Joshua 2:17

Old Testament Historical ASV (1901)

What does Joshua 2:17 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “And the men said unto her, We will be guiltless of this thine oath which thou hast made us to swear.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

And the men said unto her, We will be guiltless of this thine oath which thou hast made us to swear.
Joshua 2:17 — American Standard Version

Context — Joshua 2

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
17And the men said unto her, We will be guiltless of this thine oath which thou hast made us to swear.

What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“And the men said unto her, etc.] Some think that this discourse, which passed between the spies and her, was while in the house before she let them down, or otherwise they would have been in danger of being overheard, and so the whole affair discovered; but as it was on the other side of the house, and under the wall of the city, and without it, they might with the greater safety converse together: we [will be] blameless of this thine oath which thou hast made us swear; that is, they would most faithfully and punctually keep it, it should be sacred to them, and she should have no occasion to lay any blame upon them in the least.”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“Said - Or, had said; namely, before she let them down; it being very improbable, either that she would dismiss them before the condition was agreed on; or that she would discourse with them, or they with her, about such secret and weighty things after they were let down, when others might overhear them. Blameless - That is, free from guilt or reproach if it be violated, namely, if the following condition be not observed. Joshua 2:18”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“Jos 2:20; Gen 24:3-8; Exo 20:7; Lev 19:11, Lev 19:12; Num 30:2; Sa2 21:1, Sa2 21:2, Sa2 21:7 Joshua 2:18”
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Keil & Delitzsch
C. F. Keil & F. Delitzsch · Commentary on the Old Testament · 19th-century historical commentary
“In conclusion, the spies guarded against any arbitrary interpretation and application of their oath, by imposing three conditions, on the non-fulfilment of which they would be released from their oath. הזּה for הזּאת is to be explained in Jos 2:17 from the fact that the gender is often disregarded in the use of the pronoun (see Ewald, 183, a.), and in Jos 2:18 from the fact that there the gender is determined by the nomen rectum (see Ewald, 317, d.). Jos 2:18 The first condition was, that when the town was taken Rahab should make her house known to the Israelites, by binding "the cord of this crimson thread," i.e., this cord made of crimson thread, in the window from which she had let them…”
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Related study paths

Sources and verification