Joshua 2:6 describes Rahab, a woman of Jericho, hiding two Israelite spies on her roof under bundles of flax, which keeps them safe from the king’s men who are searching for them. The verse is a short narrative detail, and it shows the courage of a woman who chose to protect strangers at personal risk. The narrator is describing what Rahab did after the king of Jericho sent officers to her house demanding the men be handed over.
But she had brought them up to the roof, and hidden them under the stalks of flax which she had laid in order on the roof.
Joshua 2:6 (WEB)
What Joshua 2:6 Means
The verse begins with “But she had brought them up to the roof,” which tells us Rahab acted deliberately. Rahab had already taken the two men into her home, and now she moved them to a higher, more hidden place. The word “But” signals a contrast: the king’s messengers have just asked for the men, and Rahab does the opposite of what they expect.
The phrase “hidden them under the stalks of flax which she had laid in order on the roof” describes a practical method. Flax was a plant whose stalks were dried and stacked on flat roofs in that region to dry in the sun. By placing the men beneath these stalks, Rahab used ordinary household material as cover. The verse tells us what she did, not that her plan was guaranteed to succeed, so it should not be read as a promise that risky acts of faith always end safely.
The Context of Joshua 2:6
The book of Joshua is traditionally attributed to Joshua himself, Moses’ successor, though some scholars think its final form was shaped later by editors. It was written for Israelites preparing to enter and conquer the land of Canaan after their wilderness wandering. Jericho was the first major city Israel faced, so the account of the spies is a key moment in the story of the conquest.
Just before verse 6, the king of Jericho demands that Rahab bring out the spies, and in verses 4 and 5 she lies to his messengers to send them away. Just after, verses 7 through 9 show the pursuers heading toward the Jordan fords and the gate being shut, and then Rahab coming up to the men with a confession that she has heard how the LORD has given them the land. Read in this sequence, verse 6 is the hinge of the scene: it is the moment Rahab actively takes sides with Israel’s God and their mission.
Key Phrases in Joshua 2:6
Hebrews 11:31
By faith, Rahab the prostitute, didn’t perish with those who were disobedient, having received the spies in peace.
(WEB)
The writer of Hebrews names Rahab among the heroes of faith, saying she welcomed the spies in peace. This connects her hiding of the men in Joshua 2:6 to a deeper trust in God, showing that her protective act was an expression of faith rather than mere cleverness.
James 2:25
In the same way, wasn’t Rahab the prostitute also justified by works, in that she received the messengers, and sent them out another way?
(WEB)
James points to Rahab as an example of a person whose faith was shown in action when she received the messengers and sent them out another way. Reading this beside Joshua 2:6 reminds you that belief and practical deeds of protection belong together.
A Short Prayer From Joshua 2:6
Lord, you see the people who come to us in need and the risks that sometimes come with helping them. Give me the courage of Rahab to act with care when someone depends on me, and the wisdom to choose steps that protect them. Help me trust that you are at work even in small, practical acts done in faith. Keep me steady when the pressure to look away is strong. Amen.
