Joshua enters Canaan

Across the Jordan. Into the promised land.

All journeys

Illustrated lower Jordan Valley with Jericho west of the river. Camps and the crossing are approximate.

CANAAN Jordan River JORDAN VALLEY PLAINS OF MOAB Dead Sea

02Jericho

Illustrative connectionsCrossing and camps approximate.

CHAPTER 02 OF 06

Illustrative map · locations approximate

Rahab and the spies

Jericho · Shelter and a promise

Joshua sends two spies from Shittim to Jericho. Rahab shelters them and helps them escape. She asks that her family be spared, and they agree on a sign: a scarlet cord in the window through which she lets them down.

Joshua 2:1–24

Jericho is named in the text; the house and escape path are not plotted.

You might be wondering...

Why did Rahab help the spies?

Rahab says she knows the Lord has given Israel the land and acknowledges him as God in heaven and on earth. She asks the spies to show kindness to her family (Joshua 2:9–13).

What was the scarlet cord for?

It marks the window of Rahab’s house as the agreed sign. Her family must gather inside, and she must keep the spies’ mission secret (Joshua 2:17–21).