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.

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

  • Divine Faithfulness and Promise Keeping: This verse powerfully illustrates God's faithfulness to His word. The spies, acting on God's behalf, diligently carried out the oath they made to Rahab (Joshua 2:14). This highlights that God not only makes promises but ensures their fulfillment through His instruments.
  • Redemption and Inclusion: Rahab and her family, formerly part of a city under divine judgment, were brought out and set apart. This act of deliverance symbolizes redemption and God's grace extended beyond the boundaries of Israel. Rahab, despite her past, became an integral part of Israel's history and is even listed in the genealogy of Jesus Christ (Matthew 1:5). Her story underscores that salvation is available to all who turn to God in faith.
  • Separation and Sanctification: The detail "and left them without the camp of Israel" is significant. It implies a temporary separation, likely for ritual purification and assimilation into the Israelite community. The camp of Israel was considered holy, and those entering it, especially from a pagan background, would need time for cleansing and instruction before full integration. This signifies a process of leaving the old life behind and being prepared for a new life within God's people.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew phrase for "brought out" (יָצְאוּ - 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:

  • God's Grace is Universal: Rahab's rescue demonstrates that God's mercy extends to all who believe and act in faith, regardless of their past or background. No one is beyond the reach of His redemptive love.
  • The Importance of Keeping Promises: Just as God is faithful to His word, this verse reminds us of the importance of integrity and honoring our commitments, both to God and to others.
  • New Beginnings Require Separation: Being "brought out" of a life of sin and "left without the camp" of the old world signifies the necessary process of separation from former ways and a period of spiritual growth and purification before full integration into God's holy community.
  • Faith Leads to Inclusion: Rahab's story is a powerful testament to how faith can lead to salvation and full inclusion into God's family, transforming even the most unlikely individuals into instruments of His divine plan.
Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated β€” the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • 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.