they brought out {H3318} all her kindred {H4940}, and left {H3240} them without {H2351} the camp {H4264} of Israel {H3478}.
The young men, the spies, went in and brought out Rachav with her father, mother, brothers and all she had; they brought out all her relatives and put them safely outside the camp of Isra'el.
So the young spies went in and brought out Rahab, her father and mother and brothers, and all who belonged to her. They brought out her whole family and settled them outside the camp of Israel.
And the young men the spies went in, and brought out Rahab, and her father, and her mother, and her brethren, and all that she had; all her kindred also they brought out; and they set them without the camp of Israel.
Cross-References
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Hebrews 11:7 (4 votes)
By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith. -
Ephesians 2:12 (3 votes)
That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world: -
Genesis 18:24 (3 votes)
Peradventure there be fifty righteous within the city: wilt thou also destroy and not spare the place for the fifty righteous that [are] therein? -
Numbers 31:19 (3 votes)
And do ye abide without the camp seven days: whosoever hath killed any person, and whosoever hath touched any slain, purify [both] yourselves and your captives on the third day, and on the seventh day. -
Numbers 5:2 (3 votes)
Command the children of Israel, that they put out of the camp every leper, and every one that hath an issue, and whosoever is defiled by the dead: -
Numbers 5:3 (3 votes)
Both male and female shall ye put out, without the camp shall ye put them; that they defile not their camps, in the midst whereof I dwell. -
Acts 10:28 (3 votes)
And he said unto them, Ye know how that it is an unlawful thing for a man that is a Jew to keep company, or come unto one of another nation; but God hath shewed me that I should not call any man common or unclean.
Commentary
Context
Joshua 6:23 describes the crucial moment after the miraculous fall of Jericho, where God's promise to Rahab and her family is faithfully fulfilled. Earlier, in Joshua chapter 2, Rahab, a harlot living in Jericho, had hidden two Israelite spies sent by Joshua. In exchange for her protection, the spies swore an oath to spare her and her entire household when Israel conquered the city, instructing her to tie a scarlet cord in her window as a sign. This verse marks the literal extraction of Rahab's family from the doomed city, demonstrating God's meticulous attention to detail and His unwavering commitment to His covenantal promises, even to a Gentile who showed faith.
Key Themes
Linguistic Insights
The Hebrew phrase for "brought out" (ΧΦΈΧ¦Φ°ΧΧΦΌ - yats'u) emphasizes a deliberate and active extraction, pulling them from danger to safety. The phrase "left them without the camp of Israel" points to a practical necessity. The "camp of Israel" was not just a physical location but a symbolic space representing God's holy presence and the covenant community. Bringing Rahab and her family directly into the camp without a period of transition would have violated the strict purity laws and social order of Israel. This temporary staging outside the camp allowed for their spiritual and cultural assimilation, preparing them for full inclusion.
Practical Application
Joshua 6:23 offers several enduring lessons for believers today:
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